Boston Condos for Sale
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A study by Stanford University economists B. Douglas Bernheim and Jonathan Meer called “How Much Value Do Real Estate Brokers Add? A Case Study.” Bottom line: We (I) don’t add a whole lot. “We find no evidence that the use of a broker leads to higher average selling prices, or that it significantly alters average initial asking prices. However, those who use brokers sell their houses more quickly,” the authors write.
The study was based on data pertaining to sales of faculty and staff homes on the Stanford campus over a 26-year period. “For the median home in our sample, a 6 percent sales commission totals $34,000, a steep price to pay for the value rendered,” the authors write.
The study closely resembles one in 2007 that covered brokers vs. FSBOs in Madison, Wis., another college town.
The National Association of Realtor’s reaction:
—Time is money when it comes to selling a home. If it takes longer to sell a home yourself, it could mean making one, two, or three extra mortgage payments.
—The Stanford campus may not be typical of the nation as a whole.
—The NAR’s own annual survey found that on a per-square-foot basis, FSBOs sold for $92, vs. $116 for sales by brokers.
I’ll file this under Looking for a new job.
Source: Sanford University study via Business Week
