Do I need a real estate agent to buy or sell a home?

The short answer

Legally no, practically usually yes. Pricing judgment, negotiation leverage, contract management, and off-market intel are hard to replicate solo, and unrepresented parties often concede more in negotiation than the fee would have cost. If you go without one, hire a real estate attorney for the contract at minimum. The quality of the agent matters more than whether you have one — Kai can help you evaluate candidates.