Jordan Manley

For many buyers, enlisting the help of a broker who can find properties that match your requirements and make appointments for you to see them is a no brainer, since the seller pays this person’s commission. So why not take advantage of free expertise? But in the hunt for my first home—ideally a house in the Bronx for about $400,000—I decided to do my own legwork, researching the neighborhoods I’m interested in, scheduling my own showings, and then reassessing when I’m close to making an offer.