topic Re: Home search. (Update) in Community Chat

Home search

Elom — Fri, 07 Jul 2017 11:53:06 GMT

If you were in the market for a home which sites would you view for listings? Do you think it matters?

Re: Home search

lolakimono — Fri, 07 Jul 2017 11:56:35 GMT

@Elom

If it's a local move, I would start with the local Realtor's agency's site.

If not, I would check out realtor.com or zillow.

Re: Home search

ScrapHappy — Fri, 07 Jul 2017 11:56:53 GMT

I used Realtor.com I would also put in the zip code of the area I wanted to live in, not just the town because in my case, that mattered. If you're using a real estate agent, she will set you up with the MLS listings and will hopefully know of things that are coming on the market before others. Good luck.

Re: Home search

SahmIam — Fri, 07 Jul 2017 11:56:54 GMT

To just find a house/info on prices, styles, etc? Any site would do. If I was serious about buying? I'd contact a real estate office and request a Buyer Broker then go through the listings from the MLS.

Re: Home search

Bri36 — Fri, 07 Jul 2017 12:16:37 GMT

Zillow is a good place to start.

You can always do a Google search for homes in the area you're interested in and see what comes up.

Re: Home search

kaydee50 — Fri, 07 Jul 2017 12:37:32 GMT

In my search for a condo. trulia was my go to site. I found it very user friendly and a lot of info was provided.

Re: Home search

kivah — Fri, 07 Jul 2017 20:15:50 GMT

I would call a realtor in the area u want to move to. You can also google the area on-line to see what information is available. Sometimes, it makes sense to call 2 or 3 realtors - they can drive u around and give u information that u wouldn't otherwise know. Some areas may look nice -- but are not. Then u could go with the realtor that u feel the most comfortable with. Just because a realtor has been around a long time, doesn't mean they're knowledgeable. There are big differences betwen realtors.

Re: Home search

kivah — Sat, 08 Jul 2017 00:14:21 GMT

I always checked out the MLS site - same as the one that realtors use. I just tried to log on - and they blocked it. Realtor dot com is user friendly. A realtor is the best choice. There's different reasons why one house sells for more than another - even though they're the same model, etc.

Re: Home search

KathyPet — Sat, 08 Jul 2017 00:15:10 GMT

I have found that Zillow over estimates home values by quite a bit. I find the Realtor.com website to be easy to use and maneuver around. YOu can set your criteria for price range, # of beds and baths and then sort the results various ways.

Re: Home search

YorkieonmyPillow — Sat, 08 Jul 2017 00:17:31 GMT

I used realtor dot com when we were looking for a new place.

Re: Home search

tansy — Sat, 08 Jul 2017 00:20:24 GMT

I like Zillow for finding homes and the info it provides on the houses' history, taxes, etc. I also look for a RE agent in the area that has a good website. Some of those sites will even have floor plans available.

Re: Home search

sassenach1 — Sat, 08 Jul 2017 02:16:38 GMT

I recommend Realtor.com. I do not recommend Zillow. I sent a review, fair and honest, facts only, and they did not publish it. The realtor claimed "sour grapes" and they took their side. Same realtor had several reviews similar to mine. Still did not publish it.

Re: Home search

HappyDaze — Sat, 08 Jul 2017 16:41:57 GMT

I only use Redfin for searching. The listings post quickly on the site and also update the fastest on the site. Very detailed listings including taxes, purchase history, hoa's or cc&rs, zoning, room sizes, etc. has pictures of the lot lines as well as directions. Also, their Redfin price value is usually the most accurate in terms of the true value of the home. A cool feature at least on the iPad is you can touch and move the map around to different areas to view all the homes for sale in that area that match your requirements and then click on each marcher to view each home individually. Then you can X out homes you aren't interested in and they will gray out on the map. New homes will be in green. Then you can click on the heart of the ones you are interested in so you can keep a list of favorites. Really nice and convenient.

I don't like Zillow or Realtor.com nearly as well and they are much slower to update the status of the home than Redfin.

Re: Home search

Kachina624 — Sat, 08 Jul 2017 04:58:22 GMT

@YorkieonmyPillow wrote:
I used realtor dot com when we were looking for a new place.

Me too, and I found one in one day.

Re: Home search

Snowpuppy — Sat, 08 Jul 2017 16:32:16 GMT

I like Zillow as someone else pointed out, they post property history so you know if someone has bought it recently, did cheap upgrades and now wants to flip it.

Zillow also posts FSBO and discount realtor listings like Help U Sell that Realtor sites do not carry.

Re: Home search

daisyk — Sat, 08 Jul 2017 18:13:42 GMT

@HappyDaze wrote:
I only use Redfin for searching. The listings post quickly on the site and also update the fastest on the site. Very detailed listings including taxes, purchase history, hoa's or cc&rs, zoning, room sizes, etc. has pictures of the lot lines as well as directions. Also, their Redfin price value is usually the most accurate in terms of the true value of the home. A cool feature at least on the iPad is you can touch and move the map around to different areas to view all the homes for sale in that area that match your requirements and then click on each marcher to view each home individually. Then you can X out homes you aren't interested in and they will gray out on the map. New homes will be in green. Then you can click on the heart of the ones you are interested in so you can keep a list of favorites. Really nice and convenient.

I don't like Zillow or Realtor.com nearly as well and they are much slower to update the status of the home than Redfin.

@HappyDaze...thanks for the recommendation. I hadn't heard of Redfin and it looks like a good site. We're not looking to move until next year, but I like to look around and see what's available.

Re: Home search. (Update)

Elom — Sat, 08 Jul 2017 19:58:25 GMT

Well I just put my house on the market and the reason for my question about sites used. I noticed that my house was on realtor dot com and none other. I thought well unusual but maybe it takes awhile. Well a week has gone by so I contact agent and asked why, his response, not sure I will get the office manger on it. I am upset and not sure if I should be it seems to me lack of interest and did I make a mistake. He should be working for me not me checking on his. Am I demanding too much? Please help anyone with experience. My husband always took care of this part of it as his career was in mortgages etc. this is hard and niceness = weakness in this area I believe.

Re: Home search

software — Sun, 09 Jul 2017 14:01:32 GMT

@KathyPet wrote:
I have found that Zillow over estimates home values by quite a bit. I find the Realtor.com website to be easy to use and maneuver around. YOu can set your criteria for price range, # of beds and baths and then sort the results various ways.

Not to be contrary but I disagree.

It may depend on the market.

I feel my house is underpriced, which is fine with me, I don't plan on selling.

I've been here through booms & busts and now that houses are selling at what I consider a fair price in the area, it's not reflected in my home on Zillow. I've logged in and put in my own comments about the house, which states there is a fireplace. I don't have a fireplace.

Re: Home search

software — Sun, 09 Jul 2017 14:06:29 GMT

@Limbo4now wrote:
If you were in the market for a home which sites would you view for listings? Do you think it matters?

No, it doesn't matter.

Look at several sites.

I live in a large metro area, one of the largest local realty company's has a great web site. They also include homes for sale by other realtors, not just their own. If you live in a fairly large metro area, try to find a local site, as well as the national sites.

Beware that all the information may not be correct, particularly if you are looking for a specific location. Some homes are listed by zip code address, when the house may be in a different school district. I don't live in a city but if you search my home by zip code, you would think that I do. If someone is looking for a specific zip code for the purpose of finding a school zone, the information listed online may be misleading.