Zillow Advice: Home Buying - Why use a Realtor?

I'm seeing a lot of bogus ...

Mon, 10 Dec 2007 06:34:00 GMT

I'm seeing a lot of bogus home sale listing data on Zillow. Too many people are able to update Zillow. Homes that aren't actually for sale are listed at ridiculously low prices. Just found a home actually for sale listed at about 1/2 the actual asking price on the MLS. Found a couple other homes that aren't really on the market listed as being for sale. All within a few minutes. There is no licensing or background check required to post or update Zillow.

The comment about 1st time ...

Sat, 08 Dec 2007 02:22:00 GMT

The comment about 1st time homebuyers making the Realtor earn their money - I WAS that first timer back in March!! And my Realtor definitely earned her money, just by keeping me calm throughout the process.

Personally, I think realtors should only have to deal with one first timer a year!!!

don't "want", not "won't"

Fri, 07 Dec 2007 20:21:00 GMT

don't "want", not "won't"

"As long as their are uniformed, ...

Fri, 07 Dec 2007 18:01:00 GMT

"As long as their are uniformed, uneducated, lazy people out there...there will always be a need for a real, experienced realtor. The rest of us can do just fine."

Most of my clients are well-educated, hard working people who have owned at least two homes.

What I find is that people who are successful and busy don't won't to take care of all the details of a real estate transaction and find it valuable to hire someone like me to take care of details, do the research and make sure their interests are protected.

" You arent saving your own ...

Fri, 07 Dec 2007 17:35:00 GMT

" You arent saving your own money....your giving the listing agent a double commission." when you do just that, all of sudden that selling agent's vested interest for the sale to happen doubles... human nature, laws are meant to be broken and are!

>>I highly doubt there ...

Fri, 07 Dec 2007 17:03:00 GMT

>>I highly doubt there are many realtors out there now closing 10 transactions per year. I interviewed 6 agents this year to list 1 of my homes and 5 out of 6 had less than 2. This was in June.<<

SoCal.... that may be true in Southern California... but it's largely untrue in many areas of the U.S.
... an agent, in Suburban Chicagoland, who cannot produce 10 transactions per year, is not worth keeping in the office, and frankly can't make a living. Yes, there are agents who are falling by the wayside, but not those who are out there working day after day.
... try to remember that there are plenty of areas in the country where the real estate market has stalled, but not been decimated! We can each only speak to the experiences we've had in our own regions.

Didn't want to sound "flip" ...

Fri, 07 Dec 2007 16:44:00 GMT

Didn't want to sound "flip" - my finger hit the wrong button and it submitted too fast - just so you know - I personally am only a 4 year agent. First 2.5 years were very good, but as you can find out easily sales in my particular area slowed down a bit this year. I have quite a few buyers as clients, but since credit has tightened up so much this year they may be 6 to 12 months out until it's the right time for them to actually buy. For a lot of reasons, sometimes it's best to wait, fix the credit etc. I've also spent quite a bit of time with sellers this year helping them to make the decision whether it's the right time to sell, or might it not be a better idea due to decreasing home values to refinance instead and wait. Sometimes that's the best option. It really depends on each family's or individual's personal situation. I try to look at what is best for the client. That is pretty important to me.

Actually, that doesn't surprise ...

Fri, 07 Dec 2007 16:36:00 GMT

Actually, that doesn't surprise me if they were giving you stats from this past year. If you had their stats encompassing the past 4 you may have had a different outcome. I'm sure you'll agree that home sales have slowed quite a bit this past year. So you may have wanted to interview 15+ year agents

As long as their are uniformed, ...

Fri, 07 Dec 2007 16:32:00 GMT

As long as their are uniformed, uneducated, lazy people out there...there will always be a need for a real, experienced realtor. The rest of us can do just fine.

'In a qualified REALTOR's ...

Fri, 07 Dec 2007 16:30:00 GMT

'In a qualified REALTOR's first 2 years (not mentioning a 15 year + experienced agent) they may go through 20 transactions. Each transaction is a learning experience.'

I highly doubt there are many realtors out there now closing 10 transactions per year. I interviewed 6 agents this year to list 1 of my homes and 5 out of 6 had less than 2. This was in June.