You've accepted a job offer in Austin. Or your company is relocating you to Charlotte. Maybe you're retiring to Florida or following family to the Pacific Northwest. Whatever the reason, you're moving to a city where you don't know a soul—and you need to find a house.
Which means you need to find a real estate agent. In a city you've never lived in. Where you don't know anyone to ask for recommendations. Where you can't tell the difference between a top-performing local expert and someone who just moved there themselves six months ago.
After 23 years in real estate and helping hundreds of people navigate exactly this situation, I can tell you: This is one of the most vulnerable positions you can be in as a home buyer or seller.
Let me show you how to protect yourself and find a truly great agent—even when you're starting from scratch in a new market.
The Relocation Trap Most People Fall Into
Here's what typically happens: You Google "best realtor in [City]" or "top real estate agent [City]." You see names, read some reviews, maybe reach out to 2-3 agents. You pick one who seems nice and hope for the best.
The problem? You have no way to verify:
- Whether they actually specialize in your target neighborhood
- If they're experienced or relatively new
- How many clients they're juggling right now
- Whether they're respected by other local agents
- If their "expertise" matches your specific needs
Why Traditional Agent Selection Doesn't Work for Relocations
The Friend Referral Problem
Normally, you'd ask friends or family for recommendations. But when you're moving to a new city, you don't have local connections yet. And asking someone who doesn't live there for an agent recommendation is essentially useless.
The Online Review Problem
Online reviews only tell you if past clients were happy. They don't tell you:
- If the agent specializes in YOUR type of property
- If they have capacity to take on YOUR timeline
- If they're the best fit for YOUR specific needs
An agent with 50 five-star reviews might be great at luxury properties but terrible with first-time buyers. They might specialize in one neighborhood while you're looking in a completely different area.
The Zillow Premier Agent Problem
Zillow, Realtor.com, and other sites show you "top agents"—but what they're really showing you is who paid the most for advertising placement. Top billing doesn't equal top performance.
The Out-of-State Challenge
When you're buying or selling from hundreds or thousands of miles away, you can't easily:
- Interview multiple agents in person
- Get a feel for who's genuinely knowledgeable about neighborhoods
- Verify their local market expertise
- See their professionalism firsthand
"I moved from New Jersey to Nashville for work. Found an agent online who had great reviews. Seemed nice on our video call. It wasn't until we were under contract that I realized she'd only been licensed for 8 months and had never handled an out-of-state buyer before. The transaction was a nightmare—missed deadlines, poor communication, issues she didn't anticipate. I later found out there were dozens of experienced agents who specialize in corporate relocations that I never even knew existed."
— Corporate Relocation Buyer, 2024
What You Actually Need to Know (That You Can't Google)
When moving to a new city, the agent selection criteria become even more important:
1. Relocation Experience
Has this agent successfully worked with out-of-state buyers or sellers before? Do they understand the unique challenges of remote transactions? Can they coordinate virtual showings, recommend local inspectors, handle timing coordination across time zones?
2. True Neighborhood Expertise
Do they actually work your target area regularly, or are they just willing to drive there? An agent who works downtown might be clueless about the suburbs—and vice versa.
3. Current Availability
When you're relocating on a tight timeline, you need an agent who has capacity to prioritize you. If they're juggling 15 clients, you'll be waiting days for responses while trying to coordinate from across the country.
4. Local Market Conditions
Every market is different. An agent needs to help you understand local nuances—commute patterns, school districts, neighborhood dynamics, future development, flood zones, HOAs, typical negotiation styles.
5. Professional Network
For remote transactions, you need an agent with solid relationships with inspectors, contractors, title companies, and other agents. This network becomes your boots on the ground.
The Smart Way to Find an Agent in a New City
Stop Trying to Research From Scratch
Here's the reality: You don't have the local knowledge, connections, or time to properly vet agents in a market you don't know. You need someone who does.
This is exactly why I created RecommendAgent.com—to solve this exact problem.
How Professional Agent Matching Works
Instead of you spending weeks trying to research agents in a city you don't know, here's what happens:
- You tell me about your situation: Where you're moving to/from, your timeline, your property needs, your concerns, your budget
- I research your target market: Using my 23 years of experience and industry connections, I identify agents who specialize in exactly what you need
- I vet them thoroughly: My 22-question evaluation system assesses experience, availability, specialization, professional reputation, and track record
- I match you with 1-2 specialists: Not random agents, but professionals who have proven success with situations like yours
- You interview and decide: You still make the final choice—but you're choosing from pre-vetted experts, not random internet searches
What I Evaluate That You Can't
When I'm matching you with an agent in a new city, I'm looking at:
- Recent transaction history in YOUR specific target neighborhoods
- Experience with relocation buyers/sellers specifically
- Current client load and genuine availability
- Reputation among other local agents (insider knowledge)
- Specialization match for your property type and price range
- Communication style and responsiveness
- Professional network and resources
- Track record with remote transactions
This is information you simply can't get from Google reviews or Zillow profiles.
Real Examples: When Matching Makes the Difference
Corporate Relocation to Denver: Client moving for work with 60-day timeline. I matched them with an agent who specializes in corporate relocations and knows the suburban markets where good schools and commutes intersect. The agent had worked with their company before, understood their benefits package, and closed on time despite the client only visiting Denver once.
Retirement Move to Arizona: Couple selling in Pennsylvania, buying in Phoenix. Needed agents in both markets who could coordinate timing. I matched them with a seller's agent experienced with vacant home sales and a buyer's agent who specializes in 55+ communities and understands snowbird considerations. Both transactions closed within two weeks of each other.
First-Time Buyer Moving to Nashville: Young professional, tight budget, didn't know the city at all. I matched them with an agent who specializes in first-time buyers in emerging neighborhoods and could educate them about areas they'd never heard of but perfectly fit their budget and lifestyle.
Why This Service Exists
After 23 years in real estate, I've built relationships with quality agents across the country. When clients ask me for recommendations outside my local area, I used to make casual referrals. But I realized people needed something more systematic—a way to ensure they're getting genuinely qualified agents, not just whoever I happened to know.
So I developed a comprehensive evaluation system and built a nationwide network of vetted agents. Now, whether you're moving from Boston to San Diego or Atlanta to Seattle, I can connect you with agents who are genuinely the best fit for your specific situation.
Moving to a New City? Don't Go It Alone
Stop gambling on random agents you found online. Let me use my 23 years of experience and nationwide network to match you with a proven professional who specializes in exactly what you need.
My service is completely free with no obligation. I'm compensated through referral fees from the agents, so there's zero cost to you.
Get Your Free Agent MatchCall me directly at 267-210-8713
Whether you're moving to Texas, California, Florida, Colorado, or anywhere in between—I'll connect you with an agent who has proven success in your target market.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you only help people moving to certain cities?
No—I have connections nationwide. Whether you're moving to a major metro area or a smaller market, I can find qualified agents in your target location.
How much does this service cost?
Zero. My service is completely free to you. I'm compensated through referral fees paid by the agents I recommend.
What if I don't like the agents you match me with?
No obligation whatsoever. If the match isn't right, you're free to work with whoever you choose or ask me to find different options.
How is this different from Zillow's agent matching?
Zillow shows you whoever paid for advertising. I personally evaluate agents using a comprehensive 22-question system based on your specific needs and match you with specialists—not just whoever has the biggest ad budget.
How long does the matching process take?
Usually 24-48 hours. I personally research your target market, evaluate potential matches, and connect you with 1-2 agents who are genuinely the best fit.
Don't Leave This to Chance
Moving to a new city is stressful enough without worrying about whether you've chosen the right real estate agent. You're making one of the biggest financial decisions of your life in a market you don't know—with an agent you found on the internet.
There's a better way. Let someone with 23 years of experience and a nationwide network do the heavy lifting for you. Get matched with an agent who's genuinely qualified, available, and experienced with situations exactly like yours.
Your move is complicated enough. Finding a great agent shouldn't be.