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Real Estate Agent Remarks: Help or Hype?

Author: Jerry T. Haag, Ronald C. Rutherford and Thomas A. Thomson

Start Page: 205
End Page: 215
Volume: 20
Issue Number: 1
Year: 2000
Publication: Journal of Real Estate Research

Abstract: This article groups the remarks of a multiple listing service listing into common themes and then uses a hedonic pricing model to determine whether such comments are priced in a meaningful way. The comments provide information on the motivation of the seller, location of the property and physical improvements or defects. Most of the comments analyzed are statistically significant. Negative comments are associated with lower sales prices suggesting the helpful nature of comments. Some of the positive comments, however, including "new paint" and "good location" are also associated with lower sales prices suggesting that some comments may be better classified as hype.

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