Website offers ‘prelist’ properties before they hit the MLS

A listing site that once only listed distressed properties available for sale is now allowing homebuyers a sneak peak by listing properties that are not even for sale on multiple listing service computers.

The prelisted properties are categorized as bank-owned, short sale, or resale. Once the properties are added in the MLS, res.net then adds in full addresses and other information.

Res.net announced that about 20 percent of its 85,000 listings are now “pre-listed.” The “pre-listed” properties are advertised and marketed by real estate agents.

“By adding prelist inventory to our Buyer Portal we are giving homebuyers the opportunity to easily view properties not available on other buyer or real estate websites, allowing them to get a head start contacting agents and preparing offers,” said Todd Mobraten, president and chief operating officer of res.net.

In October, Zillow also began offering listing information – including property addresses – on properties in some stage of foreclosure but have not yet been repossessed or listed for sale.