What is the MLS? The Multiple Listing Service is a system that places all homes for sale (listed through realtors and real estate licensees) into a database, which can be searched by licensed real estate agents. Usually the first step for them to figure out what type of home you are looking for is for you to tell them what you are looking for. After they determine exactly what style home you are looking to purchase, they will begin emailing you all the active MLS listings in your selected areas. Unfortunately, all homes for sale located in their field of practice are not listed on the “REIN” MLS System.

For Sale By Owner’s choose to try and sell their homes without the assistance of a real estate professional and therefore are not included in the MLS system. However, here at VirginiaBeachEstates.com, we let FSBO's market their homes.

You will need to be in the process of locating a lender and obtaining a pre-approval letter while an agents/Realtors are emailing homes to you. They typically will not show you any homes until you have been pre-approved for a loan amount you feel comfortable with. Usually, they ask you to accomplish this first because they do not get paid to show homes to you and they also want you to know the amount of home you can afford before you start your search.

Through most lenders, you will be able to obtain a pre-approval letter within one or two business days. In most cases, many professionals will have pre-existing relationships with lenders, which gives them the abillity to receive your pre-approval letter via fax immediately after the lender is finished talking with you. You can see a list of lenders who are advertsing on our site by clicking here.

After this is taken care of, they can begin showing listings anywhere in Hampton Roads to you. They can help you (represent/advise) purchase any listing for sale in the State of Virginia as well. Typically, they will send you new listings as soon as they enter the MLS via email and then you should select between four and six MLS listings that you would be interested in viewing. Once you fall in love with a specific home, they will have to begin writing up the offer to purchase. The offer to purchase will be further explained in the “Home Buying Process” and "Contract" sections of VirginiaBeachEstates.com.