Despite the likelihood of conflicts of interest, Pennsylvania does permit real estate agents to legally represent both home buyer and seller at the same time, so long as there is a disclosure. It also permits agents sharing the same office to be on opposite sides of a transaction.
Many people mistakenly think that the state's Consumer Notice, given by real estate agents to home buyers or sellers when discussing representation, is a contract. It’s not, however, and the notice can be confusing, so ask for explanations until you understand it fully.
A better option is a specialized buyers agent. Such agents are rare in Pennsylvania. But given the many advantages of hiring a dedicated agent who is loyal exclusively to you – at no extra cost – I’m confident the service will grow more popular.
