Working with a buyer's agent gives you an edge when the market is hot and there are dozens of buyers competing for the same properties. What about when conditions change and things are more unpredictable?

From our experience, having a buyer’s agent on your side can work in your favour at all points in the property cycle. We explain why having a buyer’s agent as your advocate is always a good idea – particularly in Sydney’s eastern suburbs during the unpredictable conditions we’re

experiencing in 2023.

These are some of the trends we’re seeing right now:

• As always in the eastern suburbs, competition is keen. There are lots of eager buyers around and we’re seeing more demand than supply and a lack of stock.
• Despite the peaks and troughs, property market activity in the east is healthy and there are a lot of great deals happening.
• The top end of the market, in particular, is unscathed by trends affecting other categories of property.

In 2023, housing values have risen for three consecutive months to May. CoreLogic points out that Sydney’s housing market rebound is part of a national trend across all capital cities. With that in mind, here’s how a buyer’s agent can help you get the most out of your property search:

1. Ease your fears about overpaying

As housing prices skyrocketed over the last few years, fear of missing out (FOMO) was a leading cause of buyer insecurity. Competition for highly coveted properties led many buyers to rush in with offers and bids and, as a result, property prices in sought-after locations went through the roof.

In 2022 the market turned and successive interest rate rises were rolled out to tame inflation. FOMO, to some extent, has given way to the fear of overpaying. 

While lower prices are obviously good news for buyers, there’s the constant worry that if you move too quickly on a property you’ll lose out if the market continues to decline.

If you’re keen to find your next home, a buyer’s agent can help you navigate the current market conditions, analyse comparable properties, and assess the true value of a property you’re interested in purchasing. They can also help you negotiate a fair price and ensure that you’re getting a good deal knowing that you’ve done the necessary amount of due diligence.

For investors, a buyer’s agent can conduct comprehensive pricing research to ensure that you’re paying the best price for a property that has solid future growth potential.

2. Find Off-Market Opportunities

Off-market properties can be a great opportunity because there’s less competition and they may be available at a lower price than their market value.

As One Buyers Agency Director Jayden Hurvitz says, “Many sellers are currently motivated to sell off-market because they want to avoid a public marketing campaign or need to sell quickly. They also may want to keep their sale confidential and not have others know they are selling for certain reasons. This can give you more negotiating power as a buyer, and you may be able to strike a better deal.”

“In fact, when you look at current purchases, off-market transactions are accounting for over 60%,” Jayden adds.

While they can be a goldmine of opportunity, the truth is that off-market homes are often hard to locate, even when conditions are tipped in favour of buyers. 

Unlike publicly marketed properties, there are no centralised sources of information for off-market properties and buyers need to take a more strategic approach. This is where a buyer's agent with strong real estate agent and vendor contacts can be particularly useful.

No matter the market conditions, it's more likely that you’ll tap into great off-market opportunities with the knowledge and networks of a good buyer's agent behind you. We like to think that finding off-market properties is one of our particular superpowers!

3. Locate Motivated Sellers

In uncertain markets with conditions changing rapidly, property searches can be drawn out as people become reluctant to list or sell and constantly change their minds. This can lead to a shortage of available properties for buyers, making property searches more difficult and time-consuming. 



In these situations, a buyer’s agent can put a strategy together to help you find genuine opportunities from motivated sellers.

This involves identifying sellers who are serious and have a genuine need or desire to sell. A buyer’s agent can network with other agents, attend auctions, or monitor properties that have been on the market for an extended period.

By focusing only on genuine opportunities, a buyer’s agent can reduce the amount of time and effort spent searching for properties and increase your chances of finding the right property at the right price. 

Our results consistently back this up. While most property searches can take up to a year, at One Buyers Agency our clients are finding their ideal home in 30 to 60 days on average.

4. Navigate The Eastern Suburbs Market

Sydney's eastern suburbs is one of the most sought-after areas in Australia, with a high demand for properties driven by its prime location, excellent amenities, and prestigious reputation. There’s also extremely limited land availability, with most sites already developed and little room for new construction. 

High demand has led to a chronic lack of stock in the area, and there are always fewer properties available for sale compared to the number of buyers looking to purchase.

This means there’s fierce competition for properties from other buyers and investors no matter what the market conditions. Buyers have to act quickly and decisively to secure a property, with many properties selling above their asking price. 

The level of competition in the east makes it even more essential to work with an experienced buyer's agent who can provide expert guidance, negotiate on your behalf, and help you navigate the complexities of the market.

According to One Buyers Agency Director Carli Skurnik, “Even when buyers are in the box seat, the eastern suburbs is a challenging area to purchase real estate. It can take a substantial amount of time, energy and (even) money spent on pre-purchase investigations before you find ‘the one’.”

Working with a buyer's agent who has superb local contacts and connections can help you find the home you’ll love more quickly than you would by going it alone – especially in the current market. Give us a call to get started.