When it comes to searching for homes, it can seem that it is a battle between MLS vs Zillow in Colorado Springs. It is true that many buyers start with Zillow, Redfin, or Realtor.com for convenience. But as a local realtor with The Bacon Partners, I’ve seen sellers get excited about Zillow’s “1,200+ views” only to sit on the market for months. Take a recent example: A homeowner boasted about black smoke-like traffic on Zillow after dropping their price $15,000, confident a buyer was imminent. Spoiler: Views don’t equal serious offers, and Zillow’s hype can mislead.
Zillow and similar sites are like mythical unicorns—flashy but not always reliable. Their business model prioritizes capturing user data to sell leads to agents, often at $50–$200 per lead via programs like Premier Agent or Flex (where agents pay referral fees only on closings). You can even learn about Zillow’s lead-selling model here. This ad-driven approach means data can lag: Listings may show as active days after selling, or Zestimates (home value estimates) can be off by 2.4% for on-market homes and over 7% for off-market ones, per Zillow’s own data.
In contrast, the MLS (Multiple Listing Service) is the more reliable choice —a professional database updated in real-time by licensed agents. It’s the source of truth for accurate inventory, prices, and details, syndicating to Zillow (but not vice versa). Using a realtor for MLS access ensures you see unfiltered, stable info: No outdated listings, full property histories, and agent insights on neighborhoods like Northgate or Peyton. To see all that licensed agents are bound by, including putting accurate information online for a listing, check out the Colorado Division of Real Estate Page.
Benefits of realtor MLS search in Colorado Springs:
- Real-Time Accuracy: MLS updates instantly; syndicated sites delay by hours/days.
- Comprehensive Data: Access to off-market previews, detailed comps, and local trends (e.g., 23-day median market time from Pikes Peak Association of Realtors).
- Buyer-Focused: Realtors have fiduciary duty to you—not ads—saving time and avoiding pitfalls.
- Better Results: Studies show agent-represented buyers close faster and at better prices.
Don’t ditch Zillow, Redfin or other sites entirely—use them for initial browsing. But for serious searching, partner with a realtor to unlock MLS power. It’s designed for buyers, not lead generation.
Ready to search smarter? Contact me for MLS access today.
Need more information on how to search for a home? Check out my post: How to Use the Home Selection Triangle to Decide on a Home in Colorado Springs.
I’m Andrew Bacon, a Top Colorado Springs Real Estate Broker in Colorado Springs. I take care of my clients as family and aim to provide them with the necessary information and tools to navigate the complex markets in Colorado and around the US.
As a member of the Pikes Peak & Denver Metro Association of Realtors, I enjoy staying aware of current cultural trends and economic drivers.Check back regularly for new articles on all things real estate along Colorado’s Front Range.
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