Buying a home in Rochester, Minnesota, in 2026 is not as simple as scheduling a showing online and making an offer. The market moves quickly, and decisions made in the first few weeks can either set a buyer up for success or create problems that are hard to undo. Alex Mayer, a Rochester MN real estate agent with eXp Realty and a four-time winner of Best Real Estate Agent in Rochester MN, has identified three mistakes that surface repeatedly among buyers.
According to Mayer, the first mistake is registering on a third-party website without researching who calls. Most home searches start on Zillow, Realtor.com, or Redfin, where buyers enter contact information to request a showing. However, the agents responding to those leads are often junior or less experienced. “When people are registering on these third-party websites, there’s a very good chance the agent calling them is a more junior or less experienced agent in the market,” Mayer explains. According to the National Association of Realtors, the average agent completes 3.92 transactions per year, making it difficult for low-volume agents to stay current on the market. Mayer advises buyers to research agents’ reviews, credentials, and social media presence before committing to a meeting.
The second mistake is calling the listing agent directly. Some buyers believe this gives them an advantage, but in practice it leads to dual agency, where the agent represents both sides. Minnesota permits dual agency, but Mayer notes its limitations: “That agent is trying to sell that house. They do not represent you, even if they technically do.” The financial incentive of collecting both sides of the commission can create conflicts. Mayer recently worked with a buyer who canceled a deal after feeling pressured by a listing agent. When unrepresented buyers inquire about his listings, Mayer refers them to another brokerage to ensure fair representation.
The third mistake is starting the search without understanding the market first. Many buyers enter the process reactively, looking at homes before financing is in place and making offers without understanding what makes them competitive. In the current Rochester market, buyers often compete against other buyers, not just the seller. Mayer walks clients through a 60 to 90-minute overview covering financing types, mortgage payment components, property search strategies, offer construction, and the closing process. “I tell people I’m going to give them all the bad news first,” he says, ensuring buyers enter with eyes wide open.
These three mistakes share a common root: moving before the right groundwork is in place. “Slow is smooth and smooth is fast,” Mayer says. “You have to slow down at the beginning to actually be ready to move quickly when it counts.” For buyers in the Rochester market, shifting from a reactive to a proactive mindset can be the most valuable step they take. Mayer specializes in first-time homebuyers, Mayo Clinic relocations, and sellers. More information is available at rochesterareahomesbyalex.com or on his YouTube channel.
