Washington banned pocket listings. Good news if you are buying.
By Mina Mina · Real Broker, LLC
Washington passed a law that restricts what the industry calls private or pocket listings. In plain terms, brokers now have to market residential properties publicly rather than quietly shopping them to a small inside group. If you are a buyer, this is good for you.
Why pocket listings hurt regular buyers
When a home sells quietly before it ever hits the public market, most buyers never get a chance. The people with the right connections win, and everyone else finds out after the fact. That is the opposite of a fair shot, especially for first time buyers who are already fighting for every advantage.
What it means going forward
More homes on the open market means more visibility and a more level playing field. There are narrow exceptions for real safety concerns, but the default is now transparency. Pair that with rising inventory and buyers have more genuine options than they have had in a while.
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