Why allow Real Estate companies to post here?

i disagree,i think they provide very good info about real estate here and i like the fact that they tend to keep each other honest,or we as residents tend to keep them honest,this is a relocation board after all,prospective reloactors to our islands do not get the "real" picture from the real estate magazines and websites.

I agree, and most of the posts from Realtors are just answering questions people ask.

Honesty I think is the problem; they are not here to provide a service. They are working! The real problem is that few actually identify themselves as Real Estate agents, and I have watched them prey on this board for the last year.

Well Alexandra, who I introduced her to this board, is more than helpful. If people didn't ask questions, she wouldn't answer them. She answers other questions as well. Plus she always lists that she is a agent.
The nice thing about this board, is if you don't want to read about real estate, you don't have to click on that link.

THIS IS THE RELOCATION FORUM!

Yes, and when people are looking to relocate, they want to know about rentals and buying!

I agree real estate agents should be allowed to participate as fellow virgin islanders. What i disagree with is no newbie should buy until they've lived here full time for a year unless they've got lots of money to blow. Most people do not stay. And selling a house or condo here on island has always taken a long time. Most transplants are going to be hurt if they have to wait a year to sell a house. And that was when the market was good.

When they are encourging a newbie to go with their excitement of moving here and to buy a house its feels alot like me they are preying on someone who they know will most like likely not last. But that is my opinion. People have common sense and its up to them to use it.

I agree with trw

I agree with dougtamji

I can speak from my experience--when I was looking for a place to rent, I found the insights from the real estate agents--most especially, Alexandra--to be hugely helpful. In my opinion, these individuals know the island and the properties well, and can be a big help to those of us who don't have "feet on the ground." And if being helpful and friendly leads to business for them, even better!

Bernie

I am pretty new to the board, so take what I say as you wish, but I have been contacted by an agent asking a questions. The first thing she told me was that she was an agent. I was glad she did and I she has answered all kids of questions for me. I think it is a good thing, but they should let you know if you ask.

Betty is right about people not staying long. Even back in the 1980s it was the same; people usually got rock fever and left around six months.

Honesty I think is the problem; they are not here to provide a service. They are working! The real problem is that few actually identify themselves as Real Estate agents, and I have watched them prey on this board for the last year.

And . . . who are you? and why are you here?

Steve

As Relocation involves the new arrival needing housing of one sort or another, it seems that having some Realtors involved in the board and available to answer questions is a pretty sensible thing and very useful to most. None of the Realtors who post here is guaranteed any kind of business from anyone else posting on the site. It's not like car salesmen at a car lot who take turns being the next "up" guy who gets the next customer who comes onto the lot.

All we can do is answer questions and provide info that Realtors have easier access to, such as stats from the MLS, available rentals, etc. Some of us do have rental properties available now and then and if one is a good fit for a new arrival then that is to their benefit, not just the Realtor and the landlord for whom they are seeking a tenant.

Being a Realtor on St. Croix isn't just a sales job. It is a relocation service with a lot of different elements uncommon in mainland transactions. As I work with buyers and newly arriving tenants regularly, I can often answer most of their questions as the same ones have come up so many times before. Those same kinds of questions get asked on this website and when I post I give the same kind of answer that I would give someone I was working with directly. If someone asks a question on this website they have the right to information from all available sources willing to toss in their two cents. It's up to them to cull what they need from what comes their way. Personally, I try to give complete answers whenever possible to help avoid confusion or misunderstanding and if possible to explain where the stats came from or what I am comparing to.

All Realtors in the islands are also neighbors who live on the islands and we have the same experiences in life that all other posters have in our daily lives in the islands. I came to the island with children and a dog, I am a SCUBA Instructor and a boat captain and sailor and have a lot of experience in the charter flight industry, all of which are sometimes relevant to questions asked on this website. I answer a lot of questions that aren't just about real estate, yet the fact remains that I also work in the real estate industry. Why would I post about some of my knowledge and experiences and leave out anything that has to do with real estate? That makes no sense to me. The point in answering is to try and be helpful to people seeking information. It's not for any nefarious purpose and I never "expect" that it is going to bring me business. If over time someone thinks I make enough sense that they want to have me help them, then I'm happy to do what I can. This is a service industry and I love what I do. People are free to approach me about helping them find housing or they can ask someone else of their choosing. In the end, it is clearly their choice. Realistically I can't work with everyone and wouldn't have enough rentals available for all newly arriving tenants. Yet there also aren't enough available through non-Realtors to meet the demand.

It can be your choice or anyone's choice to ignore anything written by Realtors or any other poster they've decided they don't want to hear from. If you have no housing need, then the housing threads may not be on your "must read" list when you log on. Even so, you may find that there are Realtors posting information on other subjects in other threads. We really are just people who live on the island like everyone else, no matter what rumor to the contrary you may have heard! 😉

Baetis, you can have an opinion but it's really up to Islander. It's not our forum.

I am always interested in reading information that the realtors provide, I don't look at it as advertising.

My 2 cents...

I am a Realtor, albeit not a working one. I never handle sales, and I only rent properties that I actually own myself. However, even I am actually "required" to identify myself as an agent. I think that is probably baetis' issue. (??) Am I right?

There are several real estate agents posting here who do not identify themselves. There is at least one who doesn't even use a real name, much less their own name.

I am also a paid advertiser on the site. When I post a vacancy, and a real estate agent jumps on my inquiries and basically says "I have a better deal.", well, that is annoying. So, I have started to respond mostly via PM or some other private way. And I agree, if you don't want to read a post, don't, but I also understand feeling duped when you think you're contacting an owner and turns out to be an agent, even if it's just what you are looking for. Just human nature.

I think some of the posts have been just that "AN ADVERTISEMENT", while other postings have been informative.

I thought all of the real estate agents who post here state their affiliation. After all their promoting themselves and their business.

"Honesty I think is the problem; they are not here to provide a service. They are working!"

Totally agree this forum allows them free advertising for their self employed business. Imagine what this forum would be like if every self employed business owner in the islands posted here.

How about separate forum just for Realtors to post their advertisements and what they deem as newsworthy posts?

Real estate and the associated economy as has been recently demonstrated state side is kind of like the heart beat of the our economy.

Generally if the real estate market is good then we are good. That's the kind of information that I want to know and I think that as this is a

relocation board that real estate info is pertinent to the discussion. So What is your point?

The original question was "Why Allow Real Estate companies to post here"? They give value to this forum! If anyone is going to relocate, they can get some expert advice on current market conditions and tax benefits available to all! That's a good thing "NO".

"Why?" is fairly moot as it is not our forum.

It is interesting that they do not allow other business to advertise on here but Realtors can do just that for free. Everytime they answer a question and put their name and company name down on the response that is FREE advertising.

I remember a month or so ago when someone posted a fairly harmless post about a ice cream store or something like that and some regular posters jump all over the guy because it was free advertising.

I disagree with Juanita, I do not want them to identify themselves at all (other then their name of coarse). If they are just here to help then help dont round up business. They can always post their rentals on the classified section.

Quote: "It is interesting that they do not allow other business to advertise on here but Realtors can do just that for free. Everytime they answer a question and put their name and company name down on the response that is FREE advertising."

Total Agreement if the board allows one group of self employed small business owners to advertise for free allow all the small business owners to do the same. Every small business would appreciate the FREE advertising.

Relocation w/out a Realtor..............hmmmmmmmm interesting. Can be done, but it sure helps to talk to someone in the know & will be willing to drive you all over showing you the island & different housing options.............and NOT to expect anything for their troubles.
I contacted a few from this site & either looked at the photos & or the places they had listed for rent. They gave me information, showed me places, but none were pushy........actually they were very eased & laid back. We ended finding a nice place from a private individual, but found there were NO hidden agendas with the Realtors................they were very helpful & willing to go the extra mile helping to settle us in on the island............even after informing them we are long timers here, they were still very helpful!