Buying a house is traditionally done through a process which begins by contacting a real estate agent. Your real estate agent represents you, as the buyer, in dealings with the other agent who represents the seller. A real estate agent's services are a good thing to have if you're unfamiliar with the way the real estate market works. But understand that agents earn, on average, 2-3% of the sale price of the home. That money must come from somewhere, so it's generally built in to the selling price. You can avoid the commissions by purchasing a home being sold directly by the owner.