I have an iphone and am continuously updated on the latest listings. Since I have a vested interest I know every listing that hits the mls in my target area. The way the system is set up I have to use a realtor if I want to see the inside of a house I have already walked around the outside of and scoped out the neighborhood, I do not need to discuss/or talk it over with a “full service realtor”, that is what my family/friends are for.
To the question of “Is it different now?” I am surprised that real estate has not morphed into a flat fee based business vs commission.
Why not for sale by owners? In the age of the internet take some great photos, list your house on MLS, and offer a flat fee to a realtor/broker that brings in a buyer or talk directly to me the buyer and we will use a real estate attorney at a flat fee to handle all the paper work.
Instead the for sale by owners are convinced that their home is worth more now than it was in the height and the realtor tries to tell them it is not so they refuse to use a realtor and list their home for a ridiculous amount, hold open houses, and get irate when potential female buyer walks in and laughs at price and walks out. A few weeks later potential female buyer now see said house on mls with agent for about what she told him she would pay 🙂
I have difficulty trying to navigate the world of unscrupulous realtors who like to hold “pocket listings” and are more than happy to engage my business if they think they will get both ends of the commission.
Ugh….I just want a house that fits my needs/budget, why is this so difficult!
