ListingBook – Search the MLS like an Agent
“The information provided by this listing service allowed me to confidently purchase a new townhome quickly. Having read the information available online and an analysis of my family’s finances, it was a quick decision to buy when the home we had our eyes on popped up on the market on a 3-day weekend when I was in the region. Plus, thanks to McGrath’s great service, it was easy to get the new home rented out and under a lease.” – Seth, FSO and McGrath Client since 2007
Whether you’re seriously interested in buying another home, selling your current home, or you’re just curious about the neighborhood value, ListingBook can be a great tool for all your market questions. Effectively using ListingBook is a great tool for your search and becoming a savvy consumer. Please contact Lindsay Curtis to have an account set up for you.
Upon signing into the site, you will be greeted at your “Front Page.” Here you can check messages and view your Morning Report. This will show you any new homes that went on the market that fit your search, any price changes that may have occurred, open houses scheduled for that week, and various additional updates. On the far left, there is a box that allows you to reach out directly to us at McGrath Real Estate should you be at the point where you wish to speak to one of our experienced and dedicated Realtors. The Front Page also allows you to look at any properties that you have marked as “Favorites.” Now we get to the fun part, diving into your search!
While using ListingBook you’ll find that everything is clearly labeled, and there are many opportunities to customize searches and investigate the market. On the top of the page you will see four tabs designating what type of listing you are searching for (Residential, Lots and Land, Rentals, and Multi-Family). Analyzing comps will give you a better idea of what value range you might expect for your property in the current real estate marketplace. An interesting feature is the “Map” which allows you to choose an area on a map instead of by zip code. This can be useful if you’re concerned with proximity to transportation or wish to be close to a certain community or shopping center. While it can be tempting to narrow your search, you could be missing out on unique opportunities you hadn’t thought of before, so keep that in mind while you’re searching!
When looking at your results, note the key at the top of the page. You can order your results by “Status” to more easily see what is available versus what is pending or has already been sold. When looking at a full listing, there are several useful tools to help you research the market. The tabs at the top include “Area Sales,” which allows you to research recently closed sales in the same neighborhood and the surrounding areas that are comparable to the property. This is especially valuable because it shows you the price the home was listed for and also the price it actually sold for. The “Loan Report” tab can give you an idea of what mortgage payments you might expect if you purchased the property. (This is for quick reference purposes only and not guaranteed. Our Recommended Lenders can provide you an accurate loan report). Lastly, “Community Information” can give you valuable insight into the neighborhood, schools, and community make-up. This is extremely useful because this type of information cannot be supplied by your real estate agent (commenting on neighborhoods and schools is against Fair Housing Laws).
Another great use of ListingBook is to keep up with the rental market in your area. All the same searching tips from sales also apply here. You can use this tool to be more adept in the rental market and understand where the comparables that McGrath Real Estate sends you comes from. Please feel free to reach out to Lindsay Curtis if you have further questions or comments on ListingBook!
