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I am currently aggravated about this. Don't give a crap about the signs, but it is a shady online practice. I have been looking in Alamogordo, New Mexico for a basic Winter home. Finally found one that isn't in the flood plain. Emailed twice through Zillow, then direct email to listing agent, then two calls from Hong Kong, and he says they thought they had a deal. Then he finally responds to my email and asks if I want him to notify me about others, and already knowing he is deceptive, I just say no. Two weeks later, house is still active, and I email him again...no response. It wastes resources and almost meets the definition of compulsive lying...being dishonest, just to be dishonest. Oh, and I looked at his other four or five listings. All in the flood zone, and all are refugees from auctiondotcom.
Never trust Zillow for info or communications. If the listing agent does not respond, find another realtor that has a decent history and use them as a buyers agent.
Sold and sale pending are 2 different things. Just because a Realtor says it's pending doesn't mean what you may think it means. They may have completed a negotiation and are waiting for the inspections, proof of funding, etc.
I am currently aggravated about this. Don't give a crap about the signs, but it is a shady online practice. I have been looking in Alamogordo, New Mexico for a basic Winter home. Finally found one that isn't in the flood plain. Emailed twice through Zillow, then direct email to listing agent, then two calls from Hong Kong, and he says they thought they had a deal. Then he finally responds to my email and asks if I want him to notify me about others, and already knowing he is deceptive, I just say no. Two weeks later, house is still active, and I email him again...no response. It wastes resources and almost meets the definition of compulsive lying...being dishonest, just to be dishonest. Oh, and I looked at his other four or five listings. All in the flood zone, and all are refugees from auctiondotcom.
The best way to inquire about a property is via phone not email. Many realtors will only talk to other realtors.
I am currently aggravated about this. Don't give a crap about the signs, but it is a shady online practice. I have been looking in Alamogordo, New Mexico for a basic Winter home. Finally found one that isn't in the flood plain. Emailed twice through Zillow, then direct email to listing agent, then two calls from Hong Kong, and he says they thought they had a deal. Then he finally responds to my email and asks if I want him to notify me about others, and already knowing he is deceptive, I just say no. Two weeks later, house is still active, and I email him again...no response. It wastes resources and almost meets the definition of compulsive lying...being dishonest, just to be dishonest. Oh, and I looked at his other four or five listings. All in the flood zone, and all are refugees from auctiondotcom.
First, Zillow, and contacts coming from Zillow, go largely ignored by a lot of Realtors. Especially if you say you are overseas. There's just too many trolls and false leads. You did get one agent to engage you, and then declined any further assistance, so they ignored you after that. I am not necessarily seeing the agent as deceptive in your example.
I second the advice above, if you are a bona fide buyer, to develop a relationship with a local buyer's agent who will search for you. Not just the agents own listings, ALL the available homes that fit what you're looking for. That's what the first agent above was probably offering and you turned him down. You need someone local who can do this local legwork for you.
Zillow is not a good way to look. You just end up the junk mail folder.
Seelng and have dealt with realtors that are extremely slow to note under contract online or at the house even after money has changed hands.
In TX, Ours go Pending after about a 7-10 day Active Option Period where Inspections are done. Most agents are very good at updating to AO when we go under contract. Pending happens after the AO status.
And for anyone using Zillow... Don't. Get an agent to work with that can feed you good accurate info from the MLS system locally. Zillow is crap, many agents don't even respond to inquires from Zillow.
Realtor.com updates a little more frequently. But find a good agent, and have them go preview and research listings. I lived in Alamogordo for about 10 yrs. Really enjoyed it. Close to mtns for hiking, casino, etc. Not too far from las cruces or el paso for shopping/dining/airport.
What if every agent failed to update their MLS listings? I have even recently contacted the property owners on Facebook...with screen shots of my attempts to contact THEIR agent.
What if every agent failed to update their MLS listings? I have even recently contacted the property owners on Facebook...with screen shots of my attempts to contact THEIR agent.
Again, you're not looking at MLS listings, you're looking at ZILLOW, and you're sending unsolicited facebook messages to strangers on facebook. This isn't how to get reliable information or service. You're just sending red flags to people.
Find and build a relationship with ONE active, responsive agent you can reach on the phone and talk to, - and talk to long enough to exchange information and goals and qualifications and form a relationship with that is mutually understood. Then let that person be your point-person. You will get so much further in the process by using a local professional, than you will trying to stand out among the trolls and spammers sending unsolicited messages and spam from overseas.
Again, you're not looking at MLS listings, you're looking at ZILLOW, and you're sending unsolicited facebook messages to strangers on facebook. This isn't how to get reliable information or service. You're just sending red flags to people.
Find and build a relationship with ONE active, responsive agent you can reach on the phone and talk to, - and talk to long enough to exchange information and goals and qualifications and form a relationship with that is mutually understood. Then let that person be your point-person. You will get so much further in the process by using a local professional, than you will trying to stand out among the trolls and spammers sending unsolicited messages and spam from overseas.
Really!
Looking in different markets, so this fluffy talk doesn't help. I am a cash buyer. Not looking for a relationship, just the information that should have been included from the get-go.
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