Who does the real estate agent work for?

The seller. They're paid to get the maximum price for the owner, so anything you tell them that weakens your negotiating position can end up working for the seller rather than you.

What should I tell an agent when I'm looking to buy?

What you're looking for, your rough price bracket and that you're ready to move, ideally with pre-approval in place. That helps them call you when something suitable comes up, sometimes before it hits the market.

Should I tell the agent my maximum budget?

No. Your absolute maximum is your business. Work out your own number from the repayments you can comfortably afford and negotiate from there.

Do agents treat first home buyers differently?

Some may. First home buyers are often emotional buyers who stretch to get a place they love, and a good negotiator will notice that. Knowing your numbers before you look is the best protection.

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Straight Answers · First home

Should I tell the real estate agent I'm a first home buyer, or does that hurt my position?

Bayley Clarke · Mortgage broker on the road · Last checked 11 November 2026 · 3 min read

The short answer

Less is more with real estate agents. Give them a rough idea of what you're looking for so they keep you in mind, but that buzzword, first home buyer, is one I'd keep close to your chest.

First home buyers are typically quite emotional buyers. They'll buy if they love something, sometimes at any price, even if it means overpaying. The agent's goal is the maximum price for the owner, so telling them more than you need to can set you up to get the best possible price for the seller instead of for you.

The 90 second version, filmed from the driver's seat. The rest of this page is the detail underneath it.

Keep the agent on your side

You do want agents working for you in one sense. If they know roughly what you're after, your price range, the number of bedrooms, the area, then when something pops up they might give you a call before it hits the market. You never know, stranger things have happened, and getting in early on a property with fewer people looking at it is one of the few genuine edges a buyer can get.

So be friendly, be clear on the kind of property you want, and let them know you're serious. Having your pre-approval sorted helps here too, because it tells the agent you can actually move when the right place comes up, without you needing to explain anything else about your situation.

Why the first home buyer label works against you

Here's the thing to remember: the agent is employed by the seller. I know a lot of lovely real estate agents, but their job is to get the maximum price for their owner. That's not a criticism, it's what they're paid to do.

When an agent hears first home buyer, what they often hear is someone who hasn't negotiated on a property before, who's probably fallen in love with a place, and who might stretch to the top of their budget to get it. That's the position a lot of first home buyers are genuinely in. So when it comes time to negotiate, knowing that can give the agent room to squeeze you, to push for a higher offer or to tell you there's other interest at a number above yours.

What to share and what to hold back

Share what helps them find you a property: what you're looking for, the rough price bracket, and that you're ready to go. Hold back what helps them negotiate against you: that it's your first purchase, how much you love the place, your absolute maximum, and how long you've been looking.

If they ask directly, you don't need to lie. Something like you're keeping your options open and you'll make an offer if the numbers stack up is a perfectly honest answer. Then go in with your own number, worked out from what your repayments look like, not from what the agent suggests the property will go for. Know your ceiling before you walk into the conversation, and let the agent come to you.

The honest bit: the label is the smaller risk

Keeping quiet about being a first home buyer helps at the margins. The bigger risk is the emotional part itself: falling for a place and paying more than it's worth, or more than your repayments can comfortably handle.

So the best protection is knowing your numbers before you look. When you know exactly what you can afford and what the repayments will be, the agent can know whatever they like, and you'll still walk away when the price stops making sense.

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Next question

How do I make an offer, and who does the agent work for?

The agent works for the seller, not you. How an offer actually goes in: know your range, call the agent, email the terms.