Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Realtors / Marketing

[Bitner/Stevenson (lilbert]

You forgot another reason not to have a realtor. California law is lie this,
and probably most other states as well- if you list a home through a
realtor, you MAY NOT discriminate in any way against the buyer. That means
if you don't like someone who wants to be a part of the group, you have no
choice whether to let them in or not. You must sell to anyone who meets your
asking price. This is a huge drawback.

We had one person, who never really "got" cohousing, leave the community,
and she listed her house with a realtor.  The realtor failed to sell it, and
we helped her sell at a very reduced price to a couple (fabulous additions
to the community-great luck there)who had been involved in a group that
disbanded. The low sale price was a boon to them, but bad for anyone else
who wants to sell, since they won't get appraisals that are as high as they
should be.
--
Liz Stevenson
Southside Park Cohousing
Sacramento, California

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> I would like to ask the list about the "Realtors don't sell
> cohousing" truism that we have heard around.  I have heard two
> reasons given for this point of view:
>
> 1. Realtors attract people who aren't as committed to cohousing and
> therefore don't fit into the community well.   Has anyone had this
> experience?  It seems that if the community was well-explained to the
> person, they would understand what the expectations & benefits were
> whether or not the home was sold through a realtor.
> 2. People who to go a realtor are looking for a home right now, not a
> year down the road.  I'm not sure about this generalization, although
> perhaps a realtor themselves would be the person to ask, about who
> their customers are.