Homebuyers say secret property listings benefit brokers and many feel cheated

Homebuyers are growing suspicious of a real estate practice that keeps properties out of public view — and many believe brokers are the biggest winners.Nearly three-quarters of buyers, or 72%, believe homes sold privately without being publicly marketed benefit real estate agents, while roughly 40% say they would feel cheated if a home matching their needs sold without their knowledge, according to a new Zillow report released last week.The findings come as so-called “pocket listings” — homes marketed through private brokerage networks rather than widely advertised on public real estate platforms — fuel a growing industry battle over who gets access to properties for sale.While most buyers believe agents benefit from the practice, just 58% say private listings benefit sellers, and 55% believe they benefit buyers themselves, according to Zillow’s 2026 Consumer Housing Trends Report.“I think people have pretty good instincts about what’s fair and what’s not fair and about misalignment of incentives,” Zillow’s chief economist Mischa Fisher told The Post.Private listings can offer homeowners greater privacy and flexibility, allowing them to test the market discreetly or avoid the disruption of publicly marketing their properties.But critics argue that keeping homes off widely accessible listing platforms limits competition, potentially leaving buyers in the dark and sellers with fewer offers.“It’s already a struggle enough, affordability wise, and now people are hiding inventory, making it harder to find something that’s a good match,” Fisher said, describing the challenges facing homebuyers.The financial stakes can be significant.A separate Zillow analysis released in May found that homes sold through private listings typically fetched 1.3% less than comparable publicly listed properties — costing sellers an estimated $4,230 per transaction.Based on an examination of home sales between 2023 and 2025, Zillow estimated that sellers who use...