‘Whisper Listings’ in L.A. Have Become a Saving Grace for Fire Victims—If You Can Find Them

Among the growing list of problems facing those in Los Angeles who’ve lost their homes in the wildfires is the pressing need to find temporary housing where none seems to be found. 

Well before the Pacific Palisades fire broke out, the housing market in Southern California was tough, with scarce inventory and high prices. 

With thousands of people now displaced and looking for property, real estate agents realized quickly they needed to be creative to meet the demand. 

That’s when the idea of “whisper listings” started to grow in earnest.

What is a ‘whisper listing’?

Never underestimate the power of worth of mouth, or a well-kept secret among friends. 

That’s sort of the mentality behind whisper listings, also known as pocket listings. 

“Off-market listings or private exclusives are often properties that are being prepared to be listed on the [multiple listing service] but aren’t ready yet for public showings,” Christie-Anne Weiss, an associate broker with TTR Sotheby’s International Realty in Washington, DC, explained to Mansion Global. 

Access to unlisted properties and having the scoop ahead of time are among the bigger benefits of hiring a real estate agent to help in your homebuying process. Under normal circumstances, there are a plethora of reasons a seller would prefer to keep their listing private. 

Sometimes it’s a celebrity seller, or at least someone who values their privacy enough that they’re uninterested in giving anyone with an agent access to their home.

“A lot of sellers don’t want open houses or strangers in their home, or they’re away and don’t want people to know it,” Mark Bartikoski, a real estate agent with Re/Max Results in Eden Prairie, MI, told the outlet. 

Whisper listings in California sought after by agents

When it comes to the situation in Los Angeles, the circumstances are quite different. Rather than agents being enlisted by sellers to find a buyer in private, agents are reaching out to potential sellers in hopes they can secure a listing without having to put it on the market. 

Maria Perez, who specializes in finding off-market properties in the Los Angeles area, told the New York Times that finding homeowners who would consider short-term rental options has been essential

“People often don’t realize that there are many unlisted rental properties available, especially in private homes and multifamily units,” she explains.

 “We’ve been using our networks to help people find these hidden gems that are perfect for those looking for temporary or long-term housing solutions.”

“The conversation was very simple,” added Josh Flagg, the broker who stars in “Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles.” 

“For the amount of time that you spend in L.A., you can go stay at the Beverly Hills Hotel” and rent out the house to someone who needs it.

And the effort is paying off, through the tireless efforts of these agents. Many are working the phones, reaching out to former clients to find any spare house or condo available. In fact, some brokers have even offered up their own guesthouses and spare rooms.

“We utilized our robust network to build an internal repository of ‘off-market’ inventory,” Parker Beatty, Compass regional vice president of Southern California and Hawaii, said in an email statement to the Times. 

“By uniting all our resources, we have been able to respond swiftly and effectively to address the urgent needs of those affected.”

How to ask your real estate agent about a whisper listing

Under normal circumstances, this is typically a discussion one would have after hiring a real estate agent to oversee your home search.

If the agent works with a robust team, they could have a plethora of unlisted options for you to see immediately, depending on the inventory of the area you’re looking in.

As for those in L.A., with the open market being so limited right now, it’s likely that your agent is already working through their own network to help how they can. 

That’s why it’s so important you find an agent you feel you can trust. Make sure to ask about whisper or pocket listings during your agent interview, so you’ll align with the best representative possible. 

It would also help to work with a team of agents, if you can. Many hands, and all that.