Hi Hotlips,
You sound like someone who has been disappointed by real estate agents in the past. I am sorry to hear that. An MLS is indeed private and owned by real estate professionals. It is the most reliable source of information in the industry. Every member agent has the right and responsibility to maintain its accuracy and integrity. What the public does not realize is that real estate professionals built the MLS and pay for its upkeep and maintenance. Homes are listed in the MLS after the owner enters into an agency agreement with a member broker and agrees to hire a real estate professional to market and sell the home. Discount brokers who belong to the MLS are also able to input their listings.
Problems arise because consumers simply don't understand agency. With discount brokers consumers assume that they will get the same level of marketing exposure as they would with one of the larger reputable firms. In most cases, that simply is not true. It costs more money to provide better service. Discount brokers charge less and therefore will spend less to market and sell a listing. All businesses exist to be profitable. To be profitable with a lower revenue means that your costs must also be lower. Builders make the choice about whether or not to list their homes in the MLS. In a good market, most prefer to hire their own sales staff. I get emails from builders with whom I have registered about new developments and price incentives frequently. I readily share that information with clients. Bank-owned properties also appear in the MLS once the bank chooses to work with a member broker. These days, both banks and builders are turning to real estate professionals for help. A buyer's agent should be able to help you find new construction and bank owned properties in your area of interest.
Anyone contemplating the purchase of real estate needs to hire a good ethical buyer's agent. A good ethical real estate agent is NOT a used-house salesperson. As a buyer's agent, it is my policy to disclose to my buyers everything I can about a listing. For me, the complete marketing history is one mouse click away. I can tell them the complete price history. However, I have to warn you. People read far more into that information than is actually there. Whether a listing is overpriced or underpriced hinges on that specific home and what comparable homes in that area have sold for recently. Buyers should alway ask their agent for the comps. Whether a seller is desperate or not hinges on their individual financial circumstances, not market time. Being on the market a long time does not mean that there is something "wrong" with the house. It could have just been pricing and inadequate marketing. As a buyer's agent, I always try to identify all homes currently available in my buyer's area of interest and price range, regardless of commission.

Ed Plaskacz
Prudential Starck Realtors
AskEdAboutRE@hotmail.com
630-561-0885

Hi Emma,

I just emailed you the listing to the email address I had for you from last year.

Hi Emma,
3 Creekside Lane just showed up on the MLS. It is priced at $950,000 and does not appear to be a short sale or a foreclosure. It is on a lot measuring between 5 and 10 acres. Horses are allowed. It was built in 1986, has three fireplaces and zoned central airconditioning. The master bedroom is on the first floor. Four other bedrooms are on the second floor. In addition, the first floor has a study and the second floor has a bonus room (sounds like a second floor family room).
Call me today for more information or to schedule a showing appointment.
Ed Plaskacz
Prudential Starck Realtors
630-561-0885
AskEdAboutRE@hotmail.com

Hi Emma,

3 Creekside Lane just came on the MLS today. The price is $950,000. It has 5 bedrooms and 5.1 bathrooms.

Let me know if you would like me to email you the listing from the MLS or if you have any other questions.

lauracannon@kw.com

Thanks!
Laura

Hi Emma,
If you are a serious buyer, then you should be working with your own Realtor. I would be happy to be your Buyer's agent. A Buyer's agent works for the buyer only and always works in the best interest of the buyer. "Calling the number on the sign" can be costly. Often those calls are routed to the listing agent. The listing agent is the seller's agent. The listing agent is hired by the seller to sell the home at the highest possible price, in the shortest possible time and with the least amount of inconvenience to the seller. While it is legal for the listing agent to represent both seller and buyer in a single transaction (dual agency), it should not be desirable to either the buyer or seller because of the conflict of interest that agent would have. Give me a call or drop me an email to discuss this further.
Ed Plaskacz
Prudential Starck Realtors
630-561-0885
AskEdAboutRE@hotmail.com

Thanks for the answers. I drove buy this Saturday and saw a remax sign with broker name and # on the lawn. I did not write it down thinking I could find it online. Anyway, I appreciate the input. As for 7 and 10 - too close to the tracks :-(

I could not find 3 Creekside Lane in Barrington Hills in our MLS database.

7 Creekside Lane and 10 Creekside Lane are both on the market. 7 Creekside Lane is priced at $998,500 and 10 Creekside Lane is priced at $1,950,000.

If you like I can email you more information including price histories. You can contact me at lauracannon@kw.com

I hope that helps!

Thanks!
Laura

Hi Emma,
In Barrington Hills, I see a 7 Creekside listed at $998,500 and a 10 Creekside listed at $1,950,000. Give me a call or drop me an email and I will dig deeper. 7 Creekside is a short sale. It listed at $1,888,000 last year. With prequalification in hand we could make an offer. Lets plan on getting together to talk to a lender and then visit these homes.
Ed Plaskacz
Prudential Starck Realtors
630-561-0885
AskEdAboutRE@hotmail.com