Anonymous wrote:We sold our house in Mclean to someone who knocked on our door and asked. They offered quite a bit more than than we would have priced it at. So it was a win win.

Who knocked on your door? An agent or the buyer?

Anonymous wrote:OP, I'd push your agent to ask other agents again if they have anything in the pipeline that might work. Looks like there are a couple coming soon.

+1. We bought our house in N Arlington off market when our realtor posted to a realtor group page asking about upcoming listings that fit our requirements. She did say we really lucked out though because these off market deals are rare in N Arlington. But I think she also might have said they’re not as rare when the home needs significant updating. Maybe if you’re realtor noted you don’t need updated/turnkey you’d get a response or two from people that don’t want the hassle of updating/preparing for open houses.

OP, I'd push your agent to ask other agents again if they have anything in the pipeline that might work. Looks like there are a couple coming soon.

I am not a broker, I bought it at a broker open house. They are during the week. No rule cant go.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Too need a better agent. One that talks to other agents

+1

That's how we bought our house - it never went on the market.

But how do you find them? Ours goes to broker open houses often, and has been around a while but no leads like this!

Anonymous wrote:Too need a better agent. One that talks to other agents

+1

That's how we bought our house - it never went on the market.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you the family looking in Taylor for <$1.5M?

Make an offer on this one - bump up to $1.6:
https://www.redfin.com/VA/Arlington/2805-23rd-Rd-N-22201/home/11233334

This realtor ALWAYS way overprices properties. It's already dropped in price once. The owner is probably getting antsy now that it has been sitting for 40 days.

Yes. And afraid $1.5M is our nosebleed pricing. We had been hoping for getting a vintage 80s home for $1.2M and update a bit and keep below $1.4M but $1.6M would be irresponsible.

Got it.

If you are up for a project...
https://www.redfin.com/VA/Arlington/2776-N-Quebec-St-22207/home/11231040

Bonus that it's in Donaldson Run pool boundary.

Anonymous wrote:Are you the family looking in Taylor for <$1.5M?

Make an offer on this one - bump up to $1.6:
https://www.redfin.com/VA/Arlington/2805-23rd-Rd-N-22201/home/11233334

This realtor ALWAYS way overprices properties. It's already dropped in price once. The owner is probably getting antsy now that it has been sitting for 40 days.

Yes. And afraid $1.5M is our nosebleed pricing. We had been hoping for getting a vintage 80s home for $1.2M and update a bit and keep below $1.4M but $1.6M would be irresponsible.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:what about this looks even better

https://www.redfin.com/VA/Arlington/2449-N-Lexington-St-22207/home/11228204

It's a pretty house, but it's right next to some sketchy commercial real estate that fronts to Lee highway.

It's actually right behind the new 7-11. When the house came on the market the first time in 2017, it was behind a run-down and soon-to-be-abandoned auto body shop that's now been torn down and completely rebuilt (whether you want to live next door to a 7-11 is a different story).

Depends...
If they permanently bring back Blackcherry Canada Dry Ginger Ale Slurpees?
Sure!

Or you could try this one if you don't mind the small lots...

https://www.redfin.com/VA/Arlington/2323-N-Ridgeview-Rd-22207/home/11280003

It's a lot of house for the money - offer $1.6.

Are you the family looking in Taylor for <$1.5M?

Make an offer on this one - bump up to $1.6:
https://www.redfin.com/VA/Arlington/2805-23rd-Rd-N-22201/home/11233334

This realtor ALWAYS way overprices properties. It's already dropped in price once. The owner is probably getting antsy now that it has been sitting for 40 days.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I actually think some of these pre market sales run afoul of fair housing rules. I know some sellers do it to control who they sell their homes to.

Off market or ore market sales are done to get a high price for the seller with the minimal prep work, and to get the buyers a lock without a bidding war.

Seems like sellers would be leaving a lot on the table by not letting market weigh on.

There is a chance, but if you know the market well and you get your target amount then it saves a bunch of hassle.

+1

Anonymous wrote:We sold our house in Mclean to someone who knocked on our door and asked. They offered quite a bit more than than we would have priced it at. So it was a win win.

+1

We get flyers/letters/calls all the time, it is very annoying. It worked out for you, so congrats.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Too need a better agent. One that talks to other agents

Yeah, we know that. We thought we had one (also from one of the listed brokerages in that listed house), but how do you KNOW you have a connected agent??

That's why I'm posting rather than asking our apparently clueless dude, since he knows we are looking in that area and missed this one entirely.

So many agents just through you into an MLS mailiing list based on zip code or what not, so useless.

My agent went with me to open houses and introduced me to the listing agent. They would sick around and chat for a long time with the listing agents. I bought in a very competitive area

Don’t all agents go to every open house? Ours went to everything, even to ones we couldn’t make, and often he gave us an assessment if worth scheduling a tour.

Chatting with listing agent is fine, but many times the open house agent is a junior agent lackey made to sit around all day.

AGENTS don't go to regular open houses on weekends - those are for neighbors. They go to broker open houses during the week. They get invited to these by knowing other realtors. And by the time they go to a broker open house they should already know if a house is a good option for you. Your agent is only as good as his/her network.

If you have a particular neighborhood in mind, I'd work with the agent who has the most listings there and/or lives there. They have the best insight and listings.

Count yourself lucky. Both of those houses are awful.