The agent who helped me when I first bought a home walked me through the items to check before making an offer. At that time, I didn't even know what contingencies were, so I didn't realize how helpful that process was. However, after observing the market in Rochester for a long time, I have come to appreciate why each of those checks is necessary.

The main tasks that a real estate agent handles can be broken down into six key areas: searching for listings and creating a comparative market analysis by gathering recent transactions with similar conditions, negotiating the offer price and terms, reviewing the purchase agreement, coordinating home inspections and appraisals, managing the closing process, and providing information on local market trends and school districts. The National Association of Realtors (NAR) also identifies these six as core responsibilities. In the past, much of this process was conducted verbally, but now it is much more systematically documented.

As of August 17, 2024, there is one more item to check. According to the NAR lawsuit settlement, buyers must sign a written buyer agency agreement with their agent before viewing properties. This agreement must specify the amount or method of calculating the agent's commission. Previously, discussions about commissions often occurred only after viewing multiple homes, but now the terms are confirmed in writing from the start.

The Rochester market has changed significantly in recent years. In the first quarter of 2026, the median sale price reached $252,800, and in the last six months, it has risen to around $255,000. Notably, in the first quarter of 2026, prices increased by 7.2 percent compared to the previous year, with only nine out of 235 major markets nationwide recording higher growth rates. The inventory of homes for sale is just 0.33 months, and 88.83 percent of listings are selling for above the asking price. This is a stark contrast to the previous era when buyers could leisurely browse homes.

In such a fast-moving market, the role of an agent in guiding buyers through the necessary checks becomes even more critical. If you work with a Korean agent, you can receive precise explanations of the contract details in Korean, as well as information about preferred school districts, access to Korean markets, and religious communities. An agent who has experience settling in the U.S. can also handle unique issues that families relocating from Korea might overlook, such as property taxes, insurance conditions, international remittances involving overseas family members, ITIN, and FIRPTA. The network of lawyers, mortgage brokers, and inspectors within the Korean community, built over many years, also becomes a practical asset in a rapidly changing market.

To be more specific about the items to check, before making an offer, you should review comparable sales from the last three months. After your offer is accepted, it's crucial to adhere to the inspection period and financing contingency period. If the appraisal comes in lower than the contract price, you may need to renegotiate or prepare additional earnest money. A few days before closing, you must also confirm the title search results and conduct the final walkthrough. I believe that ensuring these items are checked in order and confirming that nothing is overlooked is one of the most practical roles an agent can play, especially one who has observed this market for a long time.

Many families moving to Rochester do so for jobs related to universities or hospitals, and they often consider the distance to these institutions along with school districts. The more urgent the decision-making situation, the easier it is to make judgments when someone is there to help organize the conditions in Korean.

However, since market prices can vary depending on sources like RBJ and Zillow, it's important to check the timing of the data, and I recommend verifying school district boundaries at the specific address before purchasing. This article does not constitute investment or legal advice, and I recommend consulting with professionals before finalizing any contracts.