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Realtors: Why the hell isn't this house selling?

9,155 Views | 84 Replies | Last: 3 days ago by MAS444
Seven Costanza
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8:03p, 1/8/25
AG
It will probably be fine if you give it time, but I would consider rearranging the order of the photos. The first six or so shots of the interior are very off-putting with the weird layout of the dining room/office combo. I know if I were scrolling through something with that layout in that location, I would probably immediately move on to look at something else.

I would stage it and then have the living area as the next shot after the intro shot of the giant cube outside. Make the viewer think "oh I can see myself living here" versus "wtf is this weird combo room on the left" when they open the listing.
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Dan Scott
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12:12a, 1/9/25
AG
Honestly it's ugly. All the "upgrades" look like the cheapest possible option.
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Hittag1492
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In reply to Heineken-Ashi • 2:25a, 1/9/25
AG
Heineken-Ashi said:
Hittag1492 said:
That site showing the location as a Major flood risk likely does not help. Is that even true? May ask them to re-evaluate that.
Lol. Zillow is absolute trash at knowing anything about a property or area.


Zillow sure Must be. That made zero sense to me as well and there is no real explanation either.Could turn some buyers off though especially with the overall flooding past in the Houston area. Should be a way that can be fixed in the listing.
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The Fife
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In reply to ktownag08 • 8:19a, 1/9/25
ktownag08 said:
To me it's the layout. Kitchen is disconnected from living room because of stairs and breakfast area. The office isn't an office which matters as a lot of folks that would buy this house can WFH, partially WFH, or want a job they can. There's no space to do that. Upstairs master right next to kids also is disadvantage.

My wife on the other hand says she doesn't like the brown tile everywhere so on that basis alone it's a no for her.

There's too many options +/- 30k of this with less layout issues and/or dated finishes.

My guess is many buyers at this price point just sacrifice some square footage to get a 3/2 + enclosed office, better layout, and less dated finishes. Gotta have something to live the Insta life and nothing in this house does that...
She's right, the tile and New Venetian Gold countertops clash so bad with all of the wall colors. They were in their heyday 15-20 years ago but now the walls (which also fight with the flooring) really just draw attention to it. The ROI is probably not there for changing the tile and countertops out so I'd try and work with the paint instead.

Also camera angles are really not helping here, inside or out. They make the place look boxy like the it's built by KB Homes. Needs better pictures.

There's also the nearby train tracks but you can't do anything about that besides discount accordingly.
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knoxtom
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10:31a, 1/9/25
There is nothing wrong with that house... but there is also nothing really right with that house. It is completely generic in every single way.

Only real problem I have with it is that it is in Missouri City. There has never been a city in the history of Earth that scream mediocrity more than Missouri City.
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Diggity
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10:59a, 1/9/25
AG
The home is in Sienna, which is one of the top 10 most successful master planned communities in all of Houston...so I don't think Mo City is the issue.
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knoxtom
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In reply to Diggity • 12:23p, 1/9/25
Diggity said:
The home is in Sienna, which is one of the top 10 most successful master planned communities in all of Houston...so I don't think Mo City is the issue.


Good for you. Not sure why living in a master planned community is so appealing to you, but whatever you like.

I looked up the top 15 attractions in Missouri City, Texas, and Number 1 was the Fort Bend Library.

I guess libraries are fine and all, but I stand by my statement that IN MY OPINION Missouri City is the most generic, boring place in the world. Again, just my opinion, glad you love it. I'm sure they have a real nice Target with a parking lot full of Tahoes and 4runners.
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SteveBott
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12:32p, 1/9/25
AG
Digs doesn't live there he is a long time former realtor on this forum.

As for suburbs people live there to provide a safe place to raise families and neighborhood community perks. They commute to work. Or at least they used to. Sienna is on the outside of main Houston but most master planneds are. Not from Houston?
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Diggity
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12:57p, 1/9/25
AG
must be his shtick
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Troglodyte
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1:03p, 1/9/25
AG
Not a realtor, haven't sold many homes in my life, and don't know where Missouri City is.

Like others have said, interest rates/affordability are difficult for starter homes. I know the new construction homes in my area will have signs that say 4.99% financing. I believe this is essentially a 2% buydown in year 1; 1% in year 2; then to par in year 3. I have no idea what that would cost of a home like this, but I'm wondering if you could offer to do that if it would help.
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SteveBott
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In reply to Troglodyte • 1:12p, 1/9/25
AG
Buy downs are expensive so that is why builders mostly offer them. They have the margins to afford them. The realtor should have mortgage contacts that could price one out.
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Heineken-Ashi
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2:52p, 1/9/25
There's a lot of focus here on aesthetics. That's partly applicable. But I will repeat, its the price.

Is it the price because it won't appraise for list? No. It's the price because the people buying those kinds of homes have rejected it. Every house moves if price right. When they don't move, they are priced wrong. It's partly because the aesthetics aren't appealing. But it's mainly because of the economic environment for the likely buyer pool. And as Jamie as pointed out on the last housing update, this winter season is not like previous ones.

What's happening in this current market is that homes that are turn key, appeasing, updated, and at a price point that supports them are moving just fine like any bull market. But homes with even the slightest thing off, they are sitting. It's been this way for over a year. It is not new.

So frankly, whatever combination of factors it is, the price is wrong. Either drop it, or de-list and try to fix other issues.
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_lefraud_
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3:18p, 1/9/25
AG
I'll ask again, what kind of offers have rolled in?
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SteveBott
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3:50p, 1/9/25
AG
Price is important but not the way you are thinking in the list price. It's the monthly payment. Just like cars people think of how can I pay the monthly cost.

So list price reduction will not make a dent in the monthly cost. Let's say monthly is 3500. Now drop the price by 25k and your monthly only drops 150 a month.

Well not much difference between 3500 and 3350 for 25k. I'm not a realtor so I cannot say what it needs but 'more sizzle.

Staging and better pictures at minimum. Then I would do seller contributions for closing costs and if affordable a 2-1 buy down. All eye ball moves.
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Heineken-Ashi
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In reply to SteveBott • 3:53p, 1/9/25
Yes, but prices are always reflective of the economic landscape and cost of borrowing. That's what most sellers today don't understand. The only properties that move right now are doing so at continued elevated pricing not reflecting the reality of the increased cost of debt, hence the huge drop in deal volume over the last couple of years. If we wanted a sellers market again, prices would need to come down 30-40% across the board. But they won't because there's no distress in the vast majority of sellers. So the only things that will move will be the best homes. The rest either need to drop price significantly or sit and wait and hope for the best.
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SteveBott
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4:30p, 1/9/25
AG
Well price is involved in my suggestion. It just I'm allocating dollars in a different bucket.
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ATM9000
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6:27p, 1/9/25
AG
I could see the house having decent interest as a rental. Has that been looked at?
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coolerguy12
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In reply to B-1 83 • 6:59a, 1/10/25
AG
First thing I would do is get a professional photographer. Those pictures are terrible.

When we sold our first house I hesitated on spending the money on a pro for pictures, and then when I saw the listing I was blown away. Barely even recognized the house I had lived in for 5 years.

Second thing is staging.

If I were in the market for a house that met these specs I might come look based only on the backyard, but most likely I keep scrolling.
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EclipseAg
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In reply to knoxtom • 8:39a, 1/10/25
AG
knoxtom said:
Diggity said:
The home is in Sienna, which is one of the top 10 most successful master planned communities in all of Houston...so I don't think Mo City is the issue.



I looked up the top 15 attractions in Missouri City, Texas, and Number 1 was the Fort Bend Library.
Who buys a house for nearby attractions?
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EclipseAg
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8:43a, 1/10/25
AG
You know who lives in Sienna? Former A&M quarterback Bucky Richardson.

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jopatura
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12:51p, 1/10/25
AG
Anyone who bought a house for $230,000 5 years ago want to upgrade into a new build. Rates are also better right now in new builds.

Anyone who never bought a house can't afford $3,000+ per month.

I can rent a similar house in Steep Bank for $2,500.

It's winter slow season.

They need to stage, refresh pictures, and hold it until June. If you aren't getting any walkthroughs at that point, may need to rent it or sell for dirt cheap if the carrying costs are too prohibitive.

What are people that look at it saying? If they are positive but choosing something else, it's curb/show appeal. If it's negative, need to fix the negative. If you aren't getting any showings then the listing is bad.
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CFTXAG10
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In reply to Jay@AgsReward.com • 3:15p, 1/10/25
AG
Jay@AgsReward.com said:
This a first time home owner price point, and rates over 7% is really squeezing the affordably of most first time home buyers which of course hurts that part of the market.
This right here. We have been talking about going from our current two-story home to a big one story in the same area but I'm not signing up for 7%
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94chem
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4:42p, 1/13/25
I like low Zillow prices. It tells me the owner probably protested taxes annually and took good care of the home.
94chem,
That, sir, was the greatest post in the history of TexAgs. I salute you. -- Dough
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woodyhayes
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6:15p, 1/13/25
Flood factor, major. Flood insurance, critical. $124/mo. hoa. Strike 1 and 2.
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BoDog
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8:58p, 1/13/25
AG
Two Words: Missouri City
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MAROON
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10:49a, 1/14/25
AG
Is open drainage ditches normal for Sienna? That's a huge turn off for me
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Beckdiesel03
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6:04p, 1/15/25
AG
A lot of people hit on numerous good points on here that doesn't need repeating. Just thought I would throw another opinion in. We live in an early 2000's neighborhood and from the pictures it's very similar to a floor plan that is here. That huge room combo downstairs is weird for a ton of people. We have a house with it for sale now and I would love to get my hands on it because for what we need I could close it off and make it a huge office/hunting storage room. I also work for a builder so the upgrades for me would be easier than a normal first time buyer. HOWEVER, I haven't even thought about it because I'm not a first time buyer and I'm not leaving my low rate, very affordable home that is close to pay off this decade to jump into a big loan with a high interest rate AND having to easily put $50k -$75k to get it to what I want. Edit to add I thought when I looked it was newer. 1998 matches up with our hood lol. This has got to be a plantation home
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swimmerbabe11
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10:38p, 1/17/25
Am I really the only person who loathes virtually staged homes and would rather tour an empty home?
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swimmerbabe11
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11:35a, 1/18/25
I am using a realtor that is out of town for my home search and so I am contacting listing agents directly to schedule showings. Multiple have refused to show the home without my agent present. or if I didn't have an agent, told me to find one and have them call them.

Strange climate.
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SteveBott
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In reply to swimmerbabe11 • 12:31p, 1/18/25
AG
Probably doing that to rule out the lookeloos. Want to see your prequalified in some way.
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swimmerbabe11
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In reply to SteveBott • 2:39p, 1/18/25
If I found out that my agent was responding the way these people were responding to me, I would absolutely fire them. I'm sure it is to try to "weed" out, but it really sounds like "I don't want to do work"
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SteveBott
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In reply to swimmerbabe11 • 3:06p, 1/18/25
AG
Or could be that too. Send them your preapproval letter and if they still don't want to show you the home you will have your answer.
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jja79
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In reply to swimmerbabe11 • 5:04p, 1/18/25
AG
Is the agent temporarily out of town or lives out of town?
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Red Pear Realty
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7:02p, 1/18/25
Sponsor
AG
If you have a realtor, you do not need to be making initial contact with listing agents. That's your realtor's job and you doing that is making you and them look bad. Let your realtor do their job and you'll be better off.
Sponsor Message: We Split Commissions. Full Service Agents in Austin, Bryan-College Station, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio. Red Pear Realty
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Kenneth_2003
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In reply to swimmerbabe11 • 9:18p, 1/18/25
AG
swimmerbabe11 said:
Am I really the only person who loathes virtually staged homes and would rather tour an empty home?
Virtual staging yes.

The last home I sold (I had relocated due to employment and was living with family), I stripped the house but left major furnishings. 2 beds and bedside tables, couches, end tables, rug, entertainment console (devoid of electronics), dining table & chairs... Closets empty

It showed the space as liveable and useable but still gave them the ability to envision their things or if starting fresh an idea on layout.

I was under contract within a couple weeks as I recall.
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