Written by Jim the Realtor

November 12, 2013

This had been on the MLS for less than 24 hours when I went by around lunchtime today, and people were already all over it.  Compared to the rest of the recent offerings around La Jolla, it looks like a deal:

6 Comments

  1. Friakel

    Flippers. French flippers, in fact.

  2. avgjoe

    price seems fair for the area. Itlooks like a museum in there.

    Jim,

    Have you ever heard of a broker that has had success in the business that has not been a member of the mls?

  3. Jim the Realtor

    Yes, there was a guy around Glendora or Azuza who worked in the Filipino community. He had his listings, and if you wanted to buy one, you had to go through him – no other agents involved.

    We are heading in that direction now, much like commercial brokers.

    It’s not what’s best for the consumer, but agents are being squeezed hard. Desperate people do desperate things.

  4. avgjoe

    who is doing the squeezing on the agents? Is it the cost of doing business?

  5. Jim the Realtor

    It is an unconscious predatory squeeze – there are too many agents, and not enough business for all. Some must starve and/or leave.

    Here is the sad part.

    If there was a conscious effort by NAR or a leading franchise to properly educate consumers on how to select a great agent, at least the realtors that survive would be the best of the best.

    But because there is no attempt to educate, consumers are left to their own devices to pick their agent.

    The result? They get stuck with inexperienced agents who just tell them to pay any old price, and they overpay.

    I used to boast about how great my track record was in winning the bidding wars, but no more. I have lost more bidding wars this year than all other years combined.

    And then when they close I look up who sold it, and invariably it is an agent with very few sales under their belt (especially in the immediate neighborhood), and the sales price has no relationship with the comps.

    Everyone thought that direct consumer access to all real estate data available would make them smarter buyers and sellers. But I think it is going in the opposite direction – they know just enough to be dangerous, and make quick decisions like they do with everything else they buy online. Big mistake, especially when selecting an agent.

  6. Jim the Realtor

    When the traditional-MLS idea gets blown up, and each brokerage goes on their own to chase buyers with their own company-branded website, the death of the traditional agent will be complete.

    Zillow will take over, and only agents who can deliver sound professional advice will have any way to make a living.

    Should only be a year or two:

    http://1000watt.net/2013/11/thoughts-on-realogys-hackathon/

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Jim Klinge
Klinge Realty Group

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