Your Dream Home Might Not Be on Zillow — Here's Why
If you've been tirelessly scrolling Zillow and wondering why you're not finding "the one," you're not alone—and it might not be your search criteria. There's a shift happening in the Annapolis real estate market that could explain why the best homes never even make it to Zillow.
Let’s unpack what’s going on ⤵
1. A Growing Trend: Private Listings in Annapolis
For years, many of the most desirable homes in Annapolis have sold pre-market—before ever hitting public sites like Zillow or Redfin. But lately, we’ve seen more sellers choosing to skip the public market altogether.
These homes are listed as “private exclusives” and are only marketed to a select group—typically within an agent’s brokerage and their clients. That means they won’t show up on Zillow, MLS, or any of the major platforms.
Translation? You won’t find them unless you’re working directly with a well-connected local agent.
2. Zillow’s Policy Shift
Zillow recently updated its policies to require that publicly marketed listings be entered into the MLS within one business day. This ensures the listings are visible to all participants in the market across platforms like Zillow, Redfin, etc.
But here's the catch: many brokerages consider private marketing within their internal network or brokerage site as still "private"—while Zillow disagrees. This disconnect is creating a gray area in how and when listings are published publicly.
3. Public vs. Truly Private
Zillow’s focus is on cracking down on listings that are publicly advertised (like on a brokerage website) but delayed from MLS entry. But the truly private exclusives—shared only with internal agent networks—don’t fall into that category. And they’re growing in popularity.
So What Does This Mean for You as a Buyer?
If you're relying solely on Zillow, you could be missing out on some of the best homes in Annapolis—especially those that sell quickly or never hit the market at all.
If you're serious about finding your dream home, it’s time to go beyond the apps and work with someone who has access to everything—including the listings that never go public.
☕ Want to chat more about this over coffee? I'd love to break it all down and help you create a winning home search strategy.
