Are you spending long hours at the computer looking for your dream home?

While online real estate search tools can go a long way to helping narrow interest criteria, they don’t necessarily provide a 360-degree view of the state of that local market. Many are filtering active MLS (“Multiple Service Listings”) listing data, which doesn’t always have full information about all available properties.

The best way to get the full picture of a local market is to work with a well-connected agent in that area. They are the ones with the insider information.

Here’s are at least 5 things a typical MLS-based online searches may fail to uncover:

(1)  Pocket listings and sneak peeks that happen prior to MLS listing. Both are representative of homes that are for sale but only advertised to a limited audience, usually through emails to established local agents.

(2)   Listings that are strategically never going to hit the MLS

(3)  Expired MLS listings that still represent motivated sellers. These can be everything from a listing in the process of repositioning on the MLS (and preparing to reset the MLS days-on-market clock), sellers in the process of switching realtors, or sellers who are otherwise taking a break and only interested in speaking with serious buyers.

(4)   Degrees of seller motivation, including the back-story of properties, neighborhood dynamics and ownership issues that impact seller pricing and concessions and should impact buyer interest.

(5)   Nuances of property valuations beyond price per square foot and obvious amenities listed on the MLS.

Want to know what you might be missing in the Lafayette, California, real estate market? Give me a call.