A client of mine is always on the lookout for properties for sale. Although she is not ready to buy yet, she likes to see what options are out there for her, and she’s always checking out the available inventory.
Recently she was driving through a very desirable neighborhood and saw a higher-end home for sale. Curious, she checked the local listings on Realtor.com, Zillow.com, and the website of the Realtor advertised as the listing agent but did not see the listing. After several days of looking, she contacted me and asked about why a Realtor would not list a home online. She wanted to know more!
What my client saw was a home that is a “pocket listing.” This type of listing is pretty popular in extremely high-priced markets or celebrity neighborhoods. The idea is the listing Realtor will speak with other Realtors in the area about the property, and sell the home that way instead of publically listing it. For those who want to sell and have their private lives remain private, this may be the way to go. I said, “may be”.
According to CNN Money, pocket listings are becoming more common as the market is gearing more towards the seller in larger markets like Los Angeles and Manhattan. But as you’ll notice, we’re not LA or Manhattan. In some markets, I”ve heard of these being as much as 40% of the market!
If you are a celebrity, it might make sense to do a pocket listing, but in this area, not so much. Even in a seller’s market, why in the world would you want to be exclusive if you live in the New River Valley? Homes get snatched up pretty quickly if they are move-in ready. If someone wants a higher-end home, there are several listed on MLS that are easy for buyers to research before buying. (You can find your next home here.) Having it online allows the potential buyer to do research before making an appointment to see the home which leads to fewer looky-loos and more serious buyers. A quality Realtor will not take anyone other than someone who can afford the home into your exclusive home.
Additionally, there are some other potential problems with a pocket listing, namely dual agency. A pocket listing allows a Realtor to do dual agency, where both buyer and seller are represented by the same Realtor. Dual agency in and of itself isn’t illegal, but it serves to benefit no one but the agent (who pockets the full brokerage fee). As a seller, do you want to expose your home to the broad market, or just who your Realtor knows?
Although the pocket listing my client saw is located in one of the most desirable neighborhoods in town, as of today, it has been for sale at least a month. It’s competition has already sold, because buyers knew where to look.
Search available homes in real-time here. It’s a Pocket Listing Free Zone.