The Monthly Update - March 2019

Where’s the Listing Agent?!

Have you ever noticed how hard it is to find the actual listing broker for a property you’ve find online?

With a tactic called Premier Agent, Zillow (the parent company of Trulia, StreetEasy, NakedApartments and more) is making money by selling advertising space to brokers who can then place their photo and contact information alongside properties that are not their listings. Meaning online shoppers and potential buyers will reach out to them instead of the actual exclusive listing agent.

You might say, “So what? I don’t have to work with this person, and if he or she can get into the unit, then that’s great!” Unfortunately, this kind of misinformation starts to spread throughout the marketplace eroding value for both buyers and sellers, while making Zillow heaps of cash, according to The Real Deal,  Zillow made $213M in revenue off their Premier Agent platform.

It’s one thing to have buyers working with a strong and dedicated sales agent who looks out for their best interests, performs due diligence, helps them gather information and negotiates the best deal possible. It’s something altogether different when you have an agent who bought their way into the middle of a situation they know nothing about. They’re not informed about the property that Premier Agent places them alongside. They have no information or value to add to the buyer's search. And let’s face it, a lot of the time, this is a convenient path to a bait-and-switch line like, “Sorry that property’s not available (when it actually is), but I have five more just like it! Would you like to view those?”

This service benefits no one involved in the actual property transaction. Not the seller, certainly not prospective buyers. The only entity that benefits is Zillow/Streeteasy, and they’re literally profiting off of misleading consumers both on the buyer side and the seller side.

The Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY), the New York Residential Agent Continuum (NYRAC), and other real estate associations that advocate for fair and honest real estate practices have been trying to persuade Zillow to list the exclusive listing agent’s information more clearly. But it’s a very gray area in New York City and New York State law, so it might take years to work out.


In the meantime, below are screenshots of where to find the actual listing agent on Zillow, Trulia and StreetEasy. And remember, you can always find The Hoffman Team’s exclusive listings on our Compass website.



Local Events 

The Armory Show

March 7-10, 2019

The Armory Show is one of the art world’s biggest international art fairs, rivaled only by Frieze New York. It’s also the anchor for Armory Arts Week, when other fairs (eight for 2019) set up shop in New York. For tickets, click here.

The Orchid Show
February 23 - April 28, 2019

The New York Botanical Garden’s Orchid Show exhibits thousands of species of beautiful blossoming orchids, and it’s one of the best NYC events and lasts through April.More info here. 

St. Patrick’s Day

March 17, 2019

New York is about to turn into shamrock city! Sport your green duds and celebrate St. Patrick’s Day (NYC-style) at these epic parties and events, including the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade. More info here.

Women’s History Month

All Month

Women’s History Month in NYC means it’s time to attend some incredible panels, movie screenings, parties and more hosted by badass females that are making New York a better place to be. More info here. 


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