Why Good Faith in Real Estate Protects Homebuyers

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Good Faith in Real Estate: How Exclusive Buyer Agents Protect Homebuyers Best

At Buyer’s Edge | BuyersAgent.com, we’ve built our business on one principle that never goes out of style: good faith in real estate.

In an industry clouded by sales tactics, divided loyalties, and hidden agendas, trust and transparency aren’t just nice-to-haves—they’re non-negotiables. For us, good faith isn’t a buzzword. It’s the compass that guides every conversation, every negotiation, every transaction.

And in today’s competitive market, good faith in real estate matters more than ever.

What You’ll Learn in This Article

  • Good faith means honesty—even when no one’s watching.

  • Dual agency risks hurt buyers; exclusive buyer agents eliminate conflicts of interest.

  • In multiple-offer situations, ethics and transparency are key to protecting both buyers and sellers.

  • Real-life story: how good faith protected a first-time buyer from a costly mistake.

  • Good faith isn’t just good business—it’s how trust is built, one transaction at a time.

What Is Good Faith and What it Really Means for Homebuyer Protection

Good faith simply means showing up with honest intentions and doing the right thing, even when nobody’s watching. In real estate transactions, that looks like:

  • Disclosing material facts—not hiding them.

  • Advising with care—not pressure.

  • Prioritizing the client’s needs above the deal—not chasing a commission.

  • Educating and informing buyers and sellers—not selling to them.

But for us, good faith in real estate isn’t just about contracts and closings. It’s a way of doing business and living. It means following through on promises, treating people fairly, and assuming the best until proven otherwise.

As the President | Broker, Stephen Carpenter-Israel says:

“Real estate isn’t just about property, it’s about trust. From the beginning in 1991, we built Buyer’s Edge to be what we couldn’t find elsewhere: a company where buyers come first, always. No pressure. No spin. Just straight answers and real advocacy.”

What is an Exclusive Buyer's Agent? - NAEBA

Why Good Faith Protects Homebuyers in Today’s Market

Trust in American institutions has been falling for years. Gallup reports confidence in major U.S. institutions has dropped from 43% in the early 2000s to just 28% in 2023, and only 16% of Americans say they trust the federal government to do what’s right most of the time.

Info graphic Significance of good faith in Real Estate Gallup reports that only 28% of U.S. adults express confidence in major institutions GRAPHIC

Gallup reports that only 28% of U.S. adults express confidence in major institutions—a trust level that’s remained under 30% since 2020. This decline highlights why ethical real estate practices and exclusive buyer representation are more important than ever.

The real estate industry certainly isn’t immune. Practices like dual agency—where one agent or brokerage represents both buyer and seller—undermine trust and good faith in real estate at its core.

When one agent/team/brokerage company attempts to serve both the buyer and the seller:

  • Buyers and Sellers are left wondering whose side their agent is really on.

  • Agents can’t fully advocate for either party without risking the other’s interests.

  • Trust evaporates.

That’s why we’ve never taken listings or represented sellers. Our exclusive buyer representation model removes conflicts of interest from the start—so you know exactly whose side we’re on.

If you want to avoid dual agency risks, hiring an exclusive buyer agent is the only way to ensure true loyalty and honest advocacy.

Good Faith in Multiple Offers: Why Real Estate Transparency Matters for Everyone

Good faith isn’t just important between agents and their clients. It’s also equally critical between brokers and agents themselves. Buyers, sellers, and the entire real estate profession depend on it.

I’m often asked, “How do I really know there’s another offer coming in?”

The honest answer? You don’t—at least not always. Over the years, good faith in real estate, reinforced by the Real Estate Code of Ethics, has built the trust we rely on to keep the process fair. And when done correctly, there are protections in place:

  • Suppose a bidding war triggers an escalation clause. In that case, the winning buyer can typically request proof of the competing offer, with all private information redacted, so they can be confident the escalation was applied in good faith.

  • Likewise, when a buyer’s agent asks a listing agent whether other offers are on the table, that question should be answered honestly. Fair and transparent communication ensures that all parties, buyers and sellers, can make informed decisions and submit their strongest offers with confidence.

  • On the seller’s side, every offer must be presented. Sellers deserve full visibility into all active contracts so they can choose the best terms and conditions for their goals.

Most professional listing agents follow these ethical standards. But as the real estate market has tightened, we’ve unfortunately seen some agents withhold offers or fail to disclose competing bids properly. That’s not just a bad look, it’s bad business for everyone.

Good faith is about more than honesty. It ensures that every buyer gets a fair shot, and every seller has the information they need to get the best price and terms.

“When agents on both sides respect the process, everyone wins. And that’s exactly what good faith in real estate should be.”

A Buyer’s Story in Arlington, VA: What Good Faith Looks Like When Buying a Home

A few years ago, a first-time homebuyer named Maya fell in love with a mid-century Arlington, VA home. The listing agent, who represented the seller, told her he could “make things easier” by having his team and brokerage represent both sides.

Something didn’t feel right, so Maya called Buyer’s Edge instead.

As her exclusive buyer agent, we took a closer look attached the disclosure documents. A previous inspection revealed serious foundation damage, freshly patched over. When we questioned the listing agent, he brushed it off.

Maya almost gave up buying altogether. But instead, we found her a different home, one in better condition, with a history she could trust. We walked her through every document, every inspection note, every clause with no surprises.

She later told us:

“I didn’t just buy a house. I learned how to buy a house—and I felt safe doing it.”

That’s good faith in real estate. It’s not just getting someone into a home, but getting them into the right home with their eyes wide open.

Beyond Buying & Selling: The Human Impact of Real Estate’s Ripple Effect

How We Build Trust - Avoid Dual Agency Risks With an Exclusive Buyer Agent - One Buyer at a Time

At Buyer’s Edge, building trust in real estate isn’t about grand gestures. It’s about the choices we make every single day:

  • We speak plainly, even when it means saying, “Don’t buy this house.”

  • We disclose referral fees, incentives, and potential pitfalls before you even have to ask.

  • We walk away from deals that don’t feel right because integrity is worth more than any commission.

  • We educate because an informed buyer is a protected buyer.

  • We never practice dual agency or anything that smells like it.

Our model eliminates conflicts of interest. We work for the buyer. Only the buyer. Always.

Good Faith In Real Estate Is Good Business—and Good Humanity

The NAR 2023 Consumer Perception Survey revealed:

  • 49% of buyers don’t fully understand what representation means.

  • 42% weren’t sure if their agent worked for them or the seller.

That’s not just a communication problem, it’s a trust problem. And the only real fix is good faith in action.

Whether it’s your first home or your fifth, you deserve an exclusive buyer agent who tells you the truth, even when it’s inconvenient. Someone who treats your future like it matters because it does.

Final Thoughts: Good Faith Deserves a Comeback for Homebuyers and Home Sellers

Yes, the world has gotten more transactional. But that doesn’t mean we have to follow suit.

We choose to lead with integrity, empathy, and loyalty—one client, one transaction, one act of good faith at a time.

And we’ve been doing it since 1991.

Ready to Work with a Buyer’s Agent Who Puts You First Every Time in DC, MD & VA?

Visit BuyersAgent.com or call us today. No pressure. No divided loyalties. Just honest advocacy because when it comes to your future home, honesty is the best investment you can make.