Why do real estate agents have websites? From the agent's perspective, it's their business card. Their website is a way to promote themselves. From the consumer's perspective, probably the most important reason to view an agent's website is to see what homes are for sale in their area and what the list prices are.
Until recently only homes available for sale have been shown on agent websites. The MLS (Multiple Listing Service) rules have excluded sold properties from being displayed to the public. This omission is going to change in the near future. Just as open house directories are now available for public viewing, the sold properties are going to be available as well. This option will allow the public to research what price their neighbor really got for their house without waiting months for county records to be updated!
If you haven't availed yourself of the "Search for Properties" link on this blog's right sidebar (click on the little cottage), you might want to check it out. Times have "a-changed" and much is available through this property search. If your honey is deer hunting, you can get some friends together and tour the Sunday open houses. (Note I did not identify a gender for those hunters!) If you're more seriously thinking about buying and want to know if you qualify for the house up the street, there is a mortgage calculator available for every listing you choose. You can adjust the amount of downpayment, interest rate, etc., and see how each of those factors changes your payment amount. If you want to view a property, you can make the request on-line by checking the "set up a showing" box.
The addition of "sold" properties will give you the option of checking prices for sales in your neighorhood. Remember, however, that the prices will not be published until after the closing. This is a protection for the seller in case the closing does not happen. If the home goes back on the market, the seller usually does not want the price they accepted (especially if it was less than the list price) published for future buyers to see.
Using this feature on a local real estate agent's website will provide you with much more accurate information if you are curious about prices. Consumers access to listing information will still be more limited than what is given to agents, so remember to give me a call or send an e-mail if you'd rather I do the work for you!
We have Zillow to thank for forcing us to change our ridiculous rules against displaying sold listings...
Posted by: Kevin | October 30, 2006 at 11:47 PM
We have Zillow to thank for forcing us to change our ridiculous rules against displaying sold listings...
Posted by: Kevin | October 30, 2006 at 11:43 PM