I am a real estate agent licensed in Maryland and Washington, DC, and here’s what I recommend.
If you have not thoroughly interviewed the agent, ask:
1. Of which professional real estate association are you a member and what professional designations do you have? This will indicate how willing s/he is to continually invest in education and research in our field, and how up-to-date their knowledge is.
2. Do you focus on buyers or sellers most?
3. What specific knowledge do you have of the area in which I am interested in buying?
4. Do you understand my top three priorities for this purchase? (location, size of home or lot, room characteristics, ability to expand, price/value, specific amenities, etc.)
5. Who are the industry professionals with whom you work regularly, and what benefits will they offer to me? (lenders, appraisers, inspectors, remodelers, attorneys, etc. re. discounts, education, problem solving, representation, etc.)
6. What is the best way for us to communicate and when/about which issues or decisions do you typically communicate with your buyer clients?

You can call the local/regional licensing board to make sure the agent is licensed and has no complaints or judgments against him/her.

Now, about the property:
1. Based on your top 3-5 priorities, the agent should be able to show you BEFORE you tour the property how the property meets your needs. This will be based on the printed full listing describing the property and public property tax records, the asking price and potential seller concessions like closing cost money or decorating allowance, the financing allowed (which should match what you intend to use from your lender), the property taxes and condo/homeownership association fees, and other specifics like utilities, potential ground rent, zoning for rental or other use, age, etc.
2. Ask what type of sale it will be – standard owner to buyer, sold by a third party like a bank as during a foreclosure, a pre-foreclosure or short sale, etc. and the implications on documentation you will need to provide, timing for the transaction, number of inspections or appraisals, whether you must use a specific type of lender, appraiser or inspector, etc.
3. The agent should be able to make a recommendation on the price range you should offer and seller concessions you should request based on their showing you comparable (i.e., similar no. of rooms, floors, size of lot, age, amenities) sales in the past 3-6 months and comparable properties currently for sale in the same zip code.
4. You can also take the initiative to call utility companies for high and low monthly average costs for the final 1 or 2 properties you are considering purchasing. This will allow you to create a budget before you make an offer and increase your confidence that you can afford to STAY in the house.

I’ll stop here. I think these are the essentials. Feel free to get back to me if you need clarification.

Valarie

Walk thru a lot of houses before you make any decision. With a Realtor that represents you (a buyer’s agent as opposed to the agent that is working for the seller).

Once you find the right house with your agent. Ask for data about other houses that have recently sold in that neighborhood. Ask about the area schools and parks and about the crime statistics. The location is impossible to change so you want to know all about that first.

Then ask about this house. Is there a seller’s disclosure? If so, do you understand everything on it? Make sure you get a home inspection and that you are present while that is being done so that you can ask the inspector questions (what does that mark mean? why is there a space between those bricks? How should I take care of my water heater? etc.).

I am guessing that you already have a pre approval on your loan and that you will be taking a close friend with you to look at all these houses.

Age of the property:
Taxes for the prop.
Age of the furnace
Any major problems/disclosures?:

First of all, remember that the real estate agent that you are meeting is most likely representing the seller of the property NOT you, the buyer. You really want to be sure that they are representing you and your interests as well (often called dual agency). If not, you should consider hiring a REALTOR to represent you exclusively as the buyer. Remember, that it is commonly free for you because all REALTOR fees (for both the listing and selling agent) are generally paid by the seller.

As far as questions to ask…ask the agent to see a copy of the “Sellers Disclosures Statement”. This form has most of the questions you will want to ask, such as ‘how old is the roof, heat & air…are there cracks in the foundation, has their ever been flooding…etc. etc.). This form will be very helpful and will lead you into the right path to ask more questions.

I hope this helps. Good luck!

You need to think of what is your wish list for this smaller home. If you find that you are interested in the home then you should request the sellers disclosure form, as this will give you a lot of information on the homes condition and upkeep.
As for other type questions you will find as you walk through the house there will be questions that will come to you, and do not worry if they sound like smart or dumb questions. Keep in mind that the dumbest question is the one you never asked. Asking is the only way to learn.
Good Luck