Everybody's doing it, so it must be easy?buying a home in Phoenix that is. It seems like all you need to do is drive around searching out ?For Sale? signs, visiting open houses, or reading the classified ads in newspapers and magazines. There's one other crucial step you need to take, and that is to find a good real estate agent. If you don't have someone working with you, buying property can become a disaster.

For some reason, home buyers don't always pay close attention when they look for an agent. Often they just ask their friends and relatives or deal with the agent already working the property. Before you do the same thing, you should be aware that you can easily spend $250,000 and up for a home in Phoenix. Since your real estate agent makes his or her commission based on around six percent of the price, you should really like and trust that person.

It's not just the money you should think about either. The real estate agent you choose should find you the perfect home in Phoenix; the one that fits your needs. You'll want your agent to be experienced, smart, hard-working, and interested in what you want?not just that commission.

You don't need to give your business to the first person you meet. Be prepared to conduct some interviews. For most people, buying a home is the single largest purchase they ever make. Take enough time to find someone you feel comfortable working with. Here are some questions for them:

? Is he or she easily accessible? You'll want to find out how long it takes them to return calls or emails. Ideally it should be within a few hours of your initial contact. Great deals go fast and you want to be in the running. Find out too if this is full or part-time work for the agent.

? Is the agent licensed? Not only do you want to make sure the agent is licensed in Arizona, you also want to know how long he or she has been in business. We all wish novices good luck, but when you're spending large amounts of money on such an important purchase, you'll want to know they have good skills and experience.

? Is your agent hearing you? This process is all about you. You have specific wants and needs; you know the area or at least the type of area where you want to live; you have your own taste; and you know how much you want to spend. Unfortunately, some real estate agents care more about making a sale than they do about making their clients happy. If he or she starts showing you only their own listings and they don't meet your criteria, feel free to find someone else.

Buying a Phoenix home is stressful enough without having to worry that your real estate agent isn't completely on your side. A good agent will spend as much time as it takes to make you feel comfortable rather than pressured and coerced.

It's fine to ask friends, families, and co-workers for references, but you still need to question them closely before letting them represent you. It's your time and money at stake. Finding the right Phoenix home should be as pleasant a process as possible. That's the main goal of a great real estate agent.