real estate agents

Is it just me but sometimes you just don't know what's happening with the housing markets these days. Properties just seem to be on and off in a matter of minutes. And is it me or are real estate agents are just not a very helpful bunch... you never seem to know if they're just hyping the market and they don't seem that helpful, all they seem to care is to get the transaction over and done with and doesn't care about how much pressure and stress you go through.
Sorry for the rant but on multiple occasions they get me nowhere and you spend day after day hoping the offer you put forth will get accepted. Even then that's just only the first step and the whole process seems so shambolic anything can happen and the deal just fall through.

Anyone have these unfortunate experience?