From Poland, situation may be different elsewhere: plenty of offers go through real-estate agent adding 3% or sometimes 5% fee. But it is also possible to buy

From Poland, situation may be different elsewhere: plenty of offers go through real-estate agent adding 3% or sometimes 5% fee. But it is also possible to buy directly from owners who just post their offers. > discovering homes Done via websites. Some with paid access for contact detail, but price minuscule compared to a real estate cost or fee taken by a real estate agent. Websites are also funded by paying for positioning of ad by seller. > securing loans Can be done via going to a bank (and in Poland real-estate agent is usually not doing it anyway). > touring the place, inspection, sending offers Done by seller and buyer > closing and signing the deed Done at notary, also would be done at notary in case of a real-estate agent