Mark Andrews in Baltimore: A Buyer's Agent Focused on First-Time Homebuyers

Mark Andrews works as a buyer's agent with Keller Williams Select Realtors, a regional brokerage operating across Maryland and Washington, D.C. His practice centers on representing first-time buyers navigating Baltimore's market, where median home prices have ranged from $280,000 to $320,000 in recent years depending on neighborhood. Unlike listing agents who represent sellers, buyer's agents like Andrews work on commission (typically 2.5 to 3 percent of the sale price, paid by the seller's proceeds) and are legally bound to their client's interests.

What a buyer's agent does

When you hire Andrews, you gain legal representation in a real estate transaction. His job is to find homes matching your criteria, explain financing and contingency options, help you assess fair market value for a property, and negotiate on your behalf. He does not charge you a fee upfront; instead, he splits the commission the seller pays at closing. This structure means you can work with a buyer's agent at no direct cost, though the commission comes from the total sale price.

Andrews holds a Maryland real estate license and works under the Keller Williams Select Realtors umbrella, a brokerage that franchises across multiple states. Within that framework, individual agents maintain their own client bases and reputation. For first-time buyers in Baltimore, this arrangement offers access to market knowledge without an initial cash outlay, though the incentive structure means the agent benefits from closing any deal, not necessarily from finding you the best deal.

Services and how buyer's agents compare

A buyer's agent's core services include market analysis, showing properties, and negotiation. Andrews guides clients through pre-approval (confirming how much a lender will loan you), tours homes in chosen neighborhoods, researches comparable sales to assess whether a listing price is realistic, and drafts or reviews your offer. He also coordinates inspections, appraisals, and title work leading up to closing.

The Baltimore market offers other ways to buy. You can work directly with listing agents (who represent the seller) without your own representation, though this leaves you unrepresented in negotiations. You can also buy without an agent at all (FSBO, or "for sale by owner"), which saves commission but requires you to handle all negotiations, paperwork, and due diligence yourself. For first-time buyers unfamiliar with Maryland contract law or local neighborhoods, unrepresented buying typically creates more risk than savings.

Keller Williams Select Realtors competes locally with independent brokerages like Coldwell Banker, Century 21, and smaller neighborhood-focused firms. Keller Williams is larger and offers agents access to their technology platform and training but does not meaningfully differ from competitors in agent quality or local expertise. The choice between Andrews and another buyer's agent typically depends on communication style, responsiveness, and whether they know the specific neighborhoods you're targeting (Canton, Federal Hill, Hampden, Fells Point, or further out into Baltimore County).

Who benefits most from working with Andrews

A first-time buyer with limited knowledge of Baltimore neighborhoods, financing, or negotiation benefits most from having a dedicated buyer's agent. Someone relocating to the city or buying in an unfamiliar area gains an objective local guide. Buyers also benefit if they're juggling competing offers, need to move quickly, or want to understand whether a property's asking price is inflated.

You do not need a buyer's agent if you are a repeat buyer with strong familiarity of Baltimore's market and negotiation experience, or if you've found a specific property through FSBO and prefer direct contact with the seller. You may also skip representation if you're purchasing through a corporate relocation program that includes agent services, or if you're buying new construction directly from a builder (though having your own agent at a new-build can still protect you).

How your first conversation with Andrews works

Initial contact typically happens by phone or email. Andrews asks about your budget, timeline, desired neighborhoods, and must-haves in a property (school district if you have children, parking, outdoor space). He explains the pre-approval process and refers you to lenders he's worked with, though you can choose your own. Once you're pre-approved, he schedules showings at properties matching your criteria. After you identify a property you want to pursue, Andrews helps you estimate a competitive offer price based on recent comparable sales, drafts the offer, and submits it on your behalf.

Hours, location, and practical details

Keller Williams Select Realtors operates across Maryland and D.C., with offices in multiple locations. Andrews conducts much of his work remotely (phone, email, video showing coordination) and meets clients at properties or a Keller Williams office. Real estate transactions operate on client schedules rather than office hours, so showings and negotiations can occur evenings and weekends. If you need to verify his current contact information or office location, confirm directly with Keller Williams Select Realtors, as agent affiliations and brokerage locations may shift.

Mark Andrews represents an accessible entry point for Baltimore first-time buyers who want professional negotiation and market knowledge without upfront cost. The key is evaluating whether his responsiveness, neighborhood knowledge, and approach align with your specific purchase goals.