[Kyjam]

We used MLS and VLS when looking for a pre owned home .
Our MLS agent, David Monty, was very good to work with . We submitted an offer through him but we couldn’t come to terms with the seller .
We submitted another offer on another home with our VLS agent Robbie Audette . We were outbid by a competing offer .
We submitted another offer on a different VLS listing (sight unseen)and it was accepted .
Robbie did a wonderful job making a video walkthrough for us .
I highly recommend both of the agents we used and was very glad to have used the MLS and VLS to see all that were available .

[Kyjam]

Originally Posted by sirweazle

Just remember, they are “Salespeople”, not Realtors, big difference.

The VLS agents are more than “Salespeople “ . They are licensed real estate agents.
They do not belong to the Board of Realtors and therefore should not be called realtors , but they do have to abide by all the Florida laws concerning real estate agents .

[jeepnjt]

We ended up backing out of a VLS deal and went MLS. Our VLS agent assured us all will be fixed, you wont have any issues. The inspector said don't buy this house without a new roof saying it only has one or two years left. I made that an issue in the transaction. The VLS agent said I have to hire a roof inspector to prove the roof is in urgent need of repair. My reply was, the buyer needs to convince me it's good. The VLS agent said, if the roofing company says it will make it a year a more they do not force a replacement. I said ok, I'm backing out unless the owner wants to contribute to a new roof. The agent would not even go back and ask, he just said we are done. I bought the same house in a nearby neighborhood from MLS for a better price and brand new roof.

I think you have to look at both VLS and MLS, but don't assume VLS is working for you, both sides of that transaction are working for The Villages. Just know that and find a deal you can live with. I also think the agent could have taken the time to work on updating the offer, he just didn't want to,

[RON S]

You have to use both to see everything

[Bahrym]

This is definitely not true. You are much better with a Realtor and MLS much better coverage bigger group of buyers. The MLS makes your home available to all buyers working with any company but the Villagges

[Runway48]

Just returned from house hunting in TV. We focused on open pre-owned houses offered by VLS and MLS. Both MLS and VLS agents suggested making offers of at least 5% below asking and bargaining hard for concessions and give backs. VLS agents may be more knowledgeable of some of the inner workings of living in TV. MLS agents are better at giving a perspective of living in the villages relative to surrounding communities. We found both to be equally good-bad. Hard to catch a falling knife. Prices are continuing to drop, and sellers who are sitting on huge paper appreciations or who bought at the COVID peak are always the last to accept the trend. We return in Oct.

[scubawva]

“ Both MLS and VLS agents suggested making offers of at least 5% below asking and bargaining hard for concessions and give backs”

Are these agents who you were paying? Or are they not upholding

[CoachKandSportsguy]

If you have a list of needs and wants, and if not searching for a new build, there is no choice to filter on all available homes to purchase, you need both. . should not even be a question. . .

[Guinness835]

We closed on a house in TV in April and had started looking last December. We had both a VLS and MLS agent. We knew we wanted to be “between the 6’s” and our VLS agent kept trying to show us new houses near Eastport, even though we told them we did not want that. Another negative to VLS is you have no idea how long a house has been on the market and if it is overpriced. One of the houses we looked at in December is still currently for sale on VLS at the same price. We ended up buying pre-owned with MLS. It all depends on what you want, but to make sure you see everything having both VLS and MLS is necessary. There are good and bad agents on both sides, so just make sure you find the right ones. For new builds, you definitely need VLS.