Estate agents!!!

[ventstompmutter]

I must have a bit of a vent here. I must say that the estate agents I have come across here are really cr@p. Here's the thing. We are looking to buy a place. We know where we want to buy. I have contacted 3 estate agents so far (one before Xmas, 2 some 3 weeks ago) and told them that we want to buy a place in X condo. We told them we used to live there and know what it's like. Can they just show us what they've got. Now, you may be thinking that perhaps none are free. Well then, this place has over 500 units and they change hands all the time.

We've not heard a sausage!

Does anyone have any tips about finding somewhere yourself. Any ideas. Any websites that I can read up on to educate myself estate agent wise and take on the project myself>

[it amazes me]

that Estate Agents can make a living.
We let out and are now in the process of selling.

Unbelievable the phone calls we get and the questions EA's ask.

[it trully amazes me]

that a buyer in this ridiculous property market doesn't even have the sense to find the property information for themselves before going to an agent. 

How do you do your analysis of the market and property without understanding how many units there are up for sale, what prices they are going for, recent sales etc.  No wonder the real estate agents rip people off when you have ignorant and uninformed buyers out there just wanting to part with their money.

Google is your friend. 

[Market Forces]

This is not a good time to sell. Owners will not be keen, although there is always a chance that there will be one or two desperados who truly must sell at a loss. Try calling some of the more reputable agencies, where you are less likely to deal with cowboys

[ventstompmutter]

How do you do your analysis of the market and property without understanding how many units there are up for sale, what prices they are going for, recent sales etc.

I do know all the above, also I know the good the bad and the ugly about the condo and the potential issues that a place has based on previous experience there and my knowledge of the condo.

What I DON'T have or know is who is selling? I don't have the contacts. All I want is for an estate agent to say, yes I've got 6 units there. When do you want to go see them? Once I get to see them I will know instantly what is a good and bad unit, what's worth paying more for etc. because I lived there and I have been in a lot of other units there. I am pretty familiar  with the place to know if it's a rip off or not.

If I had a list of sellers I'd just do it myself. As mentioned, this is a real easy sale, it's just that no estate agent has actually called me back yet.

As for buying in the current climate. Well yes, its a bit up and down but then when is a good time for US to buy? We've lived in Asia 10 years, will be here for the foreseeable future and are sick of renting. Our lease is up in Feb 2011, we can't stomach renting anymore. Yes it may go down but then isn't Singapore's housing market volatile in the short term but over the long term seems OK?

[goodonesure]

dodgy agents aaaaahhhhh