Hello there

After months of research, I want to record my findings.

redfin.com

Pros
- comprehensive
- in sync with MLS databases, in other words listings are up-to-date
- integrated outside information:
- maps plus facing views
- MLS text and photos
- home valuations via Zillow and now Eppraisal
- pricing history
- sale history
- recently sold homes but not that up-to-date
- searches only what I typed in and surrounds results with red outline
 - previous default search to show everything on map is saved

Cons
- some listings have undisclosed addresses
 - but upon double check with MLS database address is disclosed
- home disclosures not integrated
 - depends on listing agents I guess
 - I ask my listing agent to get it for me.
- price per square footage not calculated
 - in "Nearby Similar Homes"
 - and in "Nearby Similar Sales"
- no home valuations for nearby homes, like Zillow
- valuations appear only for homes that are on sale
- no open homes calendar

Summary
I use Redfin the most. I like the comprehensiveness and the up-to-date listings.


zillow.com

Pros
- home valuations for every home
- maps plus facing views
- recently sold homes but not that up-to-date
- home information from public records
- sale history
- does have listings but not MLS
- appears to be For Sale By Owners

Cons
- valuations now rounded to nearest hundred I think
- miss the specific evaluations
- in facing views, the home valuations are not rotated when the view is rotated

Summary
Second on my list is Zillow. I use it more as a research tool to understand generic home valuations and less as a listings database like Redfin.


sfgate.com/realestate

Pros
- open homes calendar
- latest sold homes, updated every Sunday

Cons
- search interface for open homes is clumsy

Summary
Since this is a newspaper site, I figure their core focus is news content and the real estate section is just extra. So I can look past the faults of the search interface and just extract the information I want.


ziprealty.com

Pros
- has MLS listings but not up-to-date
- has pricing history

Cons
- MLS listings update is very slow
- site is difficult to use

Summary
I only use this site to look at pricing history. Previously Redfin did not record this but they just started couple weeks ago I believe.


trulia.com

Pros
- looks like Redfin but not quite
- has listings but not MLS
- has foreclosure listings from RealtyTrac

Cons
- listings are not up-to-date

Summary
I tried Trulia out after reading some articles saying it's competing with Redfin and Zillow. Turns out for me it's not the case. I think the site is more of a social network site and less of a listings tool or a home research tool. Trulia is also a few days late with new listings. I think this is because they don't use MLS but instead scour websites for new listings. I am always getting emails one or more days late from Trulia about a new listing I saw already. On the plus side I think they also act as an advertising site for RealtyTrac.


(forgot to add some other sites)

reil.com / mlslistings.com

Pros
- MLS's own database, Bay Area specific I think
- search results also show unavailable homes so I can see which homes accepted a deal
 - for homes that have gone into Pending states

Cons
- search interface is clumsy
- doesn't show DOM(Days On Market) or CDOM(Continuous Days On Market)
 - strange that this is MLS and it's not shown

Summary
I only use this site for Pro feature #2. It quickly shows me what's going on with the areas I'm interested in. It's good to know which homes are suddenly not available.


craigslist
(real estate section)

Pros
- no frills search results
- some listings are not from MLS

Cons
- none

Summary
I found out several months ago that some listing agents use craigslist as another advertisement medium. So I just use it to quickly check who has listed what. Most of the time they are the same as what's on MLS but once in a while they are not.