Why You Shouldn’t Use Websites Like Zillow To Search For Homes

If you’re house hunting, you’ve probably heard of Zillow.

They spend tens of millions of dollars on advertising. It’s hard to ignore them!

But you’re making a big mistake when you use Zillow to search for homes online.

Why?

Well, for starters, companies like Zillow (and other websites like Trulia) do NOT have accurate information. This is because they do not have access to the MLS, which is the official database of homes for sale.

(MLS stands for Multiple Listing Service.)

Many of the homes listed on Zillow are not for sale. They’ve been taken off the market, or they already sold!

Because they are not connected with the official database of listings, websites like Zillow have no way of knowing if their information is accurate.

Trust me—it can be REALLY frustrating to find a home you love, and then discover that it actually sold two weeks ago.

This happens all the time to homebuyers searching online for homes.

But there is a solution!

There is a way to search for homes using the official database of active listings.

The same database used by the real estate agents themselves.

It’s called the House Hunter tool. You can access it here.

The House Hunter software gives you access to the official database of homes for sale right here in El Paso County. You can customize your search based on price, # of bedrooms, and # of bathrooms. Unlike websites like Zillow, the House Hunter software is updated in real time. This means you never have to worry about inaccurate information—the listings are updated instantly.

I always advise my clients to use this tool when searching for homes.

It’s much better than using other websites, because you have the confidence of knowing the homes you are searching for are still active!

There is nothing more heartbreaking than finding the perfect home, driving to check it out, and then finding out it’s no longer for sale. Don’t let that happen to you!

Again, I recommend using the House Hunter software. You’ll get a custom link with homes that fit your criteria. And it’s 100% accurate, because it accesses the exact same database used by licensed agents.

Here’s a link to the House Hunter database for El Paso County.

I hope this article was helpful! If you have any questions about the real estate market here in El Paso County, feel free to email me at 719reteam@gmail.com, or text me at (719) 393-3633.

Good luck, and happy house hunting!

Walk a little taller as you enter the home buying process.

Read these 10 important steps and gain the confidence to enter the real estate market like a pro.