Why So Many “Active” Listings on Zillow Are Already Sold

By Danae Aballi-Mecham

Danae Aballi-Mecham is a long-time real estate industry veteran. She has worked in various positions in the industry having grown from an independent real estate agent to running a team of 5 top producing agents.

Have you ever found a dream home on Zillow, clicked to schedule a tour, and then discovered it wasn’t actually for sale? It happens more often than you’d think. Many buyers get excited about listings that look promising but end up being outdated or inaccurate.

Here’s what you need to know about how Zillow works and why it doesn’t always give you the complete story.

Zillow listing data isn’t always real-time. Zillow pulls information from a lot of different sources, but the updates don’t always happen right away. A home might already be sold, under contract, or never even for sale, yet it still shows up in your search.

That’s why so many buyers waste time chasing properties that aren’t available. The Multiple Listing Service (MLS) is the only place where you’ll find the most accurate, up-to-date information, and you can only get it through a licensed real estate agent.

Zillow turns your clicks into agent leads. Zillow might look like a free tool, but it makes money by selling your information to agents. When you hit the “Request a Tour” button, your phone number and email get shared with multiple agents who’ll start reaching out to you. On top of that, Zillow often posts “teaser” homes that aren’t actually for sale. Sometimes it’s just a property flagged for a missed tax bill or a foreclosure notice, even though the owner never planned to list it. These listings drive more clicks for Zillow but leave buyers frustrated.

Some homes are sold off-market. Another drawback is that Zillow doesn’t show every home. In Orange County, more than 20 percent of homes sell off-market. These are properties that never show up online because sellers prefer to wait until they find their next place or want to keep things private.

Local agents, however, can tap into their networks and give you access to this hidden inventory. If you rely only on Zillow, you’ll miss out on a big part of the market.

The most reliable way to buy a home is by working with an agent who has direct MLS access and connections to off-market listings. This saves you from wasting time on outdated posts, keeps your personal information safe, and gives you a shot at homes you’d never see online.

If you’re serious about buying in Orange County, you can call or text me at 949-216-8565 or email me at danae@danaeaballi.com. I’d be happy to connect you with accurate listings and guide you through the process so you can focus on homes that are truly available.