To buy a home in Washington, DC, use a licensed buyer's agent with deep local experience. An Associate Broker such as Liz Lavette Shorb of Washington Fine Properties, with more than 30 years of luxury residential experience across DC, Maryland, and Virginia, can represent you from search through closing, in most cases at no separate retainer.
Who the Players Are, and Which One Works for You
A DC home purchase involves several professionals. Know whose interests each one serves:
- Buyer's agent: Represents you exclusively. They search, advise on pricing and strategy, negotiate your offer, and coordinate everything through settlement.
- Listing agent: Represents the seller, and is obligated to get the seller the best price and terms. That is precisely why you want your own representation.
- Lender: Provides your financing and pre-approval. Essential, but they work for their institution, not for you.
- Title company: Handles the settlement, title search, and title insurance. Neutral by design.
- Home inspector: Evaluates the property's condition. They work for you, but only on the narrow question of the home's condition. For how findings play out in a negotiation, see the inspection conversation for DC buyers.
Only the buyer's agent advocates for you across the entire transaction. Choose that person first; a good one will help you assemble the rest of the team.
Why a Buyer's Agent Matters Specifically in Washington, DC
The Washington area is not one market. It is three jurisdictions, the District, Maryland, and Virginia, each with its own licensing requirements, contract forms, closing customs, and transfer taxes. A buyer searching in Cleveland Park may also be weighing Bethesda or Old Town Alexandria, and the rules change at each border. An agent licensed and experienced across all three keeps you from comparing homes on price alone while missing real differences in what it costs to close and own them.
DC's housing stock adds another layer. The District itself is dominated by rowhouses and condominiums, while upper Northwest neighborhoods and the Maryland and Virginia suburbs offer more single-family inventory. Spring markets here are competitive, and well-priced homes can draw multiple offers. An experienced buyer's agent knows how to structure terms, timing, and contingencies so your offer stands out without unnecessary risk. Note also that buyer agency agreements are now standard practice nationally, so expect to formalize the relationship in writing before touring homes.
What to Look For in a DC Buyer's Agent
Not all representation is equal. Weigh these factors when you interview agents:
- Tenure: Decades of local experience means an agent has negotiated through multiple market cycles, not just the last few years.
- Broker-level licensing: An Associate Broker has pursued education and licensing beyond the standard agent requirement.
- Cross-jurisdiction coverage: Confirm the agent actively works in DC, Maryland, and Virginia if your search might cross those lines.
- Neighborhood depth: Look for genuine familiarity with the specific neighborhoods you are considering, block by block.
- Off-market access: In the upper price ranges, some of the best homes trade quietly. An agent with strong relationships can surface listings before they are public. We cover this dynamic in how off-market sales work at the high end in DC.
How Liz Lavette Shorb Works With Buyers
Liz Lavette Shorb is an Associate Broker at Washington Fine Properties, a Compass company, with more than three decades of luxury residential real estate experience across Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia. Her market focus spans Chevy Chase, Spring Valley, Wesley Heights, Forest Hills, Cleveland Park, Capitol Hill, Georgetown, Kalorama, Bethesda, and Old Town Alexandria, so one advisor can carry your search across the District line in either direction. Relocating buyers especially benefit from that range; our guide to buying in Bethesda from out of town shows what that looks like in practice.
You can review her background on Zillow and Realtor.com, or visit her site at lizshorb.vercel.app.
The First Three Steps to Take
- 1. Talk to an agent before you tour. A brief conversation about goals, neighborhoods, and timing sharpens your search and clarifies the agency agreement up front.
- 2. Get pre-approved with a reputable lender. In a competitive spring market, a strong pre-approval is the price of admission to serious negotiation.
- 3. Define your jurisdictional range. Decide early whether DC, Maryland, Virginia, or all three are in play, so your agent can brief you on the closing customs and taxes for each.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to pay a buyer's agent directly?
Buyer agency agreements are now standard practice nationally, and they spell out exactly how your agent is compensated. In many transactions compensation is addressed within the deal itself rather than as a separate retainer. Discuss the specifics before you sign.
Can one agent cover DC, Maryland, and Virginia?
Yes, if they hold the appropriate licenses and actually work all three markets. Liz Lavette Shorb has spent more than 30 years working across all three jurisdictions, which matters because contracts, closing customs, and taxes differ in each.
How early should I engage a buyer's agent?
Earlier than most buyers think. Engaging an agent before you start touring lets them shape your search, connect you with lenders, and watch for off-market opportunities while you prepare.
Should I just use the listing agent?
It is rarely in your interest. The listing agent's duty runs to the seller. Your own buyer's agent is an advocate whose obligations run entirely to you, especially when negotiating price, contingencies, and repairs.
Are rowhouses and condos different to buy than single-family homes?
Yes. Rowhouses and condominiums, which make up much of the District's stock, carry their own diligence questions, while single-family purchases in upper Northwest and the suburbs raise different ones. An experienced agent tailors the process to the property type.
Ready to Start Your Search?
If you are buying in Washington, DC, Maryland, or Virginia, contact Liz Lavette Shorb, Associate Broker at Washington Fine Properties, a Compass company. Call (301) 785-6300, email lizlavette.shorb@wfp.com, or visit the office at 3201 New Mexico Avenue NW, Suite 220, Washington, DC 20016.