The answer
How to choose a realtor in Eugene, Oregon: interview two or three full-time agents who sell your exact pocket — South Hills is not Bethel, Springfield is not Eugene, Florence is a coastal calendar. Ask the same questions of each: how many files they closed, buyer vs listing side, how they get paid in writing, and proof you can check (solds + named Google reviews). Skip directory badges. Team Burke publishes $60M+ (2025), #1 team in Lane County, and 4.9 Google stars, then puts a named specialist on the file. Call 541-968-0423.
1. How long have you been selling homes in Eugene?
A statewide Oregon license is not Eugene fluency. Ask how long they have listed and sold in the pocket you care about — not how long they have been “in real estate.” Jon Burke has been licensed in Oregon since 2012, ranks among the top 1% of Realtors in Lane County for more than 15 years, and has been a sales leader in Coburg Hills for more than a decade. Melissa came from Western Title & Escrow (2017). Cheyenne spent nine years in title sales. Shawna is second-generation on this desk. Years in the valley beat a portal profile.
2. Do you work as a realtor full-time?
Part-timers miss the 48-hour listing. Eugene inventory that is priced to the last three solds does not wait for someone’s Tuesday off. Ask if this is their full-time job and how many files they actually closed last year — “working with buyers” is not the same as closing. Team Burke is a full-time desk at Triple Oaks Realty. If an agent cannot put a closed count next to the year, keep interviewing.
3. What pockets do you actually sell?
Oregon agents can sell anywhere in the state. That is not a reason to hire them for your street. 97405 South Hills is not 97402 Bethel. Cal Young is not Santa Clara. Springfield 19 is not Eugene 4J. Florence runs on a coastal calendar — we will not price Old Town like a Cal Young ranch. Ask for similar solds in the exact pocket, not a city median. If they cannot name the pocket without looking at Zillow, they are not the hire.
4. Buyer’s agent or listing agent on my file?
The listing agent works for the seller. A buyer’s agent writes the offer, reads the inspection, and will tell you to walk. Dual agency is legal in Oregon; we still say out loud who we represent before you tour. If you are only buying, Shawna Locken leads first-time and family files. If you are listing, Jon Burke runs luxury and ranch; Stacy Haugen (SRES®) runs later-life. Ask the ratio: how much of their year is buyers vs sellers. Then hire that job, not a generalist slogan.
5. How do you get paid? Put it in writing.
Since 2024, buyer-broker compensation is not an automatic MLS line item. You should have a written agreement before touring. The fee is negotiated. We put it on paper before the first showing and will not hide it behind “the seller always pays.” Ask every Eugene desk the same question — including us. We will not invent a percent on this page because it is a file-by-file number. Request the number in writing, then compare.
6. Who covers if you are busy?
Houses do not wait for one person’s Saturday. Ask if they work solo or on a team, and who you will actually text after you sign. Lead mills disappear after the portal form. Team Burke is six named specialists at Triple Oaks Realty on Green Acres Road — Jon, Stacy, Melissa, Cheyenne, Shawna, Samantha — not a shared statewide inbox. If your agent is in a showing, someone on this desk can still get you into the next one.
7. Can I see similar solds and named reviews?
Team Burke closed more than $60 million in real estate sales in 2025. #1 real estate team in Lane County with the highest average sales price among leading local teams. Google shows 4.9 stars from 23 reviews for Team Burke, Luxury Home Specialists. Open the proof table, recent solds, and the Google Business Profile — the map pack is still how most “realtor near me” calls start. Directory “top agent” badges are not a file. Ask for last names on reviews and addresses that look like yours.
8. How will you market a listing — or write an offer — in this market?
Sellers: ask for the first-week plan, not a generic MLS dump. Samantha stages so the photos are the house. Buyers: ask how they write an offer a listing agent will actually read, and whether they will lose a house rather than win a bad one. Limited Lane County inventory still rewards speed and honesty. If the marketing plan is “we put it on Zillow,” keep walking.
9. Will you tell me to wait or walk?
The honest broker loses a house rather than win a bad one. Ask what they last talked a client out of. If they cannot name a walk, they are selling the commission. Team Burke will say when 97405 is theater for your payment, when Springfield is the actual fit, and when Florence only works if you have felt Highway 126 in January.
10. What makes you the hire vs a directory badge?
Heart & Home, Hybrid, Equinox, and Windermere all sell Lane County. FastExpert and Yelp sell badges. Interview every desk the same way: similar solds, a written plan, who answers after you sign. Team Burke competes on pocket fluency, a published specialist roster, CLHS process, and reviews you can verify on Google — not a statewide lead mill. We will not publish a fake ranked list of 50 agents. We will put our number next to anyone you also call.
After you decide, which page to open
Hire the desk on the Eugene realtor page. Compare proof on best real estate agents. Buyer-only files go to the buyer’s-agent URL. Springfield and Florence have their own hire doors so three cities do not share one essay. If you already know the specialist, call 541-968-0423 or email jon@teamburke.org and skip the maze.
Questions to ask a realtor before you hire
| Ask | Why it matters | Team Burke |
|---|---|---|
| Are you full-time? How many files closed last year? | Part-timers miss the 48-hour listing | $60M+ team volume in 2025 |
| Do you sell this pocket, or the whole metro? | 97405 is not 97402; Springfield is not Eugene | Named specialists by city and file type |
| Buyer’s agent or listing agent? | The listing broker works for the seller | Shawna for buys; Jon / Stacy for listings |
| Solo or a team who covers if you are busy? | Houses do not wait for one person’s Saturday | Six-person desk at Triple Oaks Realty |
| How do you get paid? Put it in writing. | Compensation is negotiated — not an old MLS default | Written agreement before we tour |
| Who answers after I sign? | Lead mills disappear after the portal form | Direct cell, not a shared inbox |
| Can I see similar solds and named reviews? | Directory badges are not a file | 4.9 Google · solds you can open |
| Will you tell me to wait or walk? | The honest broker loses a house rather than win a bad one | We will say it out loud |
Desk-published 2026-09 · NAR 2025: 88% of buyers and 91% of sellers used an agent. Compensation is negotiated per file — we do not print a fake percent here.
What clients say
“Team Burke far surpassed every expectation marketing our home and 16-acre property. Every promise was kept. They were available without exception — and the house sold in less than 30 days.”
Lane County seller · Acreage · Eugene
“The well, the septic, and the driveway were the actual house. Cheyenne already knew which questions to ask before we fell in love with the gate.”
Acreage buyers · Lane County
“First house, first offer, first inspection. Shawna explained every step the way a good teacher would — clearly, and without making us feel behind.”
First-time buyers · Springfield
“Samantha staged so the photos looked like the house we actually lived in — not a hotel, not a storage unit. The first weekend proved it.”
Listing sellers · Eugene
“We moved from Florence and needed someone who understood both the coast file and the Eugene close. Melissa already knew how title would behave.”
Coast-to-valley buyers · Florence to Eugene
“We have bought and sold houses in different states, but Jon impressed us the most. He made sure we fixed what needed fixing before it hit the market. The house sold within a week.”
Repeat clients · Eugene
The desk
Questions we actually get
How do I choose a realtor?+
Interview two or three agents with the same questions: full-time, this pocket, buyer vs seller, written compensation, and proof (solds + named reviews). In Eugene, start with Team Burke’s proof table, then call 541-968-0423.
How do I choose a real estate agent in Eugene, Oregon?+
Same checklist, local proof. Team Burke at Triple Oaks Realty publishes 2025 volume, Lane County team rank, Google reviews, and a named specialist for the file. Hire on the Eugene realtor page after you read this.
What questions should I ask a realtor before hiring?+
Are you full-time, how many homes closed last year, do you sell this pocket, buyer or listing side, how do you get paid in writing, who covers if you are busy, and can I call recent clients. The table on this page is that interview.
How much do realtors charge?+
Compensation is negotiated per file and belongs in a written agreement before you tour. We will not print a fake percent here. Ask us — and every other desk — to put the number on paper.
Who pays the realtor — buyer or seller?+
It depends on the agreement. Since 2024, buyer-broker pay is not an automatic MLS offer. Get it in writing before showings. Team Burke will not hide the fee.
Do I need a realtor to buy a house?+
NAR’s 2025 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers found 88% of buyers used an agent. You need someone who will lose a house rather than win a bad one. The listing agent does not work for you.
What is the difference between a realtor and a real estate agent?+
A real estate agent is licensed. A REALTOR® belongs to the National Association of REALTORS® and follows that code of ethics. Team Burke brokers are Realtors at Triple Oaks Realty. For hiring, pocket solds and a written plan still beat the trademark.
Should I interview more than one realtor?+
Yes. Ask each the same questions. Zillow found 59% of sellers only contact one agent — that is how people hire the first callback instead of the right pocket. Interview us the same way.
How do I find a good realtor near me in Eugene?+
Search Team Burke Triple Oaks Realty on Google, read named reviews, then open this page and the proof table. “Realtor near me” is won in the map pack — we ask for a Google review after every close.
Who should I call at Team Burke after I decide?+
Call 541-968-0423 or email jon@teamburke.org. Tell us the pocket and whether you are buying, selling, or both. We match Jon, Shawna, Stacy, Melissa, Cheyenne, or Samantha — not a shared inbox.