Best alternative to Realtor.ca?

[The BMW Guy]

I like searching for houses myself rather than waiting for my realtor's search to match a keyword with a listing. As things like backing on to a ravine, south/west facing backyard and/or pie lot don't always get flagged easily. I tend to browse by new listings and fly around with satellite view to see any that match my criteria.

However, the MLS system and realtor.ca both aren't that great (can't even filter by having a garage or not...). I like Zillow for its features, shows pricing and changes the colour of houses you have already clicked on. Only thing is they don't have all of the listings on their site.

Any other alternatives that are similar to Zillow?

[lamp_shade_2000]

I don't have a suggestion for another site but realtor.ca has an advanced search that will allow you add key search criteria such as garage. I've used it in the app at least, not sure about the web version.

[Sugarphreak]

...

[Mitsu3000gt]

I use Zoocasa on the iPad ever since realtor.ca went to complete shit. I just like the map searches. It still sucks for any kind of targeted searching though, which is exactly what people want to do when sifting through hundreds of homes.

I don't know of any program that can sort by things people actually want, and I believe that is done by design to make people see more homes even if they don't want to.

For example I would like to filter by things like finished basement, A/C, NOT a 4-plex, 2 car garage, new build, etc. and I've never seen anything that can do that, even though those are all drop-down menu selections for the person placing the ad and probably 2 seconds of code to add a filter for it.

It's pretty ridiculous actually that a search engine for one of the most important and expensive things people buy is intentionally crippled so badly. You could make an Excel sheet in 30 seconds that can filter better than the realtor sites.

[dj_rice]

Although it doesnt show you new houses to buy, www.honestdoor.com does show what the house last sold for and what its system thinks your house should sell for. Just launched though so only pulls Edmonton right now.

[Mitsu3000gt]

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Although it doesnt show you new houses to buy, www.honestdoor.com does show was the house last sold for. Just launched though so only pulls Edmonton right now.

That's a good tool - and might give Jordan a bit of a break haha.

[R-Audi]

May not work for all, but if you are focused on certain areas or communities I like:

https://www.real-estate.ca/calgary-listings.php

Pick the area (S, SW, NW etc) and then each community.

[89coupe]

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I like searching for houses myself rather than waiting for my realtor's search to match a keyword with a listing. As things like backing on to a ravine, south/west facing backyard and/or pie lot don't always get flagged easily. I tend to browse by new listings and fly around with satellite view to see any that match my criteria.

However, the MLS system and realtor.ca both aren't that great (can't even filter by having a garage or not...). I like Zillow for its features, shows pricing and changes the colour of houses you have already clicked on. Only thing is they don't have all of the listings on their site.

Any other alternatives that are similar to Zillow?

Everything you mentioned can be setup in a custom search by your realtor if he/she knows how to use the Matrix system properly.

[you&me]

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I like searching for houses myself rather than waiting for my realtor's search to match a keyword with a listing. As things like backing on to a ravine, south/west facing backyard and/or pie lot don't always get flagged easily. I tend to browse by new listings and fly around with satellite view to see any that match my criteria.

However, the MLS system and realtor.ca both aren't that great (can't even filter by having a garage or not...). I like Zillow for its features, shows pricing and changes the colour of houses you have already clicked on. Only thing is they don't have all of the listings on their site.

Any other alternatives that are similar to Zillow?

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Everything you mentioned can be setup in a custom search by your realtor if he/she knows how to use the Matrix system properly.

This is exactly why a lot of people have such low regard for Realtors and Realtor.ca... What reasonable explanation could there possibly be to restrict this search functionality to "insiders", rather than full public access?

[Mitsu3000gt]

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Everything you mentioned can be setup in a custom search by your realtor if he/she knows how to use the Matrix system properly.

There's an option in Matrix for backing onto a ravine and/or shape of the lot? That's crazy. To my knowledge you can't even set it up to only deliver duplexes and not fourplexes. Shopping for a duplex is so annoying because everything is represented as one and then you dig deeper and suprise! It's a fourplex nobody wants.

[ExtraSlow]

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This is exactly why a lot of people have such low regard for Realtors and Realtor.ca... What reasonable explanation could there possibly be to restrict this search functionality to "insiders", rather than full public access?

Search the many lawsuits against "treb" on this site and others for the explanation of this anti-competitive behaviour.

[you&me]

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Search the many lawsuits against "treb" on this site and others for the explanation of this anti-competitive behaviour.

I understand it, I just thought the reply from the realtor (sorry, Realtor®) was hilariously ironic and tone-deaf.

[89coupe]

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There's an option in Matrix for backing onto a ravine and/or shape of the lot? That's crazy. To my knowledge you can't even set it up to only deliver duplexes and not fourplexes. Shopping for a duplex is so annoying because everything is represented as one and then you dig deeper and suprise! It's a fourplex nobody wants.

Yes

[JRSC00LUDE]

Get a better Realtor.

[Mitsu3000gt]

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Get a better Realtor.

I can't, I already have the best one It's probably me that is confused haha, but I thought you couldn't filter just duplexes and not four-plexes (not to be confused with row housing).