When you start your home-buying journey, it’s natural to turn to popular real estate portals like Zillow, Realtor.com, and Redfin. These sites offer a wealth of information and are incredibly user-friendly. However, a prevalent myth suggests that these portals are the best places to find your dream home. While they are excellent resources, relying solely on them can actually put you at a disadvantage. The truth is, the best way to find a home is through direct access to the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) via a realtor. Here’s why.
The Lag Time Issue
Real estate portals pull their data from the MLS, but this process can involve a delay. Listings may appear on the MLS hours or even days before they show up on public websites. In a today’s real estate market, this delay can mean the difference between getting your offer in first and losing out to another buyer. By the time a hot new listing appears on a site like Zillow, it might already be under contract.
The MLS Advantage
The MLS is a comprehensive database used by real estate professionals to list and find properties. When you work with a local realtor, they can set you up with automatic listings directly from the MLS. This means you receive notifications about new properties as soon as they hit the market, giving you a critical edge.
Tailored Search Criteria
Real estate portals offer various filters to narrow your search, but these can be limited compared to what a realtor can do with the MLS. A realtor can customize your search criteria to a much greater extent, ensuring you receive listings that perfectly match your preferences. Want a home with a specific type of view or within a particular school district? Your realtor can set that up for you on the MLS.
Accurate and Up-to-Date Information
Portals like Zillow and Realtor.com do their best to keep information current, but discrepancies can occur. Sometimes, listings aren’t updated promptly to reflect price changes, status updates, or additional property details. The MLS, on the other hand, is the primary source of data, meaning it’s the most accurate and up-to-date.
Off-Market Listings
Another advantage of working with a realtor is access to off-market or exclusive listings. These are properties that aren’t listed on the MLS and, consequently, won’t appear on public portals. Realtors often learn about these opportunities through their network, giving their clients access to exclusive listings.
The Bottom Line
While real estate portals are valuable tools in your home search, they shouldn’t be your only resource. The myth that these sites are the best place to find homes can lead to missed opportunities and delays. By partnering with a realtor and getting set up with automatic MLS listings, you gain access to the most accurate, timely, and comprehensive information available. This proactive approach can significantly enhance your home-buying experience, helping you find and secure your dream home faster.
If you’re ready to take the next step in your home search, contact a trusted real estate professional today and ask about getting set up with MLS listings. Your dream home could be just a click away—before it even appears on Zillow!