Hello Tom,

Since your question is local, I'll give you a local answer! Our MLS overrides us. It's that simple. I tell all my clients that when they search for property they must pay particular attention to anything that speaks to "status", as the MLS will always show a home as available even when it is in the contingency stage. This is particularly aggravating right now with short sales showing as contingent for months before the bank allows the pending status to appear. It is as frustrating for me as it is for you. It's no fun at all having to tell excited people that the house they want is really in escrow - over and over again. With inventory as low as it is right now, it leaves me often times with the bottom of the barrel in the "available column". There are ways this can work to your advantage. I watch for short sales where the buyer may be getting tired of waiting and walk away. After that painful time period is up and the painful paperwork has been done, my buyers can step in with the short sale already approved and waiting for a new contract to seal the deal.

99% of the realtors web sites contain listings that come directly from an MLS feed and we must adhere to MLS rules and standards. It must look like we are doing this on purpose; I am well aware of that, and it sort of hurts! The way around it is to search directly into the MLS, paying attention to the "status". I am providing the link. A savvy realtor knows how to use these contingent sales to your advantage.

In order to get into homeownership right now with the severely low inventory and a number of buyers clamoring for the same home, it takes patience and perseverance. The buyers who are winning the prize are the ones who stop trying to navigate this on their own, get a good realtor, and dig their heels in until they get what they want!

Hello Tom and thanks for your post.

The most accurate listing of homes available for sale will always be the MLS and NOT the websites belonging to individual Realtors. Each MLS has strict rules regarding the reporting of status changes within so many "hours" after the change has been approved or made.

As for inaccurate information on the websites belonging to some Realtors, most of the time the blame falls on the shoulders of the webmaster for the realty firm and not the Realtor. Very few Realtors update their own websites when he/she is a member of a larger national organization. And, even more interesting, many of the listings that appear on the site often belong to other Realtors and not necessarily to the Realtor who showcases it on the site or even to the same Realty firm. Here in California, for example, you may see the words "courtesy of Grace Morioka" or the name of another Realtor under a listing. This means that the listing, pictures and information about the home was pulled from the local MLS and placed right onto the page of another Realtor. Some agents despise this practice, but, personally, getting my listing noticed is my number one rule--I only have a problem if another agent passes off my listing as his/her own when, in fact, it is not.

To find the most current and accurate listing of homes available in your area, talk with and hire a trusted real estate professional. The websites of larger firms are fine for getting a sense of what's out there, but to really go shopping, you'll need the most accurate list and you can get that only from a Realtor.

Good luck!!

Sincerely,
Grace Morioka, SRES, e-Pro
Area Pro Realty
San Jose, CA