Hey guys, I’m starting to look for houses and wondering, besides Zillow, Trulia, and Realtor.com, are there any other great apps or websites to find listings? Any recommendations or places I might be missing out on? Thanks in advance for any tips as I dive into this search.
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As an agent, I prefer MLS because it offers more search functions. However, despite my preference, I have to admit that Zillow (despite my dislike for it) often works fine for buyers. It sometimes updates listings faster than MLS, showing new listings hours earlier.
The downside of platforms like Zillow and Redfin is the clutter of irrelevant information that can confuse buyers, along with occasional inaccuracies (like incorrect school districts) that we can’t correct.
All these platforms draw information from the same source. When I list a property on MLS, I create it there and then make minor adjustments for syndication sites (like adding contact information, which MLS doesn’t allow). Beyond that, they all pull data from MLS and tax records.
In reality, use whichever website or app suits your phone and personal preference best. Apart from the extra features, the core property information, location, size, rooms, year built, HOA fees, and lot size is identical across sites. For accurate details, rely on MLS and your realtor’s expertise.
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What is MLS, anyone?
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The Multiple Listing System (MLS) manages property listings for specific regions or countries (like Canada or the US). Unlike tech companies, MLS systems aren’t known for being innovative, so platforms like Zillow and others may have more up-to-date listings and better software capabilities at times.
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We exclusively used Redfin and had a great experience. We found Zillow to be slow with alerts and the property estimates less accurate.
Our agent also gave us access to Zenlist, which kept us informed about ‘coming soon’ properties not yet listed on public sites. You might want to ask your agent about it.
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I totally agree with this. Zillow had about a 4-hour delay in showing me the same listing compared to Redfin.