Outer Banks REAL ESTATE - sales

Multiple Listing Service (MLS) (also Multiple Listing System):

...is a database which provides real estate brokers representing sellers under a listing contract to widely share information (generally on the web), about a Seller's property with other real estate brokers (other Outer Banks Real Estate firms) who may represent potential buyers or wish to cooperate with a seller's broker in finding a buyer for the property. The MLS combines the listings of all available properties that are represented by brokers who are both members of that MLS system (Outer Banks Association of Realtors) and of NAR, (National Association of Realtor). Almost all the property "on the market" here on the OBX is listed in our local MLS (yes there are for sale by owner properties, but it is clearly understood that properties listed in the MLS sell for more money, in less time than properties that are "For Sale by Owner".

** All the real estate data on the web is first collected from all the local Board of Realtor's. That local data feed (from the Outer Banks Association of Realtors) is then distributed to some, yes some, of the national website search engines for real estate such as Trulia, oodle, homes.com, and a host of other search engines. Now...these sites require individual brokers and agents to sign up and even pay to have their listings on many websites. They are not automatically syndicated to every real estate search website on the web. I can assure you that not all of these search websites have all the listings from our local MLS...I'll put my commission on it! They tend to be a poor choice for a real estate search portal. Realtor.com has all the MLS listings, but this site does not have local specific search terms helpful to doing a highly relevant search. (i.e. oceanfront, canalfront, soundfront, 2 Lots off the Sound, by subdivision, etc.). I can assure you that using a highly customized local MLS IDX feed from a website is far more accurate, easy to use, and sometimes can even provide you with property alerts that keep you informed in real-time of your targeted property search (this site's MLS Search certainly does). The MLS Search on this website is a highly crafted system. Perform a search For Outer Banks Realty.

Side Note on Buyer Agency: Understanding your agency rights is an incredibly important aspect of buying property ... overlooked by many people. Buyer agency give you legal representation and will save you a lot of time. When you call on a listing to get a price, you are you are calling the agent that is representing the Seller. This no way to negotiate a good deal unless you understand how to agency laws affect your rights. Using one agent you are comfortable with (rather than calling multiple agents off their signs just to get prices), can save you communication inundation. Buyer representation doesn't cost you anything. It assures that you are LEGALLY represented AT ALL TIMES in your real estate search.