Hanna Kazy with RE/MAX Real Estate Professionals in Chattanooga: Buyer's Agent Focus in a Competitive Market
Hanna Kazy operates as a buyer's agent under the RE/MAX Real Estate Professionals banner in Chattanooga, working within one of the largest independent real estate franchises in the region. Unlike listing agents who represent sellers, Kazy's commission structure ties directly to helping buyers navigate purchase decisions, meaning her incentive aligns with the buyer's goal of securing the right property rather than closing the fastest sale. This distinction matters in Chattanooga's market, where median home prices have risen steadily and neighborhoods vary sharply in character, walkability, and school access.
What a buyer's agent does
A buyer's agent represents you from property search through closing. Kazy's role includes identifying homes that meet your criteria, scheduling showings, explaining neighborhood data (school ratings, tax rates, flood zones, development patterns), and negotiating price and terms on your behalf. She accesses the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), which holds every property for sale in the Chattanooga area, and can filter for specifics like number of bedrooms, age of roof, or proximity to the riverfront. Critically, the buyer's agent fee is typically paid by the seller's proceeds at closing, so using a buyer's agent does not cost you extra out of pocket. However, in some cash or off-market deals, you may negotiate who pays or how much.
Commission and cost structure
RE/MAX agents in Chattanooga typically split a combined commission of 5 to 6 percent of the final sale price, with roughly half going to the listing agent and half split between the buyer's agent and their brokerage. On a $300,000 purchase, a 5.5 percent total commission means $16,500 in total commission; Kazy and RE/MAX would receive approximately $4,100 to $4,400 after the split, depending on the specific brokerage agreement. If you pay cash or buy a property outside the MLS, you and the seller negotiate agent compensation separately. Some discount brokerages in Chattanooga offer lower commission rates (as low as 4 percent combined), but those firms typically provide less direct support; RE/MAX's model funds more hands-on guidance and local market knowledge.
How buyer's agents compare to other approaches in Chattanooga
Chattanooga has three main alternatives to using a buyer's agent. A listing agent (seller's representative) will show you properties but owes fiduciary duty to the seller, not you, creating an inherent conflict on price negotiation. A dual-agent scenario, where one agent represents both buyer and seller, is legal but creates the same conflict; some Chattanooga agents and smaller brokerages use this model to reduce friction. A real estate attorney can review contracts and explain legal terms but cannot negotiate on your behalf or interpret neighborhood data the way an agent does. Using no agent (FSBO, "for sale by owner") means you negotiate directly with sellers and their agents, which works only if you have prior purchase experience and access to comparable sales data.
Who this works for and who should consider alternatives
A buyer's agent like Kazy suits first-time buyers, relocators unfamiliar with Chattanooga neighborhoods, and anyone buying in a price range where negotiating even 1 percent saves thousands. If you already own property in Chattanooga, understand the neighborhoods intimately, and want to minimize commission cost, a discount brokerage or no agent may make sense. If you're buying a commercial building or investment property, a commercial real estate broker with industrial or retail expertise will typically outperform a residential buyer's agent.
The first meeting and process
Initial conversations with Kazy usually cover your budget, must-haves (location, school zone, square footage), timeline, and whether you need financing pre-approval. Pre-approval from a lender (which takes 2 to 5 days) strengthens your offer in a competitive market. Once you're ready to show, Kazy arranges a schedule, drives you to properties, walks through each space, and flags concerns (water staining, foundation cracks, recent roof replacement dates visible in MLS). After you identify a target property, she pulls comparable sales (recent sales of similar homes nearby), helps you set an offer price, and drafts the purchase agreement. Chattanooga's market in 2024 is not as fast-moving as 2021 to 2022, meaning you typically have 24 to 48 hours to inspect before making an offer, not minutes.
Hours and contact logistics
RE/MAX Real Estate Professionals operates during standard business hours and uses a central office for administrative support, though agents like Kazy work largely by appointment and phone. Chattanooga's real estate market operates seven days a week; showings are typically arranged via text or call rather than walk-in. Confirm current contact information and availability directly through RE/MAX's local office, as agent schedules shift seasonally.
Hanna Kazy's positioning as a buyer's agent within RE/MAX reflects a deliberate choice to represent your side of the table, not the seller's, and her access to MLS data and local comparable sales makes her valuable in a market where neighborhoods like North Shore, St. Elmo, and East Brainerd command very different prices per square foot.
