Losing faith in StreetEasy

We've had some problems with Elliman listings over the last month or so. However most of those issues should be resolved now. If you do see any issues with particular listings please send us feedback and we will look into it!

I hate to be blunt but why do I need a middleman? Why don't I go directly to "your" scource of information...the brokers. Why should I risk data lost in translation? Answer that and I will be back.

The answer to that seems really obvious: there's more than one data source, and it's easier to get a complete view of information by searching in one place than going to each individual data source and doing equivalent searches.

This is roughly like asking "why would I use Orbitz instead of going directly to hilton.com"? If you know which hotel you want to stay in, going directly to the hotel's website is fine. If you're trying to figure out what the overall hotel availability for your destination looks like, though, it's nice to have someone aggregate all the work for you.

Seriously - what a silly question. And steveF, how will you know if streeteasy answered your question unless you come back?

jordyn..so you don't want to perform the necessary due diligence because it's time consuming??? No wonder why most people lose money in their investments. Yes IT"S EASIER" but is it right? What do you buy stocks because the Motley Fool said to?....no you research thoroughly from all credible sources and then make a move. You wouldn't be working for Warren Buffet that is for sure.

buster...I don't even know where to start to try and help you.

steveF - what world do you live in? What data source out there GIVES you everything perfect without going to every single brokerage website out there and doing a search on each?

Nothing is perfect and Manhattan has no standard MLS. What you dont get is two VERY important things:

1) the data is ONLY as good as the agent that enters/updates it at the firm. Its a fact that many agents delay publishing IN CONTRACT for the hopes of getting buy side calls to hopefully convert to new buyer clients.

2) in an imperfect virtual world, it is up to US, the users, to tell the website operators of things that need fixing or upgrading. If the site responds, and generally offers good info, that is the best you can hope for!

I think steveF is a troll, which makes me hesitant to respond.

However, I have no idea what sort of "due diligence" you're talking about. I don't rely on StreetEasy as the absolute last word for all real estate data, and I probably wouldn't use it to make a court case. I do think it provides a useful rollup of many of the listings, and gives me links to the canonical source that I can use to check the current status.

It's also worth noting that StreetEasy provides data that is absolutely not available from the listing broker, such as price history. If you are going to only look at the listings at the broker's websites, you'll lose some valuable information. I guess you won't be working for Warren Buffet, either.

urbandigs...wrong...that is not the best you can hope for...you act like going to the borkers websites is a herculean task. You are dealing with hundreds of thousands/millions of dollars and you have a problem with visiting brokers to get your information? If it takes everday for a week, you do it. What world do you live in? Obviously it's not a world awash in money.

steveF - I don't understand why you are expecting perfection in a market that is not transparent. If you're not willing to help out when you see a problem - then the Streeteasy community might be better if you are not a part of it!

Troll...listen to this guy....I know Urban is trying to legitimize his site but I wonder what your racket is Jordyn? All I know is I put an in-your-face question to Streeteasy. I'm sure Streeteasy is making a nice wad of change with this site. I WANT TO KNOW WHY A LISTiING THAT HAD A SIGNED CONTRACT WITH PRUDENTIAL SHOW UP AS AVAILABLE FOR A MONTH AND A HALF WHEN IT WASN'T AVAILABLE......that is a BIG problem. What if I was buying in that building? That error could have cost me a deal. This site has a long way to go before I use it for anything else but to pass the time debating.

Hmmmm?....where is StreetEasy?....I think I am in a discussion with a bunch of people with financial interests in StreetEasy. Since I can't understand why I'm getting such a hard time for giving this site a once over. If you people use it than what's with all this defensive posturing? Hmmmm? I think I know. So all you people above...fix your site! :)

steveF - wow. Just dont know how to respond. As you attempt to publicly break down everyone's agenda incorrectly, clearly your agenda is to discredit, as oppose to offer constructive criticism about how a site can improve.

One question: GIVE ME 1 NYC REAL ESTATE AGGREGATOR WEBSITE THAT HAS MORE ACCURATE REAL TIME DATA?

It's a simple question. So lets hear it.

"I WANT TO KNOW WHY A LISTiING THAT HAD A SIGNED CONTRACT WITH PRUDENTIAL SHOW UP AS AVAILABLE FOR A MONTH AND A HALF WHEN IT WASN'T AVAILABLE......that is a BIG problem. What if I was buying in that building? That error could have cost me a deal."

If you are basing your decision on whether a brokerage website says a listing is in contract (or not) I don't think any of us can help you.....

Hey, I had MY apartment IN CONTRACT being listed on streeteasy as available for more that 4 weeks.

All of the Steves on here are nuts

steveF, Oh if the world was a perfect place...it is not. Instead of being annoyed and a tad passive aggressive (it's so tiring no?), take the opportunity offered by StreetEasy to: "let us know about a problem" with the added "We really appreciate you taking the time to send us feedback". Good luck steveF.

Problem is that people don't want to do due diligence. To me, it is the same issue over the people that think that brokers are manipulating Streeteasy ... as if the information is free and belongs to the public or belongs to Streeteasy ... and as if the number of days on the market or the former price (i.e. the data being manipulated) is anything more than nice to know information but doesn't affect the location, quality, size., cost, carrying charges etc. that is truly important to assessing real estate.

I think streeteasy does nothing but continue to improve the breadth and accuracy of the information offerred. In my experience they timely address every inaccurate posting I have ever brought to their attention by virtually immediately reaching out to the brokers involved and then sending me follow up. Streeteasy deserves credit for that kind of responsiveness.

This is an industry that historically thrived on a lack of transparency and cagey communications that regularly pushed the line of what was legal and ethical. Now, with sites like Streeteasy, light is being shined in the dark cave that was NYC RE and it's going to take some time before everyone's pupil's adjust. I think brokers will slowly have to shift their tactics as consumers are increasingly armed with information and that is good.

No one maintains that the countless sources upon which Streeteasy relies for data approach 100% accuracy. But there is more info than ever before and it is increasing monthly. Just look at all the new properties scooped up this week by this site from brokers who never before posted on Streeteasy.

And while VVerain and I regularly disagree about the propriety of widely used broker tactics and the value of the info now available for buyers when negotiating and for seller's trying to set an offer price, we agree that there is no substitute for due diligence.

All this said, IMHO, Streeteasy has established itself as an invaluable resource in NYC. Even if it is not exact, the inventory number alone is hugely informative as people try to discern trends and current and emerging market conditions. Griping about a couple week lag in a particular listing not saying its in contract misses all the value added.

kylewest, you said everything I was thinking, but more eloquently. Cheers.

There is no system in the world that will give you a 100% accurate count of apartments (or anything else for that matter) on the market. Cannot be done.

Just because an apartment is in contract does not mean that it will close, especially for a co-op, so I think that that complaint is irrelevant. One must assume that if one uses the same source of information all the time, the methodology will be the same so the figures will be directly comparable. Miller Samuel is not 100% accurate either.

Just FYI, 8,272 current listing in Manhattan not in contract, 7,706 with an address. Any way you slice it, a 1-year supply.

Since I am a Newbie and learning from you more experienced posters, what reputable real estate sites(aside from the NYTimes) are not "swept" by StreetEasy that I should be watching on a daily basis?

NYRE Newbie: I wouldn't assume that the NYT is a "reputable" RE site so quickly. Depends how you define that. They print just about any ad someone is willing to pay for. Some are obvious boondogges: have you seen the hotel room picture with two double beds (it looks like a Holiday Inn) one broker has been running in an ad for weeks for a supposed 2-bedroom?

Generally, all major brokerage listings are included on Streeteasy. An increasing number of small agencies are also having their listings included.

Stevef and Stevej the same?

actually bloomberg is a better comparison for streeteasy. motley fool is a good comp for curbed.

I think my comment was the first one I ever posted on these boards. Way to bring something extra to the discussion, huh.