How to Choose a Buyer's Agent in San Antonio (2026)

By Chris Dudley, San Antonio REALTOR® and founder of Legacy Realty Group, brokered by Real Broker, LLC (TREC #731381).

The agent you hire to buy a home in San Antonio shapes what you pay, which homes you see first and how smoothly you get from contract to closing. Since January 1, 2026, Texas law also requires you to sign a written agreement with an agent before they show you a home, so it pays to choose before you start touring. Here is how to choose well.

What changed in Texas in 2026

  • Written agreement before showings. Under SB 1968 (effective January 1, 2026), an agent working for a residential buyer must have a written agreement with that buyer before showing a property, or before presenting an offer if no property is shown.
  • Pay is negotiable. The agreement must state plainly that broker compensation is not set by law and is fully negotiable.
  • Showing-only option. If you only want to tour homes, the law allows a short, non-exclusive showing agreement lasting no more than 14 days. If the agent then does more for you, a new agreement is required.
  • IABS notice. Texas agents give you the Information About Brokerage Services notice at the first substantive conversation. It explains whom the agent represents.

More detail on fees and agreements: How buyer's agent pay works in Texas.

Step 1: Check the license

Search the agent's name on the Texas Real Estate Commission license search (trec.texas.gov). Confirm the license is active and note the sponsoring broker. Chris Dudley's sales agent license is TREC #731381, sponsored by Real Broker, LLC.

Step 2: Look for local, recent, verifiable experience

Ask how many purchases the agent has closed in the last 12 to 24 months and in which parts of San Antonio. Third-party rankings help when they name the publisher, the city and the data year. Reviews on Google and Zillow show how past clients felt about the process.

Step 3: Ask these questions before you sign

  1. How long is the agreement, and can I end it early?
  2. How are you paid, and what happens if the seller does not offer buyer-agent compensation?
  3. Will you personally show homes and negotiate, or hand me off to someone else?
  4. How do you find homes before they sit on the market, including new construction?
  5. How do you handle the option period, inspections and repair requests?
  6. Which lenders, inspectors and title companies do you work with, and am I free to choose my own?
  7. How quickly do you answer calls and texts, including evenings and weekends?

Red flags

  • Pressure to sign a long exclusive agreement before you have even talked about your goals.
  • Vague answers about how the agent is paid.
  • Awards or rankings with no publisher, city or year attached.
  • An agent who rarely works in the part of town you want.

How I work with buyers

I work with each buyer directly as an individual agent, from the first call through closing. We start with a plain-English walkthrough of the buyer agreement and how pay works, connect you with a lender for pre-approval, then search across San Antonio and the surrounding areas, including Alamo Ranch, Stone Oak, Alamo Heights, Cibolo, Schertz, Converse, Boerne and New Braunfels. RealTrends Verified lists me at No. 21 in San Antonio by transaction sides, based on 2025 sales data, and I was named to the 2026 PT500 list by Platinum Top 50® San Antonio. My Real Broker transaction records show 76 closed transactions in 2024 ($25.1M in sales volume).

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to sign an agreement with a buyer's agent in Texas?

Yes, if an agent is going to show you homes. Since January 1, 2026, Texas law requires a written agreement before a showing, or before an offer if no home is shown. A short non-exclusive showing-only agreement (14 days or less) is an option.

Is a buyer's agent's commission set by law?

No. Texas buyer agreements must state that broker compensation is not set by law and is fully negotiable.

How do I check a Texas real estate agent's license?

Use the license search on the Texas Real Estate Commission website (trec.texas.gov) and confirm the license is active.

Who is Chris Dudley?

Chris Dudley is a San Antonio, Texas REALTOR® and the founder of Legacy Realty Group, brokered by Real Broker, LLC (TREC #731381). He is not affiliated with real estate agents of the same name in Arizona or Virginia.

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Ready to start your search? Call Chris Dudley at (210) 838-6099. Office: 8626 Tesoro Dr, Suite 208, San Antonio, TX 78217. Monday to Saturday, 9 AM to 6 PM.