How Do I Choose a Realtor in New Albany, Indiana?

Pick someone who holds an active Indiana real estate license, works in Floyd County often, and explains things clearly before you sign anything. Talk with two or three agents, check their license on the state's free lookup, and read the written buyer agreement Indiana requires before you commit.

People across the river ask it all the time: "Can anyone recommend a reliable realtor?" Here's how to choose one in New Albany, Floyd County, Indiana, even from Louisville.

Start With an Active Indiana License

Real estate licenses work state by state. An agent who sells homes in Louisville may hold only a Kentucky license. Per the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency (PLA), a broker licensed in another state has to apply in Indiana and pass the state part of the exam before Indiana issues a license.

The PLA's free Search and Verify tool shows whether a license is active. Check it even when a friend recommended the person.

The New Albany Detail: Indiana Requires a Written Buyer Agreement

Since July 1, 2024, Indiana law says a broker who represents you as a buyer needs a written agreement with you. The PLA's announcement says it can be on paper or electronic, and it must show a definite expiration date (Indiana Code 25-34.1-12).

Read it before you sign. Look for:

• How long it lasts. You can ask for a shorter term while you get to know someone.
• What it covers. Just New Albany, or all of Southern Indiana?
• How the agent gets paid. Pay is set by your agreement, not by law, and it's negotiable.
• How to end it early. Ask before you need to.

This isn't legal advice. If something in an agreement isn't clear, ask an Indiana real estate attorney before you sign.

Questions to Ask Before You Choose

Phone or video calls work fine from out of town. Ask:

• How many buyers have you helped in Floyd County this past year?
• Have you helped someone move here from Kentucky?
• How will we see homes if I can't be here every weekend?
• Will I work with you day to day, or with someone on your team?
• How fast do you usually answer calls and texts?

Good answers are specific. Be careful with anyone who promises a price, a rate or a result. Nobody can promise those.

Also ask about limited agency. That's when one agent or brokerage represents both the buyer and the seller in the same sale. Under Indiana Code 25-34.1-10-12, it's allowed only with written consent from all parties.

A Tip From a Local Agent

Ask each agent to walk you through a recent New Albany purchase from offer to closing, no names needed. Listen for the local steps: the inspection, the appraisal, the title company, and filing your homestead deduction with the Floyd County Auditor once it's your main home. If they explain that plainly on a phone call, they'll likely explain your deal plainly too.

Related Questions

Should I use the same Realtor to sell my New Albany house and buy my next one?

You can, and many people do so one person handles the timing. You'll sign a listing agreement to sell and a separate buyer agreement to buy, since Indiana has required both in writing since July 1, 2024.

What help is available to first-time buyers in New Albany?

The Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority (IHCDA) offers down payment help through programs like First Step, through participating lenders. A first-time buyer generally hasn't owned a main home in three years, though buyers in targeted areas and eligible veterans are exempt. See our first-time buyer guide.

Which school district is my New Albany address in?

Public schools in New Albany are run by the New Albany-Floyd County Consolidated School Corporation (NAFCS). Check a specific address with NAFCS directly, since attendance areas can change.

Moving from across the river and have questions? Send them anytime. Summit Edge Realty is glad to be a local resource, even if you already have an agent. More local answers are on our New Albany, Indiana real estate page.

Rob Gaines, Summit Edge Realty | Keller Williams Realty Consultants

Updated October 2026