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What to Know About Working With Maritza Lopez as Your Real Estate Agent

By Constance Obi · Culture & Recreation Writer

Who Maritza Lopez Is and What She Does

Maritza Lopez is a real estate agent serving South Carolina. She works with buyers and sellers navigating the residential property market, helping clients understand their options, review contracts, and move through the buying or selling process. Like other agents in the state, she holds a South Carolina real estate license and operates under a brokerage firm.

Real estate agents in South Carolina are regulated by the South Carolina Real Estate Commission. They cannot close sales themselves—that happens through a title company or attorney—but they represent clients' interests in finding properties, negotiating terms, and coordinating the steps between offer and closing.

Key Takeaways

  • Maritza Lopez is a licensed real estate agent in South Carolina who works with buyers and sellers on residential property transactions.
  • Real estate agents do not set prices or determine what a property is worth; they provide information about comparable sales and market conditions to help clients decide.
  • Agents typically earn commission only when a sale closes, so their payment depends on the transaction completing successfully.
  • You can interview multiple agents before choosing one, and you are not obligated to sign an exclusive agreement with any agent.
  • The South Carolina Real Estate Commission oversees all licensed agents and handles complaints about conduct or violations of state law.

How Real Estate Agents Work in South Carolina

When you hire an agent to sell your home, the agent lists the property in the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), a shared database that other agents and their clients can search. The agent markets the property, schedules showings, and communicates offers from buyers. When you hire an agent to buy, the agent searches available listings, arranges viewings, and helps you make and negotiate offers.

Agents do not work for free. In a typical sale, the seller's agent and the buyer's agent split a commission, usually a percentage of the final sale price. That percentage varies by agreement and market—there is no standard rate set by law. The seller typically pays both commissions from the proceeds of the sale, though buyers and sellers can negotiate different arrangements.

An agent's income depends entirely on closing sales. If a transaction falls through, the agent receives nothing. This structure means agents have incentive to help deals move forward, but it also means you should understand what advice is coming from an agent's financial interest versus what is based on your actual needs.

What to Expect When Working With an Agent

If you contact Maritza Lopez or any agent about buying or selling, expect an initial conversation about your situation—your timeline, budget, the type of property you want, or the condition of the home you are selling. The agent will likely ask to meet in person or schedule a call to discuss details.

For sellers, the agent will tour your home, research comparable sales in your area, and suggest a listing price. You are not required to accept that suggestion; the final price is your decision. The agent will then create a listing with photos, a description, and details about the property, and place it in the MLS.

For buyers, the agent will search the MLS for properties matching your criteria, arrange showings, and help you understand what you are seeing. When you want to make an offer, the agent prepares the contract, submits it to the seller's agent, and communicates counteroffers back and forth until both sides agree or one side walks away.

Questions to Ask Before Hiring an Agent

You do not have to work with the first agent you meet. It is reasonable to interview two or three agents and compare how they explain the process, what they know about your neighborhood or market, and how they plan to market your property or find you a home.

Ask an agent how long they have been licensed, what types of properties they typically work with, and how many sales they closed in the past year. Ask whether they work full-time in real estate or part-time. Ask what marketing tools they use—online advertising, open houses, direct mail—and whether they have experience in the specific neighborhood or price range you are interested in.

For sellers, ask the agent to explain how they arrived at their suggested listing price and what comparable sales they used. For buyers, ask how the agent will help you understand the market and avoid overpaying. You can also ask for references from past clients, though agents are not required to provide them.

Understanding Contracts and Representation

When you decide to work with an agent, you will typically sign a contract. For sellers, this is a listing agreement that gives the agent the right to market your home for a set period, usually 90 days or six months. For buyers, this may be a buyer representation agreement that commits you to working with that agent for a set time.

These agreements are negotiable. You can ask for a shorter term, a lower commission rate, or different terms before signing. You can also choose not to sign an exclusive agreement and work with an agent on a transaction-by-transaction basis, though many agents prefer exclusivity.

If you sign an agreement and later want to end it, review the contract for the cancellation terms. Some agreements allow you to cancel with written notice; others require you to pay a fee or forfeit commission if you sell the property yourself during the agreement period.

What Happens at Closing

The agent's role largely ends once an offer is accepted and the sale moves into the closing phase. A title company or real estate attorney handles the legal paperwork, the inspection, the appraisal, and the final walkthrough. The agent may attend closing or may simply receive confirmation that the sale closed and the commission was paid.

Closing typically takes 30 to 45 days from the time an offer is accepted, though this varies based on the buyer's financing, any inspection issues, and how quickly both sides respond to requests. The agent cannot speed up this process, but they can help coordinate between the title company, the lender, and the other agent to keep things moving.

How to File a Complaint About an Agent

If you believe an agent has violated South Carolina law or acted unethically, you can file a complaint with the South Carolina Real Estate Commission. The Commission investigates complaints about unlicensed practice, misrepresentation, failure to disclose conflicts of interest, commingling of client funds, and other violations of the South Carolina Real Estate License Law.

To file a complaint, visit the South Carolina Real Estate Commission website or contact them by mail or phone. You will need to describe what happened, when it happened, and what harm you believe you suffered. The Commission will review your complaint and decide whether to investigate. If they find a violation, they can issue a warning, require retraining, suspend the agent's license, or revoke it entirely.

Filing a complaint does not cost money and does not require you to hire a lawyer, though you can do so if you choose. The Commission's investigation is separate from any civil lawsuit you might file to recover money damages.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

No. You can sell your home yourself (called a "for sale by owner" or FSBO sale) or buy directly from a seller without an agent. However, you will need to handle marketing, showings, contract negotiation, and coordination with the title company yourself. Many people find an agent's experience and access to the MLS worth the commission cost.

Can an agent represent both the buyer and the seller in the same transaction?

Yes, but only with written consent from both sides. This is called dual agency. It creates a conflict of interest because the agent cannot fully advocate for one side without potentially harming the other. If an agent proposes dual agency, understand that they cannot push as hard on your behalf as an agent representing only you would.

What if I find a home on my own and want to make an offer without an agent?

You can make an offer directly to the seller or their agent. If the seller's agent is involved, they will likely ask whether you are represented by an agent. If you are not, the seller's agent may offer to represent you as well (dual agency) or you can choose to hire your own agent to represent your interests in the negotiation.

How much commission do real estate agents charge?

Commission rates vary and are negotiable. There is no set percentage required by law. Rates typically range from 4 to 6 percent of the sale price, split between the seller's agent and the buyer's agent, but this depends on the local market, the property, and what you agree to in writing.

What should I do if I think an agent misrepresented a property to me?

Document what the agent said and what you later discovered to be untrue. Contact the agent in writing and explain the issue. If the agent does not respond or you are not satisfied, you can file a complaint with the South Carolina Real Estate Commission. You can also consult a real estate attorney about whether you have grounds for a civil claim.