In Episode 8 of the Blueprint Finance Podcast, we dive deep into a critical question every Kiwi homebuyer should be asking: Whose agent are they anyway? We're joined by Alex Martelli, founder of Martelli Buyer's Agents, a force challenging the traditional, seller-focused real estate agent model still popular in New Zealand.Recorded in May 2025, Alex pulls back the curtain on the "battle for buyer loyalty." With extensive international experience, she reveals why she returned to NZ to champion the buyer, navigating a system often skewed against them. Is the agent showing you houses truly on your side, or are their loyalties elsewhere? Alex Martelli is here to arm you with the truth.In this episode, you’ll uncover: • The often-blurred lines of agent loyalty in NZ and why a true buyer's advocate is a game-changer. • Alex's journey: from global property markets to pioneering a buyer-first agency against the grain in New Zealand. • The cultural and regulatory "wars" fought to establish a service that exclusively represents your best interests as a buyer. • The myth busted: Why dedicated buyer's agents aren't just for the elite – and how they're empowering everyone from first-timers to seasoned investors. • Insider strategies for the (May 2025) market: how to cut through the noise of high stock, scrutinise new builds, and unearth elusive off-market deals when others can't. • Negotiation tactics from the trenches: how Alex "locks horns" and uses "silence" to win for her clients. • Auction room secrets: decoding agent tactics and bidding with a strategy that protects your bottom line, not the seller's.00:00:26 Introducing Alex Martelli: The Buyer's Advocate in a Seller's World00:02:39 The Big Question: Why is True Buyer Representation So Rare in NZ?00:04:12 Battling the System: Regulatory & Cultural Challenges to Putting Buyers First00:06:01 Conflict of Interest? How Selling Agents "Working With" Buyers Still Serve the Vendor00:06:56 Buyer's Agent vs. Seller's Agent: Exposing the Critical Differences00:08:59 Who Really Needs a Buyer's Agent? (The Answer Might Surprise You)00:10:00 FOMO & Full Budgets: How Buyers Unknowingly Give Away Their Power00:13:06 Negotiation Warfare: Tactics to Win When Locking Horns00:15:07 Auckland Market (May 2025): Navigating Record Stock & Dodgy New Builds00:18:14 The "Black Market" of Property: Finding Off-Market Deals00:21:06 The Future: Will Buyers Finally Get the Upper Hand in NZ?00:24:48 Auction Takedown: Strategies to Avoid Emotional Overbids & Agent Traps00:28:02 The Pre-Auction Ambush: When to Strike Before the Competition00:30:39 Misled by Listing Agents? Hearing What You Want to Hear vs. Reality00:32:12 Market Forecast: Where Are Prices Really Heading?Key Takeaways:Challenge Allegiances: Question whose interests your agent truly serves. In a transaction, there are two sides – ensure you have dedicated representation.Arm Yourself with Knowledge: Understand the tactics and market realities that can be used against uninformed buyers.Level the Playing Field: Discover how a dedicated buyer's agent can shift the power dynamic in your favour, from first viewing to final signature.Enjoying this? Take the next step with Blueprint Finance: We’ve got the tools, insights, and expert advice to help you take charge of your life plans.

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