Listing agent ghosting

[u/Katinula]

I went to see a house for sale. The listing agent was responsive to our request to see it, however there are follow up questions and the listing agent has gone completely dark for over a week now. The house has been for sale for a year. We’ve called the brokerage, sent new inquiries in, and even requested a 2nd showing and just no response at all. Any advice? Thanks

[u/TheTreasuredJones]

call the broker again and ask point blank if the listing is still active or if the seller's checked out. a year on the market with zero communication usually means the seller isn't serious or there's some mess behind the scenes they're avoiding. i'd move on unless this place is some incredible steal

[u/Katinula → u/TheTreasuredJones]

It’s definitely some type of estate deal as the house is old and empty. and what I’m looking for is specific enough that moving on, in this market, without knowing more is tough.listings aren’t exactly growing on trees unfortunately.

[u/Visible_Pop_554]

Since you’ve already called the brokerage, I’d put your questions in one short email to the managing broker and ask for a specific next step: “We toured the property on [date] and remain interested. Can someone confirm whether it’s available for a second showing and who can answer these questions?” List the questions there, so they don’t get lost across calls.

If you have a buyer’s agent, have that person make the request too. If you don’t, this may be a good time to speak with one who can follow up through the listing side. I wouldn’t assume why they’ve gone quiet, especially with a possible estate sale. You can keep this house on your list while continuing to view others.

[u/JakeBrown235]

The agent has officially entered the “if I don’t reply, the problem doesn’t exist” phase of customer service ❤️ 😄

[u/Katinula → u/JakeBrown235]

I’m desperate enough to be a complete PITA, sooo…..

[u/Equivalent-Tiger-316]

What does your agent say? Ahhh…

[u/Pretty-Ear6398 → u/Equivalent-Tiger-316]

That's what I was thinking too

[u/RileyNRV]

A year on market plus a week of silence usually means the listing side checked out, not that you did anything wrong. Call the brokerage again and ask for the managing broker by name. Ask straight out if the listing is still active and who the backup contact is. Have your buyer agent ping them through MLS too. You can also pull the tax record for the owner and send a short polite letter. Some sellers have no idea their agent went quiet. Keep touring other houses while this gets sorted. Do not pause your search for one silent listing.

[u/starfinder14204]

Why use the listing agent? Get your own agent and let them handle it.

[u/Katinula → u/starfinder14204]

I do have my own agent and we were both trying…

[u/Vast_Cricket]

Likely that house has offers negotiating or too busy to be bothered (worst kind).

[u/BoBromhal]

so, what are all your questions?

[u/good_mommy1977]

Look up the tax records and send a letter directly to the owner. The broker may be trying to steal the house for themselves. A broker in Texas just got busted for doing this.

[u/BoBromhal → u/good_mommy1977]

link?

[u/jmd_forest]

The listing real estate agent/broke pair-e-sight is likely either planning to buy it themselves or pawning it off to an investor "partner" for cheap.

[u/BoBromhal → u/jmd_forest]

after a year!! Agent has just been waiting, trying to get the price waaaaay down until some unrepresented buyer expresses interest, and now concealing that interest in order to NOW buy it on the cheap!

[u/jmd_forest → u/BoBromhal]

One can never underestimate the combination of devious, unethical, and/or downright stupid behavior of the real estate agent/broker pair-e-sights.