Purchasing your first-home should be an exciting experience. But buying a home in a seller’s market can be frustrating, to say the least. Too many buyers are chasing too little inventory in housing markets experiencing strong demand for a limited supply of homes.

A great real estate agent can give you the upper hand in a competitive seller’s market. They can alert you ASAP when a property hits the market, they can schedule day-of tours (or even tour homes for you) and they might even know of up-and-coming listings that aren’t quite public yet. Using their experience and expert negotiation skills, agents can also help you submit the winning offer when you do find that dream house.