Sorry Another Dumb Question

[LadyKay]

I am looking at houses for sale by owner and rent to own houses. I have found that in order to get the real info on these places I have to register and pay a monthly fee. Seriously, if I was selling my house I would want to give everyone who wanted to look at it the opportunity to do so. So my dumb question is why do they make it so hard just to look at their house listing? I feel I shouldn't have to pay money just to look at a house listing. I would think that if someone really wanted to sell their house, they would be doing everything to get the info on their house out there. Not limiting their market to just those who are willing to pay a monthly fee to view a house listing. I really don't understand how this world works.

[TronRP]

That is definitely a new one to me. Maybe it's because here in Detroit, the city is trying to give away property that it doesn't want to be responsible for so all auctions and estate sales are made public in free home shopper guides, news papers listings and internet postings.

That is truly not a dumb question, just a new one...

[kat (1)]

Yeah, Its probably a scam. They probably put really shitty houses on the registry that noone will by buy.

Edited February 21, 2013 by kat

[kat (1)]

Research the company, check the BBB, even flat out ask them at the company what the fee is covering.

[torn asunder]

real estate agents are well worth the minor expense (typically 3% of sale price, I think?) and they will set you up with an MLS portal through which you can view short sales, foreclosures, etc, as well as regular home sales. 3% of a 20K house is only $600. might sound like a lot, but it can usually be paid through the mortgage.

[TronRP]

real estate agents are well worth the minor expense (typically 3% of sale price, I think?) and they will set you up with an MLS portal through which you can view short sales, foreclosures, etc, as well as regular home sales. 3% of a 20K house is only $600. might sound like a lot, but it can usually be paid through the mortgage.

So are you billed for each house you look at and tack the total expense to the mortgage of the house you settle on?

[torn asunder]

not at all. my realtor set me up with a portal for free & i looked at over 360 houses online, maybe 20 in person, free of charge. when i finally bought my place, he helped with all the paperwork, and when i signed, he got his fee. i'm there are details to be gone over before starting, (such as committing to buy through them and not someone else), but that would be the honorable thing to do anyway for someone who's investing so much time with you.

Edited February 22, 2013 by torn asunder

[TronRP]

not at all. my realtor set me up with a portal for free & i looked at over 360 houses online, maybe 20 in person, free of charge. when i finally bought my place, he helped with all the paperwork, and when i signed, he got his fee. i'm there are details to be gone over before starting, (such as committing to buy through them and not someone else), but that would be the honorable thing to do anyway for someone who's investing so much time with you.