Can a good deal be on listing sites for too long?

[Maurice Mugabo]

Hi there, I am a newbie and I am just curious...Can a good deal (generally speaking), be on sites like realtor.com, redfin, hubzu, zillow and the likes for too long, meaning like a month or plus? I think this shouldn't be the first criteria to look at while finding/analyzing a deal, but how much importance do you place on how long a property has been listed for sale on those sites?

[Mitch Messer]

@Maurice Mugabo, yes, good deals can be on home marketing sites for a while!

Some homes may be in areas that just don't get a ton of attention and therefore may sit on a site for months. These could become great deals, if the wait-time means the seller is now more motivated.

Also, sometimes a great deal gets hidden due to human error. Keep in mind that sites like realtor.com and redfin are fed by local MLS systems, which in turn get fed by fallible humans. If a listing agent mistakenly claims a home has only 3 bedrooms and no basement, when in fact there are 4 bedrooms plus a basement, a stinker could suddenly become a smoking hot deal!