If you've decided to work with a dual agent, this will need to be disclosed to both buyer and seller, and they both have to agree, in writing. Dual agents are bound by law and ethics to treat both buyers and sellers honestly, equally, and fairly. Dual agents can be prevented from divulging confidential information about each party to other. This could severely harm negotiating positions.

The bottom line in dealing with a dual agent is to remember that buyer and seller have conflicting interests in price and other terms of sale. It's very difficult for an agent to truly and equally represent both parties, since conflicting interests make that inherently impossible. If you do choose to use a dual agent, be sure exact nature of your relationship with dual agent is clear, know what services agent will be performing for you during transaction, how agent will be paid, and how any conflicts that arise will be handled.

Most items in a loan are subject to negotiation. If you haven't signed loan papers yet, and you find that your loan has a prepayment penalty, you might offer to pay an additional closing point or so to see if it can be removed. The key at this stage is that if you agree to prepayment penalty, you should try to find ways to reduce either amount, term, or both as much as possible.

If you already have a loan, you are bound by terms of document, unless you can negotiate them. There are perfectly legitimate reasons why you may want to pay off a note early - most often, due either to refinancing or selling house. You may be able to contact your lender to see if they will waive prepayment penalty if they are able to provide refinancing. If interest rates have dropped a lot, and you can't get out of prepayment penalty, it may be worth rolling that amount into a new loan. And of course, try to get new loan without a prepayment penalty.