Disclaimer: I used to be one. Yup. For ten years I listed and sold residential property. I retired about 6 years ago though and have no desire to take it up again.

The subject, however, still fascinates me. And, having once been on the inside, it's interesting to now be on the outside, looking in, and knowing what goes on in there.

If you were selling a house I would ask you a bunch of questions but most likely tell you to sell it yourself and save the commission. (Can you hear all the realtors out there screaming? Haters.)

Home buying is a whole different animal though. First, it makes economic sense to use an agent. The seller pays the real estate broker's commission so the services are free to you.

Next, the services offered by a buyer's agent are those that you can't get anywhere else. Of course the MLS comes to mind with all its gajillions of listings. But there's more.

When you find a home you are interested in, how will you know if it's priced right? An agent can, and should, run a market analysis on the home. If he or she doesn't, find another agent.

If you want to place an offer on a home, do you know how to do that on your own? Didn't think so. Agents do, obviously. They also know how to structure the offer to protect your interests as a buyer. . .give you an "out," under certain conditions, and request performance by the sellers on concessions you want.

When the offer is accepted, assuming you got this far by yourself, what's next?

That's what I thought. That blank stare says it all.

Once an offer is accepted it's time to open escrow, order inspections, all that stuff that Realtors can do in their sleep. So, while you're busy living your life, your agent is out doing all the work to make sure your deal goes through and you get that house that you want so bad.

Can't beat all that for a free service now, can you?

It's a good idea to make a list. . .actually two lists: one for all the stuff you want in a home and one for what is on that list that you can live without, if push came to shove.

This is especially important if you are a couple. In that case you should both have your own list. Then, compare the lists. Anything that is on both of the lists is a no-brainer. Inevitably, though, there will be items each of you will need to compromise on.

So, prioritize your lists. Make another list of everything you absolutely will not do without. Mine would include a gourmet kitchen and a backyard that I can garden in. Maybe yours is a pool, or an extra bathroom. Decide 3 or 4 things that you absolutely have to have in order to feel good about a home.

This works well when your agent calls you to go view a home. Pull out your list and ask: "does it have this? How about that?" Make it clear to your agent that you don't even want to see homes that don't have your priority items.

That house is out there. Count on it.

Since you're in the market to buy a home I thought I'd pass this one along for you.

It's not really for sale. . .but I thought you'd get a kick out of it. This is a real house in Fafe, Portugal.

I've included both the front and back view of it. I don't know if I like the house but the "lot" is to die for!

Mortgage rates fell this week, with the average rate on 30-year fixed-rate mortgages going below 5 percent.

If you're in the market to buy a home this is incredible news. With houses at the lowest prices they've been in decades and now mortgage rates dropping again you can afford even more house for your money.