In a market where every dollar counts, there’s recent buzz pushing “private exclusives” as a premium service. (That is: selling a home off-market without publicly listing it on the MLS.) While this might sound sleek and strategic, sellers (and buyers) should be aware of the full picture.
Private listings can have limited strategic uses, such as for high-profile sellers seeking discretion. But for most homeowners, an off the market sale may result in lost visibility, reduced competition, and ultimately, a lower sale price. According to a 2024 study from Zillow, sellers who skipped the MLS left nearly $5,000 on the table (collectively more than $1 billion in the last two years). In hot markets, that number shot past $30,000.
Bright MLS backs this up: Between 2019 and early 2023, homes listed on the MLS sold for 17.5% more than their off-market counterparts. In 2022 alone, the average MLS-listed home earned sellers nearly $54,000 more. MarketWatch highlights how one seller in San Francisco nearly lost $100,000 by going the private route…until the deal fell through. She then switched over to the MLS and received multiple offers that surpassed her expectations. She ultimately went under contract for a significantly higher amount than the private exclusive, turning this chain of events into a blessing in disguise.
Buyers also could miss out when inventory is hidden behind brokerage walls. As Real Estate News notes, this trend potentially could take us back to a pre-internet era of closed-door listings and opaque processes. When listings are kept private, buyers can’t make informed decisions because they’re not seeing the full picture of what’s actually for sale. That lack of transparency creates an uneven playing field, especially for buyers who might unknowingly miss out on homes that would have been a perfect fit.
The takeaway? Transparency benefits everyone. Broad exposure through the MLS fuels competition, attracts stronger offers, and gives buyers full access to what’s actually available. So, before you buy into the buzz, get the full picture. A trusted real estate agent can help you understand the stakes and ensure you’re not trading exposure for exclusivity at your own expense.
Sources:
https://www.zillow.com/research/mls-pln-sale-price-34846/
https://www.brightmls.com/article/on-mls-study-2023
https://www.realestatenews.com/2025/05/01/compass-goes-retro-with-launch-of-private-exclusives-book