I am not a real estate professional. I recently sold my house, and bought another, both using Realtors.

While my home was on the market, a different agent advertised a listing in my neighborhood. He sent postcards to the neighborhood advertising "New Listing", he has directional signs miles aways pointing to this house, and his website states it is a new listing. He has yard signs at this house. It is not in MLS.

This particular agent previewed my home when it was on the market, and he rubbed me the wrong way when we met. He told me my house was overpriced by $100K (it wasn't... it sold in 2 weeks at 98% list). But, he got my attention, so I started watching what he was doing in my neighborhood.

It turns out his "listing" is actually his own home. He has a second listing like this, too, owned by someone with the same last name. (Parents, sibling?) He is obviously using these false listings to generate leads.

Is this ethical? He currently has no real listings, so I can say it does not appear to be very effective.

One can have a listing and not have it in the MLS. It depends on the type of listing agreement signed.

Sounds like bait and switch advertising to me.

I have to agree with KT. I know a few agents who have sold without listing on MLS. In most cases, They have to share with their broker to sell their own home if listed on MLS plus pay another agent. Not a bad deal but since he is educated in the business he may as well try on his own. If he is sending advertising but will not accept a legitamite offer on the home I would report him.

Sounds like an awful lot of effort just for a phony listing. Only time will tell.

If an agent is selling his own house, it has to be disclosed that it is agent-owned. Otherwise, how do you know the house isn't for sale? Most of the time anything is for sale for the right price.It would be hard to prove that it is a false listing.

I dare say that a good number of Realtors sell their own homes, and, many sell their own homes often. When your in the biz, it's just a natural thing to do.

But hey, if he thought yours was a 100k over, maybe you should look at his. It might be a steal.

Maybe he was trying to buy mine.

I'm betting it's a bait and switch. I just sent him an e-mail asking about the house. We'll see what he says.

If it really is for sale, he's doing a really bad job marketing it. There is no info available (no number of sqft, no interior pictures, nada) on his web page or in a brochure box.

Whether it's his own home, or it belongs to someone else, whatever. Some sellers don't want certain things...signs, MLS, internet ads, open houses and so on. As long as the agent is following the rules and laws of your state, he has to abide by the seller's wishes.

macd,

Just an observation here but as you are not in the market for a home and are not in the real estate business what concern is it of yours other than the fact you dislike this agent cause he commented your house was overpriced?

It appears that you have way too much time on your hands and nothing better to do than keep an eye on the activities of this agent that rubbed you the wrong way.

As the others have pointed out to you the listing does not have to be in MLS to be valid. The fact that it is the agents own home and that of a possible relative is not relevant.

Just because the agent does not have listings is not an indication of how well he or she does as there are many agents that build their practices around buyers.

Here is the best advice for you. Get on with your life and find a new hobby!

Funny but, I suspect that in a different situation most agents would tell a consumer they were nuts if they didn't list there home in the MLS yet no one finds it at all suspicious that the two properties this agent is selling are not listed.

I will bet anyone five dollars that this guy has signs in front of his house and a family members in order to generate sign calls.

In answer to the original question, no I don't think this is ethical behavior. At the very best it is hypocritical.

Oh...and... Paul, I think it is funny that someone with 1524 posts in less than two years is telling someone else to "Get on with your life and find a new hobby". I think your arguments would be slightly more effective if you would refrain from verbally attacking anyone who doesn't agree with you. Just my $.02

Gee Freak,
Just callin it like it is! I cannot comment about it being suspicious and neither can you as you do not know the full circumstances. The poster admits that the agent rubbed her the wrong way because the agent commented on her house was overpriced. This is someone with an imaginary axe to grind. So other than telling the truth what was the problem. The poster did not disagree with me so your point on attacking for disagreement is just so much babble.

I post alot cause I do alot of my work from the office. It is called multi-tasking so if you wanna talk some more trash feel free to send me a private message.

My goal in posting here was not to grind an axe (or to start a flame war). I was hoping to start a discussion on Realtor ethics. I have no intention of stalking this agent or reporting him to the "sign police".

In the last month I hired two Realtors, sold a house, bought a house, and dealt with two house inspections and repair requests. So, real estate is top of mind for me right now. My activities generated $60,000 in Realtor fees. I find it very interesting what agents do to market and sell themselves to get a piece of that action.

I have enjoyed reading the posts on these forums. They have provided me a rare peek behind the curtain to see how the machine works.

But, point well taken Paul, I do tend to obsess sometimes. After my closings in a few weeks, I will likely disappear to another corner of the Internet.

Can anyone recommend a forum where I learn about interstate moving companies? :-)

macd,
Learning is always a worthwhile pursuit.
Try http://www.movingscam.com/
This wil provide you with alot of information on interstate movers and may contain some forum information. Best of luck with your closing and your upcoming move.

An exclusive agency listing does not have to be in the MLS, however, the written listing agreement has to be on file with our board.