How To Find Listings Of Homes For Sale

By Cory Shuett, 23 Jan 21:01

Finding Home Listings
Not too long ago, the only way to find homes for sale was through real estate agents and the Multiple Listing Service (MLS).

This is not the case today. A lot of buyers refer to other sources because they are not able to get the MLS, or they don't know how it works. Look at the entire list of ways to find a home.

Most homes for sale in a certain area can be found in the local MLS. Real estate agents who are associated with the local MLS are allowed to show you all the listed homes. They can also give you to extensive information about all of the homes, including homeowner information, property tax assessments and school districts.

You also can look up listings for yourself on the Internet.

By doing this, you can get a good feel for what is available before you start going from house to house. Just search "MLS" and the city you are interested in, and a few Web sites should pop up.

These sites are sometimes sponsored by a real estate agency, and they may ask you to register and enter your search criteria. They will next send you e-mails with findings of the search daily or weekly. Sometimes the e-mail notification comes up as soon as a home is listed. If you are looking at houses from a long distance, this is a good way to start searching.

Most sites will give you the essential information: listing price, lot size, total square footage of living space and number of bedrooms and bathrooms. An agent should provide you with a sheet of extra information for any houses you are interested in. Be sure to make copies for your own use.

You will need to get yourself a brand new street map, preferably one that will cover where you currently live and work as well as the area you want to move to. If you are moving out of the immediate neighborhood, a new map is necessary to knowing your new community.

You can get them off the Internet as well as bookstores or the local chamber of commerce. In some places, grocery stores, drugstores and convenience stores have local maps that show ZIP codes, hospitals, schools and public transportation routes.

Mark up the map and consider certain things:

1. What will your commute to work be like?

2. Will you need to drop off the kids at day-care earlier or pick them up later?

3. Where are bus or subway stops and how often do they run?

4. Will your kids be able to go to the closest schools? You will need to get information about boundaries from the school district office, since they are subject to change.

5. Are there jogging and bike trails nearby? Is there a local swimming pool, soccer or baseball field or basketball court?

6. Which hospitals and emergency medical facilities are closest?

7. Can run errands to the grocery store, bank and pharmacy on the way to or from work? Will you need to travel a distance to do this?

8. Are there flood zones? Is there contaminated land close by? Are there any likely zoning changes?

9. Where are police and fire stations? Which city or county is responsible for them?
If you look through the MLS and other listings while referring to your map, you will be able to tell if a home that has the amenities you want. You will know whether or not you want to end up visiting the home.

Beyond the MLS
Even though the majority of homes will be listed in the MLS, it doesn't mean that's is the only way to find them. In fact, 10-20 percent of homes are sold without being listed. Sellers list their homes in many other places:

1. Drive around your preferred area and look for "For Sale" signs. If there is an information sheet attached to the sign, be sure to take a copy. If you see an "Open House" sign, go in and see what they have to offer.

2. Read the ads in the region's larger newspapers as well as the smaller weekly papers.

3. Ask family, friends and colleagues if they know anyone selling their home.

4. Walk around the area you would like to live in and ask people you come across if they know anyone selling their home.

5. Have lunch in a local restaurant and ask people there if they know of homes for sale.

6. Visit the local library and ask the librarian if he or she knows of someone looking to sell.

Real Life Example
A young woman learned that the fiancé of one of her friends was planning on selling her home. The woman and the seller agreed for both of them to use the seller's real estate agent. The deal was finished without listing the house.

The seller, who worked from home, was glad to skip the step of cleaning up the house for showing agents and potential buyers. Her work was not interrupted whenever someone wanted a tour.
Since they only used one agent, the seller only paid half the commission she would have normally paid. She also gave the buyer a lower sale price. The agent, who guided both people through the process, was happy to make the sale quickly.
Warning: Realtors can help protect both parties involved. It's dangerous to engage in a real estate transaction without direction from an expert. For example, many sellers don't know that they are required to reveal all relevant facts about the property.

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Tags: MLS home listings buying buyer