Foreclosure/investment guru "Dr. Dani" Babb claims real estate agents' commissions are hindering the recovery of housing markets.
"Their added fees are creating inflated home prices, keeping sellers and buyers from reaching deals," Babb says.
What can you expect if you hire an agent to help you buy or sell a home?
"Wasted energy and time, which could be spent house hunting, financing or moving," the Newport Beach, Calif.-based "technologist, consultant, author and professor" says.
The kicker is that Babb -- who earned her PhD online and teaches a course on finding foreclosed properties at UC Irvine Extension -- also happens to be a licensed real estate agent.
"Bottom line? From an agent?" Babb asks. "Sell by owner. Putting your house on the MLS is as easy as going to housepad.com. Unless you have some overly complicated situation, don’t waste your time or money with agents."
