Rochester, MN – 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 set a buyer up for success or create problems that are hard to undo, according to local real estate expert Alex Mayer.
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 spent a decade observing buyers navigate the purchase process. He has identified three mistakes that surface repeatedly, not because buyers are careless, but because the process is widely misunderstood.
“We’re dealing with people’s homes, their finances, and their families,” Mayer says. “That’s the trifecta of things that make people emotional. And when emotions are running high, mistakes happen.”
The first mistake is registering on third-party websites like Zillow or Realtor.com without researching who calls. Mayer explains that when buyers enter their contact information to request a showing, the responding agents are often less experienced, paying for leads and eager to sign clients quickly. According to the National Association of Realtors, the average agent completes only 3.92 transactions per year, making it difficult to stay current on market conditions. “That agent needs you to buy a house more than you need to buy that house,” Mayer says. “That creates pressure even when it shouldn’t be there.” He advises buyers to research agents thoroughly before committing.
The second mistake is contacting the listing agent directly, believing it might give an advantage or save money. This leads to dual agency, where the agent represents both sides. While permitted in Minnesota, Mayer warns that the agent’s primary duty is to the seller. “It is very difficult for any agent to fully advocate for a buyer when they also have obligations to the seller,” he notes. The financial incentive of double-ending the commission does not align with the buyer’s interests. Mayer recently worked with a buyer who canceled a deal after feeling pressured by the listing agent. He refers unrepresented buyers to another brokerage for their own representation.
The third and most foundational mistake is starting the search without understanding the market first. Many buyers reactively look at homes before financing is in place or understanding what makes an offer competitive. “A reactive buyer goes out there, looks at a house, maybe falls in love with it, and then starts trying to figure everything else out,” Mayer says. “A proactive buyer already knows what types of financing are available and how to structure a competitive offer.” In the current Rochester market, buyers often compete against other buyers, requiring preparation to be taken seriously by listing agents.
Mayer walks every client through a 60 to 90-minute overview covering financing, mortgage payments, effective property searches, and offer strategies. “I tell people I’m going to give them all the bad news first,” he says. “A buyer who understands the process is a buyer who is taken seriously by listing agents.” This preparation has a measurable effect; listing agents have chosen to work with his buyers because they are more likely to close.
The Rochester market is shaped by the presence of Mayo Clinic and seasonal hiring cycles. Buyers who treat preparation as a prerequisite do best. “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 more information, visit rochesterareahomesbyalex.com or watch his market insights on YouTube.
