We're talking gradations of responsibility, now. In the same way a lawyer works for you, a buyer's agent works for the buyer. Emphasis on works for. My unders

We're talking gradations of responsibility, now. In the same way a lawyer works for you, a buyer's agent works for the buyer. Emphasis on works for. My understanding is they are under obligations to (a) attempt to realize your stated goals & (b) ensure everything is done properly on the paperwork side. If you say "I want to pay $750,000 for a house that appraises for $450,000", I don't think they have an obligation to say "You should probably pay less / not buy that property." As you've rightly noted, there is a conflict of interest (mostly with speed of deal, rather than price). But ultimately it's the buyer's responsibility to set the terms of the deal.