Buyers agent FAQ, Central Coast

My fees are either a fixed price or a percentage of the purchase price, usually between 1.5% and 2.5%, depending on the service and your brief. I’ll confirm your exact fee on our first call, before you commit to anything.

Yes. Buyers agent, buyers advocate and property buyers agent all mean the same thing: a licensed agent who works only for the buyer, never the seller. That’s what I do on the Central Coast.

Yes, there’s an upfront retainer of $3,000 to $5,000, depending on your budget. It comes off your total fee, it’s not on top of it. The rest is due at settlement, when you get the keys.

I only take on buyers I’m confident I can help, so it’s rare. But if your plans change, or we don’t find what you’re after, the only thing you pay is the retainer. The rest of the fee is only due if I successfully buy for you.

My standard agreement runs for 6 months, but it shouldn’t take that long. Most of my clients secure a property well before then. The 6 months just gives us room if the market goes quiet or your brief changes along the way.

Generally I work with purchase prices from around $650,000 to $700,000 and up. If you’re close to that, give me a call and we can chat about whether it makes sense for you.

It’s recommended, so when the right property comes along we can act fast. But if your bank or broker has given you a good number to work with, we can start as soon as they give you the all clear to start looking.

If you’re thinking about buying in the next month or so, now is the time. It’s always good to connect early, so you can learn a lot about the area you’re buying in before the search even starts.

It’s a team effort. Buying property can get emotional, so it works best when you’re open to honest advice and we trust and respect each other. I’ll always tell you what I really think, and I’ll always listen to what matters to you.

No. I’m independent and I don’t work for developers or selling agents. I’m only ever paid by my clients, the buyer. Everyone I connect you with, from conveyancers to property managers and trades, is simply someone I trust and recommend. No kickbacks from anyone.

A selling agent is paid by the seller to get the highest price. They can be friendly and helpful, but they don’t work for you. Buyers often share their budget with the selling agent, get told the property is as good as theirs, then get played against another buyer. A buyers agent works only for you. I research suburbs, find on and off market properties, inspect them, check the due diligence and negotiate the price, so you buy the right property at the right price.

For most buyers, yes, especially if you’re short on time, new to the Central Coast market or moving up from Sydney. The Coast is competitive and plenty of homes sell off market, particularly in sought after suburbs like Terrigal, Avoca Beach and Umina Beach. Better access, stronger negotiation and fewer costly mistakes usually outweigh the fee many times over.

Yes. A big part of what I buy is off market or pre market, so my clients see a lot more than the average buyer. That said, not every off market property is a great one. Some are overpriced, and sometimes it’s better to let them come to market. My job is to tell you which is which. Having that access, and knowing when to use it, is a big reason my clients buy better homes at better prices.

Three. Full Buying Service: I find, inspect, assess and negotiate the property for you, from brief to settlement. Negotiate to Acquire: you find the property, I do the negotiating. Auction Only: you watch, I bid, with no emotion and no overpaying.

A buyer brief covering your goals, budget and must haves. Suburb and market analysis. An on and off market search through my selling agent network. Video walkthroughs of shortlisted properties and in person inspections with written assessments. Due diligence on zoning, flood risk, build quality and comparable sales. Negotiation or auction bidding, building and pest coordination, contract review referral, settlement support, and referrals for property managers and trades once you’re in.

Yes. That’s exactly what Negotiate to Acquire and Auction Only are for. I’ll check the property and the comparable sales, tell you what I think it’s worth, then negotiate or bid for you.

Of course. Send me anything you find and I’ll give you an honest view on it. Two sets of eyes never hurts.

Yes. If a property isn’t right, I’ll tell you. If it’s overpriced, I’ll tell you that too. My job is to get you the right home at the right price, not just to get a deal done.

Yes. I handle all negotiation, whether it’s private treaty or auction, so you don’t overpay or make decisions under pressure. For auctions I assess comparable sales beforehand, recommend a maximum bid, register and bid on the day, and negotiate afterwards if the property is passed in.

Yes. You’ll need a conveyancer or solicitor to handle the contract and settlement. If you don’t have one, I can recommend people I trust and work with regularly.

Yes, happily. I’ll work alongside your broker or bank so your finance and the purchase line up, and there are no surprises when it’s time to exchange.

On average I’m buying within 6 to 8 weeks. Sometimes it’s quicker, sometimes it takes longer, but there’s no rush on my end. The goal is finding the right one for you, not the first one.

Book a free, no obligation 30 minute call with me. We’ll talk through your goals, your situation, how I can help and the next steps. No pressure, no pitch, just honest advice.

You deal with me, from the first call to settlement. I’m Mitch Keen, and Keen Acquisitions is my independent buyers agency on the Central Coast. It’s a bespoke agency, not a large team, and that’s by choice. I keep my client list small so every buyer gets my full attention, with no handoffs to an assistant along the way.

Yes. I’m a licensed real estate agent in both New South Wales and Queensland. I’m also a member of REBAA (Real Estate Buyers Agents Association of Australia) and PIPA (Property Investment Professionals of Australia).

Yes, and it’s one of my favourite parts of the job. I was a finalist for First Home Buyer Specialist of the Year at the 2026 Australian Buyers Agent Awards. I’ll guide you through every step, from picking the right suburb to finding homes within budget and understanding schemes like the 5% deposit scheme.

Yes. I made the move from Sydney to the Coast with my family around six years ago, so I know exactly what out of area buyers struggle with. I video walk every shortlisted property so you’re not driving up the M1 every weekend, and I inspect in person on your behalf.

Yes. I’m a PIPA member and buy investment properties across the Central Coast, whether it’s your first investment, a growing portfolio or a holiday home. I assess each one on local sales data, rental yield and long term growth, and negotiate purely in your interest. I also help with regional and interstate investment purchases.

The whole Central Coast, including Gosford, Terrigal, Wamberal, Avoca Beach, Erina, Woy Woy, Umina Beach, Ettalong Beach, The Entrance and Wyong, plus Lake Macquarie and Newcastle. I live on the Coast and I’m at open homes and auctions across it every week. I've also written local guides for Erina and Avoca Beach.

I buy on the Central Coast, also service Lake Macquarie and Newcastle, and buy in Queensland for interstate investments.