Real Estate Listings Posts

Real Estate Listings Facts

Top Questions and Answers

Can I add real estate listings from local realestate websites to my Classified Ads site i'm starting? I'm starting a classified ads website and i'm wondering if I can add listings that local real estate companies have listed on there website to my "real estate" portion of my local classified ads website? I'm planning on putting all the information up on who to contact in regards to the listing.

Landlord replied: "I would think if you had permission from the companies as well as whatever source you are using to obtain the information. Stealing content from another web site would be illegal."

Patriotic Mom replied: "If the Realtor has an Exclusive Right to Sell Contract with the seller, hands off. You may want to approach the Brokers in your area to see if that would be something that they are interested in. The agent will have rules set by the broker as to where they are allowed to advertise. Good luck with your site. Sounds like a smart thing! Edit***It is totally NOT crap. The exclusive right to sell IS between the Broker and the seller. That is why I said to approach the Broker. However, the contract may or may not spell out exactly where and when and which photos, etc are allowed to be placed. For example, I have sellers who have not wanted to have a sign in the yard, don't want interior photos, don't want to use certain advertising avenues, etc. The questioner could find himself in a bad spot if he doesn't have this OK'd."

DannoREA replied: "If you're doing it for free, I can't imagine them having a problem so long as you faithfully re-create the listing and list their contact info. About the exclusive right to sell and advertising location posted by a previous answerer - that's crap. Sine you're not trying to function as a listing agent, there's no harm no foul. Besides, plenty of the brokerages in my area have placed my listings on their website "Courtesy of My Broker". As long as everyone involved is on the same page, you're fine. Remember that the agent works as a representative of the broker. If the broker agrees to the advertising of the listings, then you don't need the agent's permission! As far as location goes, I can advertise anywhere I think I'll get business."

ThePadBuyer.com replied: "What is the purpose of your Classified Ads Site (or any classified ad site)? Ad revenue... As long as you are not looking for a piece of the commission then most Realtors are not going to have a problem with your site. If you are, and are not a broker or Realtor - you will most likely run into legal problems in every state, unless you can convince the owner to de-list with their current Realtor (then you will just get everyone angry). Will you need permission? I would ask -- let them know that they are getting free advertising off of your site (remember - no commissions). You want to drive traffic not bad feelings. You might do a couple for display purposes only and email them so they can review. I would market the site to both Realtors and owners as a free (for now) service. Also, just expect that unless you are going to help them get those listing onto the site - they will probably not do it themselves. I look at craigslist all of the time for property and very few Realtors are using that free resource - and it has tons of traffic."

How to advertise real estate listings online? I want to know if there is a site or service that I pay one fee that advertises my listings all over the web? I am a real estate agent. Thanks!! I am also thinking of starting a better website or somehow getting my site all over the web. I already have a domain name for it, any advice?? Thanks!

comps replied: "Write articles about your website or ideas. Submit your website for users to review, free! Post Free Classifieds. Go to Famous Pages "

vijay replied: "You should atleast have a website to promote your stuff. If you're in a hurry or low budget, try to use BLOGGER.It's free. So add up the contents with what you want to say and promote it. There are plenty of ways to promote your site. 1)Article Marketing Really a powerful method in getting audience. Write a good article based on your niche topic and submit it in article directories. Just go to google or yahoo and search for "free article directories". It will suggest you a host of directories that you can easily submit your writings. When people surf in that certain directory, they might stumble into your article and you got all the fame needed to be successful in Internet Marketing. 2)Blogging This method is just like the article writing. You write what you want but good contents for your audience in blogs. The better you got, the more audience you get. You can also submit the same contents that you wrote in blogs in article directories. You get instant viewers if your article is in top 10 within your niche 3)Offer free stuffs It's always good to get free stuffs. Everyone likes it.So offer some free stuffs such as e-books or software for your audience. You will get a good, loyal and repeating audience. If you are looking for FREE e-books to market it in your site, check out this link..... provides a host of e-books on internet marketing. The e-books will be updated weekly. So hurry up and get your best one soon. 4)E-mail Marketing It's as easy as ABC. Just promote your site to all your online contacts using e-mail.Write a good email that will attract your audience. If you got the contents right and able to convince your contacts , you are on your way to success. 5)SEO-Search Engine Optimization Check out for HOT tips on SEO 6)You Tube Videos Use free videos from you tube and paste the links in your site. People like video tutorials better than articles or e-books. 7)Google Adsense I strongly suggest you to visit.... and learn about google adsense.If it's not the best, atleast one of the best income generator for your websites. Visit the link and watch the video tutorials for FREE."

I am looking for cool new ways to advertise my real estate listings. Got any ideas for me? I have about 15 active listings on the market right now. As a real estate agent I am always looking for new ways to advertise them. I need to bring some buyers to my listings!!

Internet Fun replied: "Classfied ADs"

loved? replied: "Craiglist! I use to do it for real estate agents they got places sold FAST"

NYmortgageman replied: "online virtual tours advertise your open houses with lots of balloons all around the neighborhood the week before MLS First time home buyer convention/seminar and my favorite: word of mouth"

Jason B replied: "NO MONEY DOWN. Having an arsenal of mortgage programs to work with will enhance your ability to increase your potential sales. No Money Down is a way to attract the first time home buyer with ways to buy a house. Have all the tools you need to qualify every borrower for a loan. Senior loan officer all 50 states all programs 800-937-2350 Jason B."

Dawni Do Right replied: "2 cool & FREE sites: zillow.com you can sign up for a free agent account & claim your seller's homes & upload tons of photos & additional info. Postlets.com you enter info on your listings & upload 6 photos. It then creates an e-flyer & posts it to 12 or so real estate classified websites like Kijiji, BackPage, LiveDeal... PLUS it gives the the html code for posting the spanky looking e-flyer on CraigsList. Here's one of my Postlets: (This is exactly how the ad will look on CraigsList) Here's a Postlets Plus ($5 upgrade): I use both of these for all our listings. Buyers? Nehemiah & AmeriDream are still zero down programs. If you are working with a lender, you could get them to work up some financing scenarios for you & promote this. Down side is your going to get a bunch of buyers that don't have any money. Lender could also work up some minimum down scenarios for you."

What is a good yet inexpensive virtual tour service I can use for my real estate listings? I'm in real estate and need a really good virtual tour service to use for my listings. I have used Justsnopping in the past but now that I have left Keller Williams I no longer get that service for free. Anybody have some ideas?

Real Estate Guy replied: "www.circlepix.com or"

Dawni Do Right replied: "We use VirtualTour.com You take your own photos then their software morphs them into panoramics. You then upload them to their site, enter property data & then they provide you with the links for branded & non-branded (for MLS) tours. They also submit the property to a bunch of real estate classified sites. I think we pay a flat fee of less than $30 a month for unlimited tours. It's not as nice as the professional Ipix virtual tours but most of our listings are new construction and it's common for us to have 30 or more listings at one time."

What does the term MEIK mean in real estate listings? Simple question: What does the term MEIK mean in real estate listings? I see this all the time, I just don't know what it means. It has something to do with the kitchen... I think EIK is Eat in Kitchen, but what does the M stand for?

Dusty replied: "It means Modern Eat in Kitchen. Here is a listing of real estate abbreviations. Scroll down and you'll see the table :)http://www.saintgeorgerealestate.com/buying/guide"

What does "additional addendums required" mean in real estate listings? A friend and I are looking through real estate listings, and several of them say "additional addendums required." What does that phrase mean? We're new to this whole house-hunting thing, so we have no idea, and search engines are no help.

gofrfkim replied: "An Addendum is an addition to a completed written document. Most commonly this is a proposed change or explanation (such as a list of goods to be included) in a contract, or some point that has been subject of negotiation after the contract was originally proposed by one party. Real property sales agreements often have addenda (plural of addendum) as the buyer and seller negotiate fine points (how payments will be made, what appliances will be included, date of transfer of title, the terms of financing by the seller and the like). Although often they are not, addenda should be signed separately and attached to the original agreement so that there will be no confusion as to what is included or intended. Unsigned addenda could be confused with rough drafts or unaccepted proposals or included fraudulently."

mycornerofbrickheaven replied: "An addendum is an addition to the contract. There is the basic sales contract and then you can add other clauses, or addendums, to it. We most frequently see that "additional addendums required" phrase in listings that are foreclosure or bank owned properties. The banks have their own set of stipulations that have to be part of the contract. You'll fill out the standard purchase agreement and then there will be additional pages that the bank adds to it. I have also seen this apply to homes being handled by relocation companies. If the seller moved because of their job many larger companies give their employees assistance with the sale of their home. These relocation companies may buy the employee's home so they can purchase a new one. The addendums are usually very minor things but be sure you read them over carefully. Good luck!"

How do I qualify to do real estate listings on foreclosures? I am in real estate and want to do know how I contact banks to be one of their foreclosure listers.

Stacy replied: "Call them and ask who you need to talk to."

Landlord replied: "Your broker is the one that needs to set up that contract. You do not have the authority to do so. They will not talk to an agent, it has to be with someone whoever is liable for the contract (which is your broker)."

frankie b replied: "You need your broker to get them to agree to do business with your office and you. Just a a heads up, you need to have a lot of capital on hand to do these. In my area it is the agents responsibility to pay to have it boarded up, winterized, cleaned out etc. On average you will be laying out 3-4k on each one. They will reimburse you for your cost when you sell, or it expires. You how ever need to pay all these upfront. So imagine you get 10 listings...great, but do you have the 35k to lay out to get them? I know agents in my area who literally have 400k tied up in foreclosures. Now they have hundreds of listings and can afford it, but if you are struggling looking for a new avenue of business I would look elsewhere. One of the reasons they do this is they want the top agents, not the new ones, or lazy ones. If you can afford to carry the inventory they assume you are a top producer."

How you would incorporate social & demographic marketing into your prospecting for real estate listings? This is for a real estate assignment. It's to prospect for potential properties for sale.

Donna J replied: "A Title Company can provide a Realtor with a Property Profile that will include the items you mentioned and more. You can look one up on the internet and contact them to see if they will help you directly. You could probably create your own Profile using property info. on the web. There is a Full Profile or Limited Profile option that Title Companies offer. Sounds fun!"

Do all MLS Real Estate listings include Tax Assessor information? When a Real Estate Agent adds a listing to the MLS, does the MLS service provide the same services and the same types of data? And do all MLS services generate the same type of MLS Listing in each area of the country? Does a listing in Caldwell Idaho have the same infortmation as a listing in Reston, Virginia? Specifically the Tax Roll info? And does each MLS operate under it's own rules in regards to how the ONLINE MLS data for that "County" (or however MLS chapters are defined) is aggregated and displayed?

Suzy replied: "MLS is different for each area and operates under its own rules. It's like a club. Also, you can't rely on the tax information especially in states like Florida that have Homestead and Save Our Homes exemptions."

Spock (rhp) replied: "since the MLs is based on what the property owner [seller] told their agent, you'd best assume that some of the information is old and may, therefore, be inaccurate. specific representations are supposed to be accurate from the seller's perspective -- and if property is routinely reassessed after a sale and thus the local property tax rate attaches to the sale price rather than the tax roll 'value' -- you'd want to know that now wouldn't you? and i'll bet dollars to donut holes that they aren't required to say that. you have to read about the area yourself to find out. GL"

venicefloridarealtor replied: "Each MLS system is different in the information offered, although there is a core of traditional information that most include. In Venice, Florida, the tax and owner information pulls up from the County. We don't enter it manually. And, of course, County information was entered by human hands, and people can make mistakes, but usually it's accurate, at the instant it was pulled. If the property has been on the MLS past the period of time when the local County tax folks update for the new tax year, that new information will not automatically appear on the old MLS listing. I always suggest that buyers do the research with the County - or ask a realtor - about the local millage figures so they can make an informed decision about what their new tax bill might be, but it's difficult to pin point it exactly because the County may not use the sales price as the fair market value. They have their own appraisers that establish that, based on comps on record at the time the appraisal is completed (early in the calendar year). Plus there is the homestead/no homestead factor. But you can certainly get a rough and ready estimate using the sales price and the current millage numbers. Most times that will be higher than your eventual tax bill - yay! Good luck and best wishes."

godged replied: "No, each MLS is different. Similar in information, but different in style and what type of information is supplied. In my area, tax info is manually inputted. It is limited, it is basically what the taxes were last year. No tax assessed value or millage."

How can I create a database to show real estate listings on a website? I would like to be able to put the basic property information (location, beds, baths, etc.) into a "database" and then be able to easily call this information onto different parts of a website for a "Featured Property", and then a "Property Listings" page with a different layout. I'm not sure how to do this!

bits n bytes replied: "To accomplish something like this you'll need to do some back-end programming. You can do it with static html but if you truly want dynamic information, you'll need to build the site with something other than pure html. The easiest and widely supported by the majority of the web hosting companies is PHP (dynamic scripting language) and MySQL database. For beginners, you can read through this tutorial: There are a lot of other tutorials available on the web. Just Google for it. Other technologies that can be used are Java and .Net to name a few."

sierraguy72 replied: "Even though the answer has already been given for someone that knows how to do this, it sounds as though you have no experience in writing HTML. If this is so, I suggest that you hire someone to do what you want done. This will be your easiest way to achieve your goals. Good Luck."

Fan replied: "You will have to buy a real estate web script for this."