here's the accuracy of zillow per your area: http://www.zillow.com/howto/DataCoverageZestimateAccuracy.z surf
As for running us out of town. We are the people who protect your a$$ and get our customers the best deal! One exception the broker is a investor or developer!
Folks, I want you to re-read the posts from the RE so-called professionals and evaluate their attitudes for yourselves.. RE professionals...your days are numbered! This is just the beginning...thanks to sites like zillow...I actually would like to donate some money to zillow, I believe in them so much... Imagine a subscription service for me...Mr Consumer...alerting me to a sale or a listing in my area!!!! How empowering! oh this is sweet....bye bye Re pro...We will not miss you leaches a bit! I will sign this post Michael B.
Banks are trying to get in on the real estate gig. So if Realtors go you will have the banks to deal with. Do you see a conflict of interest? I would love to loose the protection the state gives the public who use Realtors. That would mean I could do anything I want and make a lot more money. Oh by the way if you think a lawyer is going to protect you chances are not really that good. I have had lawyers deal with me and I ended up getting a lot out of there client. Well do your best to get rid of the Realtors! While your at it get rid of the SEC. All those greedy exchange fees just to pay for protecting the investor is outrageous! Wild West here we come!!!! I will sign too. Wile E. Coyote
Being a REALTOR means zip in my book and I used to be one. This is probably the easiest business in the world to get into. It has one of the highest turnover rates of any industry, probably the highest. Like all things there are some very good and decent people in the business and I've worked with the good and the bad, but on the aggregate most of them leave a lot to be desired. Years ago, REALTORS were the gate keepers of all the data, now it's all online. The only benifit I see to using a REALTOR, assuming someone is willing to do some basic research, is as a firewall between the buyer and seller. Do you really think someone should get paid 6%-7% on a $500,000 sale when the work is basicaly the same as a $100,000 house? Most agents are overpaid. How else do you explain the rise of companies like Assisst to Sell, Help-You-Sell, ForSaleByOwner.com etc..? The reason the banks want in is because of the obscene profits someone with nothing more than a GED and clean record can make. Pass a simple test, pay a fee and, voila you too can become an overpaid REAL-A-TER
Need I say more...with Folks such as Arnie seeing the light....Mr Consumer, Zillow is a great idea... Say goodbye to the leaches...wave out the back window of your car to them while the leaches are hitchhiking on the curb...Everybody now Bye Bye
Realtors are definitely not the gate keepers anymore! From experience on the sales end, discount brokers like the ones you mentioned short change there clients. I used to prospect help you sell and byowner,com because those sellers got burned by the flat fee scam. It was easy picking for listings. Just a note I did almost open a help you sell office. It's all smokes and mirrors. If you want the MLS you need to still pay a commission. As for Realtors being over paid, not true. I used to market my own properties. I would spend about 1.5% to sell a property and I did this to avoid paying another Realtor a commission. The bottom line is the MLS sells. When a buyer is working with an agent they are really looking to buy. Also makes my life easier about 3 showings and sold. The people that call off of adds are just lookers or bargain hunters. As for the people who make the most $$ in real estate, mortgage brokers. Thats why all the big names have title and mortgage in house. One last thing when I sell my own properties I always pay at least 3% to the buyerâs agent. I have found the agents who will show low commission listings donât have what it takes to keep the deal together an or did not qualify the buyer properly!.