We bought for the first time in 2021, when interest rates were at the very bottom and the market was absolutely insane. The only reason we got a house (and one we like!) was because we had a really good agent who helped us navigate the market.

Doing it a second time in a saner market, I would be more inclined to do it ourselves and negotiate a 3% discount on the house. But successfully buying a house at rock bottom interest rates was totally worth the cost.