One way to find an agent is to go to open houses, but this is not recommended. The real estate company holding the open house is representing the seller. At best, the person greeting you and asking you to sign in would be "designated" to be your representative, whereas the listing agent for the seller would be another "designee". Your designated broker may not even offer an agency relationship--which in many states has to be in writing-- so you by default may simply get assigned a "transaction broker" who has no obligation to represent either the buyer or the seller.