BuySmartFargo · Moorhead · West Fargo · Horace · Minnesota Lake Country
Buy Smart, Buy Right
Home Buying Services in Fargo-Moorhead
Your buyer's agents from first showing to closing day.
Buying a home is one of the biggest emotional and financial decisions you'll make. Jim & Shannon walk every step with you — pre-approval, showings, offer strategy, negotiation, inspections, and closing. No handoffs. No pressure. Just clear advice from two local agents who've done this hundreds of times since 2012.
Your Fargo-Moorhead buyer's agents — since 2012
Real local agents. Real buyer representation.
Modern Market REALTORS® is run by two people you'll actually work with — not a call-center handoff. Hundreds of FM-area buyers have closed with us. We'd love to be your buyer's team next.
Jim Christl
Real Estate Agent · Broker · Co-Founder
Co-Founder and Broker of Modern Market REALTORS®, helping FM buyers since 2012. Jim guides buyers through pre-approval, offer strategy, inspection negotiation, and closing — equal partner with Shannon on every client we represent. Same straightforward advice, zero pressure. Available 7 days a week because real estate doesn't wait for office hours.
Shannon Barnum
Real Estate Agent · Associate Broker · Co-Founder
Co-Founder and Associate Broker of Modern Market REALTORS®, helping FM buyers since 2012. Shannon leads home tours, writes offers, negotiates inspections and price, and walks buyers all the way to the closing table — equal partner with Jim on every client we represent. Same straightforward advice, zero pressure.
What Fargo-Moorhead Is Actually Buying
905 closed sales · last 90 days · NorthstarMLS — real closings, not estimates
Most Bought
Photo finish: splits & bi-levels edge out ramblers
Every number above is a real Fargo-Moorhead closing from the last 90 days. Where do you fit?
Find What You'll Actually Buy →Buying your first home?
See our dedicated First-Time Home Buyer Guide for Fargo-Moorhead
The 7-step process, ND + MN down-payment programs (NDHFA, Minnesota Housing, VA, USDA, FHA), real budgets for FM-area homes, and the mistakes to avoid — all in plain English.
Our Buyer Process
Free Consultation
We'll sit down (or hop on a call) to understand your goals, timeline, budget, and must-haves. No pressure — just honest advice from a local expert.
Get Pre-Approved
We'll connect you with local lenders who know the FM market. Pre-approval tells you exactly what you can afford and makes your offer stronger.
Home Search
Full MLS access, custom listing alerts, and private showings on your schedule. We preview homes before you visit so your time is never wasted.
Make an Offer
We'll craft a competitive offer with a negotiation strategy tailored to the listing. In multiple-offer situations, our experience gives you an edge.
Inspection & Due Diligence
We'll guide you through inspections, appraisals, and any repairs. We work with inspectors we trust and know what red flags to watch for in FM-area homes.
Close & Get Your Keys
We'll walk you through closing costs, final walkthrough, and everything you need to bring to closing day. Then — celebration time.
Just listed & price reduced homes in Fargo-Moorhead
Watch new homes — and motivated sellers
FM-area homes go fast. These are the two surfaces we built for buyers who need to see what's happening before everyone else does.
See new listings the moment they hit MLS
In Fargo-Moorhead, well-priced homes routinely go pending within a week. Buyers without a real-time MLS connection lose homes to those who saw it first. M Premiere tracks every new MLS listing in your target city and refreshes every few minutes — you see it before the portal email blasts go out.
Browse by city: Fargo, West Fargo, Moorhead, Horace, and 14 more FM-area markets — each showing only homes listed in the last 96 hours.
See just-listed homes in FargoFind sellers who've already moved on price
A price drop usually signals a motivated seller — which usually means room to negotiate. M Markdowns surfaces every active price reduction with the original price, current price, dollar drop, and percent off — minimum $2,000 drop to filter noise. See at a glance what's actually a deal.
Sourced directly from NorthstarMLS, updated daily across all FM-area cities and lake country.
See price-reduced homes in FargoYour Dedicated Buyer's Agent
With your interests at the center of every conversation and negotiation, our buyer representation ensures your needs are protected and your questions answered — from first showing to closing day.
Full Representation
We represent you — not the seller. Your interests come first in every negotiation, inspection, and decision.
Local Market Expertise
Whether you're drawn to an established street in Moorhead or a growing community in Horace, we know the nuances of each neighborhood.
Strategic Negotiation
Multiple offers, inspection repairs, closing credits — we've negotiated hundreds of deals and know how to protect your bottom line.
Home Showings — Simplified
No runaround, no wasted weekends. We streamline the showing process so you see the right homes at the right time — with expert insight at every stop.
Browse Listings
Search our site, set up alerts, or tell us what you're looking for — we'll curate homes that match your criteria.
Schedule Showings
Pick times that work for you. We coordinate everything with the listing agent so you just show up.
Get Expert Feedback
After each showing, we'll share our honest take — what we noticed, what to ask about, and how it compares to the market.
What is BuySmart?
BuySmart is Modern Market REALTORS®’ buyer representation for the Fargo-Moorhead area — local REALTORS® Jim Christl and Shannon Barnum guiding you through pre-approval, showings, offer strategy, negotiation, inspections, and closing. No pressure, no handoffs, and buyer representation at no cost to you. The goal is simple: buy smart, buy right.
It's built so you have an experienced local agent representing your interests at every step — writing strong offers and negotiating on your side, at no cost to you.
BuySmart vs. SellSmart: BuySmart is our buyer representation — pre-approval, showings, offers, and negotiation; SellSmart is the seller-side equivalent — pricing, marketing, and negotiating your sale. Same team, opposite side of the deal.
Key features
Buyer Representation
Jim & Shannon represent you, not the seller — writing offers and negotiating in your interest, typically at no cost to the buyer.
Real-Time MLS Access
See new listings the moment they hit NorthstarMLS via M Premiere, and verified price drops via M Markdowns — before national sites catch up.
Every Step Covered
Pre-approval, showings, offer strategy, negotiation, inspections, and closing — no handoffs to a junior agent.
How to use it
Start With a Conversation
Schedule a free, no-pressure consultation to map out your budget, must-haves, and timeline.
Line Up Your Team
Pair BuySmart with BuyReady — our directory of local inspectors, lenders, title companies, and movers — so you're ready the moment your offer is accepted.
Tour and Offer
We set up showings, write strong offers, and negotiate through to closing day.
Live Where You Love
These aren't just places on a map — they're communities where people put down roots, raise families, and build futures. Jim and Shannon will help you connect to the lifestyle you're looking for, with local expertise and a deep appreciation for the places that make this region special.
Metro Living
Downtown condos in Fargo, patio homes in West Fargo, established neighborhoods in Moorhead — urban energy with small-town values.
Suburban & Rural
New construction in Horace, acreages near Kindred, family-friendly neighborhoods in Dilworth and Mapleton — space, great schools, and room to grow.
Lake Country
Detroit Lakes, Walker, Cass Lake — seasonal cabins to year-round lakefront homes with your own dock and sunset views.
What Our Buyers Say
5.0 stars from 78 Google reviews
"Shannon and Jim were very professional and helped us find the perfect place fast. They were able to find us a lender that was perfect, also!! Shannon and Jim know so much about every detail involved in buying or selling a house. I would highly recommend them to anyone!!"
— Verified Buyer
"Shannon and Jim are excellent brokers who know the market. If you're looking to buy or sell, they offer amazing support and knowledge. If you have questions, they are always available to help. Use them — they are local brokers who serve their community!"
— Verified Client
"Jim helped us find our dream home in West Fargo. He was always available, patient with our questions, and his negotiation skills saved us thousands. We couldn't have asked for a better experience. Highly recommend!"
— Verified Buyer
Buyer FAQs
Services You'll Need When Buying
From inspection to closing, here are well-known local companies for every step.
What is BuyReady?
BuyReady is Modern Market REALTORS®’ directory of well-known local home-services companies for Fargo-Moorhead buyers — home inspectors, title companies, movers, contractors, and lenders — to help you move from offer to keys with the resources you need.
It's built so you have the inspector, title company, and movers lined up the moment your offer is accepted — nothing scrambling for a phone number while the clock is running on your closing.
BuyReady vs. ListReady: BuyReady covers buyer-side services — inspectors, title companies, movers; its counterpart ListReady covers seller-side prep — painters, remodelers, property maintenance. Use BuyReady when you're buying, ListReady when you're selling.
Key features
Covers Every Step
Home inspectors, title companies, movers, contractors, and lenders — organized by category, not one long list.
Local Companies Only
Every business listed serves Fargo-Moorhead directly — no national lead-gen sites in between.
Direct Contact Info
Phone numbers and websites go straight to each company — no quote forms or call centers.
How to use it
Start With Your Stage
Just had an offer accepted? Start with Home Inspectors. Heading toward closing? Check Title Companies.
Compare a Few
Each category lists multiple local companies, so you can compare and pick who's the right fit.
Browse Every Category
See BuyReady's full list — plus builders and utilities — on the Home Services directory.
City, Suburbs & Lakes
Uncover local areas across the Fargo-Moorhead metro and Minnesota Lake Country
Fargo‑Moorhead Metro
Minnesota Lake Country
Who Buys What
Your budget has a personality
Where the money actually went over the last 90 days of Fargo-Moorhead closings — and how hard each price band competes.
Under $250K
20% of closings
Ramblers & twin homes · 31 days · 50% sold at/over list
$250–350K
39% of closings
Bi-levels & splits & twin homes · 22 days · 57% sold at/over list
$350–500K
26% of closings
Bi-levels & splits & ramblers · 25 days · 63% sold at/over list
$500K+
15% of closings
Two-stories & ramblers · 23 days · 51% sold at/over list
Whatever your band, the first conversation is free — schedule a consultation below.
Start Your Home Search
Buyer representation is typically at no cost to you — and we negotiate in your best interest.
What You'll Get From This Call:
- ✓ Custom home search — not just what's online
- ✓ Pricing & negotiation strategy
- ✓ Local market insights (Fargo-Moorhead & MN lakes)
- ✓ Access to homes faster with our real-time search platform
- ✓ Direct guidance from Jim & Shannon
Browse Homes by City
Discover by Signal
Listings courtesy of NorthstarMLS as distributed by MLS GRID
Based on information submitted to the MLS GRID as of 07/14/2026, 1:40 AM CST. All data is obtained from various sources and may not have been verified by broker or MLS GRID. Supplied Open House Information is subject to change without notice. All information should be independently reviewed and verified for accuracy. Properties may or may not be listed by the office/agent presenting the information.
IDX information is provided exclusively for consumers' personal, non-commercial use and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties consumers may be interested in purchasing.