An EBA or associated broker does not take or hold listings or represent the seller or landlord in any way, nor do the agents working under or for him/her.
In many states, by law, the broker, or agent must have a written agency agreement to represent the buyer exclusively.
In November 1985 California entrepreneur Ridgely Evers' America's First Home Store opened in Chandler, Arizona, as the first Exclusive Buyer Brokerage in the USA.
In the opinion of EBAs, it is not possible to faithfully represent the best interests of opposing clients, in the same transaction, simultaneously.
[citation needed] The service structure for EBA real estate practitioners is to show buyers all possible listings from other cooperating brokers as well as all other sources, such as for sale by owners.