If you're a buyer and want to look in a region like the suburbs of a big city you want someone who knows more than one community. If, however, you want to live in a specific town or neighborhood, you may want someone who really specializes in local real estate and has superior knowledge of the community you want to call home.

As a seller, your concern when someone gets spread out is time. Since an agent can't be two places at once, having listings that are spread over a 25-mile radius can be a problem, particularly if you want your advisor to attend all showings of your home.