Housing Hunting During the Coronavirus? Avoid These Real Estate Listing Red Flags

House-hunting in the midst of the coronavirus has made it challenging for realtors (no longer able to hold open houses) to show buyers the homes they are interested in. Instead, many agents are turning to technology—virtual tours, 3-D Tours, detailed online listings, etc.—to help clients get a feel for the home. While many online listings include gorgeous high-resolution images and a full run-through of the home’s amenities and surrounding neighbourhood, others make it hard to discern what’s really being offered. 

With sellers highly motivated to seal the deal in today’s market, buyers should take extra care to scrutinize each listing that catches their attention. Read on to recognize the most common signs of trouble in real estate listings before proceeding with an offer.

1. The Price it Too Good to Be True 

If a home with a low selling price has you jumping for joy in front of your computer screen, don’t be surprised if your agent isn’t as quick to share your enthusiasm. A professional realtor knows how to spot a glaring red flag, and a home well below market value is a good indication that there’s a costly problem with the property. Be sure to get your realtor to look into how long the sellers have lived in the home and what their motivations are for listing the property. Best-case scenario is that the homeowners are extra motivated to sell for cheap because of a job relocation, divorce, or financial reasons. 

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