Lorrie Ziegler, REALTOR® Blog

Do I Need a REALTOR® to Buy a New Construction Home in San Antonio?

How having your own REALTOR® protects you (usually at no cost)
Posted by Lorrie Ziegler on October 20, 2026 in  Buying A Home  New Construction  North San Antonio  San Antonio
The short answer: you don’t have to, but it’s smart to have one. The friendly sales consultant at the model home works for the builder, not for you. Having your own REALTOR® means someone is looking out for your interests from your first visit to your one-year warranty walk-through, and in most cases the builder pays your agent’s compensation. I get this question all the time, so let’s break it down.   Who does the builder’s sales consultant work for? The builder. They... read more
Before You Fall in Love with a House, Do This First Be honest… have you started browsing homes online yet? If you have, you’re not alone. Most buyers start there. But here’s something a lot of people don’t realize: Before you get too far into looking, there’s one step that can save you a lot of time, stress, and disappointment later on. That step is getting pre-approved. And no — it doesn’t mean you’re committing to buy right away. It just means you’re get... read more
3 Must-Do’s for First-Time Home Buyers (Without Feeling Overwhelmed) Buying your first home is a big deal. It’s exciting… but let’s be honest, it can also feel a little overwhelming. There’s a lot of information out there, and it’s easy to feel like you need to have everything figured out before you even get started. The good news? You don’t. You don’t have to do everything at once, and you definitely don’t have to do it alone. The key is to take it one... read more
Want to know where the best deals are hiding right now? They’re usually not the brand-new listings with five showings scheduled on day one. They’re the homes that have been sitting for a while. When a listing lingers, something interesting happens. Sellers start out confident. Then they get hopeful. Then… they get realistic. And that’s when opportunities open up for smart buyers. If your goal is to get the most house for your money, this is a strategy you shouldn’t ignore. The Opp... read more
If you’ve been waiting to buy a home because you think you need a 20% downpayment or your credit score isn’t “good enough,” you’re not alone. A lot of would-be buyers are sitting on the sidelines—not because they don’t want to buy, but because they think they can’t. Here’s the truth: your credit score or savings might feel like a roadblock, but it doesn’t have to be. You Don’t Need Perfect Credit to Buy a Home Many people assume you need flawless ... read more