Patti Dillard at Crye-Leike Realtors in Chattanooga: Buyer's Agent Focused on East Brainerd and North Shore
Patti Dillard works as a buyer's agent for Crye-Leike Realtors, one of Tennessee's largest independent real estate firms, and specializes in residential sales across Chattanooga's North Shore and East Brainerd neighborhoods. Unlike agents who list properties or handle both buy and sell sides equally, Dillard focuses primarily on representing buyers, a distinction that shapes her fee structure, incentives, and the advice she offers.
How buyer's agents work and what they cost
Buyer's agents typically earn a commission split from the seller's listing price, usually 2.5 to 3 percent of the sale price, paid by the seller's agent out of the total 5 to 6 percent commission. Critically, this arrangement means the buyer pays nothing directly to the buyer's agent. The trade-off is that the agent's compensation scales with the purchase price, which can create tension if the agent pushes toward higher offers. A buyer's agent working exclusively for buyers should prioritize your negotiating position and contingencies rather than pushing for a faster or higher sale.
Crye-Leike, operating across Tennessee and Arkansas with offices in 12 cities, handles both buyer and seller transactions, but agents within the firm can specialize. Dillard's focus on the buyer side means her incentive is narrower than a generalist agent's, though her commission still ties to your final purchase price.
Services Dillard offers
Dillard assists with property tours, market analysis, offer negotiation, and the inspection and appraisal process. In Chattanooga's competitive neighborhoods like North Shore and East Brainerd, where median home prices in 2024 ranged from $400,000 to $550,000 depending on exact location and condition, a buyer's agent handles scheduling, pre-listing research, and negotiation leverage. She can pull comparables (recent sales of similar homes), flag inspection issues, and advise on contingency terms. Verify current pricing and availability with her directly, as market conditions shift seasonally.
Typical services include:
- Market overview for your target neighborhood
- Showing coordination and scheduling
- Pre-offer analysis and comparable sales research
- Offer drafting and counter-offer strategy
- Communication during inspection, appraisal, and underwriting phases
- Closing coordination with the title company
She does not provide financing advice or appraisals; lenders and independent appraisers handle those.
How Dillard compares to other Chattanooga buyer's agents
Chattanooga has hundreds of licensed agents; the meaningful comparison is not individual names but models. Some agents work for national franchises like RE/MAX or Keller Williams, which offer broader marketing reach but less local independence. Crye-Leike's Tennessee-based independence means Dillard operates within a smaller, more locally rooted firm, which can mean tighter relationships with local lenders and title companies but less national resources for relocation buyers.
Agents who list and buy equally divide their focus; agents who specialize in buyers (like Dillard) typically spend more time on your search and negotiation because they are not managing seller listings simultaneously. If you are a first-time buyer in North Shore or East Brainerd, a buyer-focused agent avoids the conflict of interest where an agent might subtly steer you toward a property they list themselves.
Choose Dillard if you want a agent embedded in Chattanooga's neighborhoods and willing to spend time on your specific search. Choose a national franchise if you need relocation support or cross-state resources. Choose a generalist if you value one contact for all real estate questions (though that contact has competing interests).
Who Dillard serves and who should look elsewhere
Dillard's strength lies in buyers ready to move decisively in North Shore and East Brainerd, Chattanooga's two most competitive submarkets. She suits first-time buyers who want guided offers and contingency strategy, move-up buyers trading to a larger home in the same neighborhoods, and out-of-state buyers relocating to Chattanooga who need local market knowledge.
She is less suitable for investors seeking rental properties (investor agents often specialize in cash-on-cash returns and portfolio strategy), commercial real estate buyers, or buyers shopping in outlying areas like Ooltewah or Soddy-Daisy where she may have less daily market exposure.
What your first meeting involves
A first call typically covers your timeline, budget, financing status, and target neighborhoods. Dillard will ask whether you are pre-approved (a lender's confirmation you can borrow a specific amount) or still exploring loans, because pre-approval strengthens offers and speeds the process. She will pull recent sales comparables for neighborhoods you mention and walk you through Chattanooga's market pace (North Shore moves faster than most Chattanooga areas, with homes often receiving multiple offers within days).
The relationship begins informally; no contract is required to start touring homes, though most agents and buyers sign a buyer representation agreement stating the agent is your exclusive representative for a set period (usually 60 to 90 days).
Hours and how to reach her
Contact Crye-Leike's Chattanooga office for Patti Dillard's direct phone number or website profile. The firm operates standard business hours Monday through Friday; agents often schedule showings evenings and weekends to match buyer availability. No brick-and-mortar office visit is necessary; the relationship is mobile and phone-based.
Dillard's specialization in Chattanooga's two hottest neighborhoods and her buyer-focused model make her a solid fit for someone ready to move in North Shore or East Brainerd, provided you bring financing readiness and a clear timeline.
