As the debate over private listings continues to focus on rules and procedures, one Los Angeles real estate leader is reframing the conversation around a more fundamental question: what gives the seller the best possible result? Courtney Poulos, Founder of SERHANT. CA and Team Lead of ACME | SERHANT., has proposed a system that would allow sellers to keep their homes off public listing websites while still sharing them with every licensed agent, not just those within a single brokerage.
Poulos acknowledges that for some sellers, privacy matters more than price, and an off-market sale may be the right choice. However, she points out that sellers who choose that route are often asked to sign a written acknowledgment that keeping a listing off the market could result in fewer showings or a lower sale price. She also notes that many buyers are not yet working with an agent; they browse online, watch the market, and may not reach out until something catches their eye. In her view, every channel a listing is kept out of represents a missed opportunity to connect with those buyers. “I still feel like access is important, and we should not fracture,” she said.
Her proposal is straightforward: if a seller wants to stay off large consumer listing websites, the listing could still be shared in a system that every licensed agent can access, rather than only agents within a single brokerage. This way, the seller keeps the home out of public view while reaching as many agents as possible who may represent qualified buyers. Poulos believes more buyer exposure gives a seller a better chance at a higher price. The key, she says, is that everyone plays by the same rules, with all agents able to see each other’s off-market listings.
Poulos also argues that once a listing is in the MLS and available to other agents, there should be no time limit on how long it can be marketed to those agents off-market. Some homes are highly specific and may not sell quickly, and she believes sellers should be able to continue private marketing for as long as they choose. “The MLS needs to take its handcuffs off of us,” she said.
She further suggests it is fair to ask who benefits when a listing is marketed only in-house. Keeping a listing within one brokerage can increase the chance that the same brokerage represents both sides of the transaction, which can be financially attractive for the brokerage. That is not necessarily wrong, she says, but sellers deserve a clear understanding of the tradeoff. If the goal truly is serving the seller, she believes there is little reason a private listing should not be visible to every licensee.
A shared system like the one Poulos describes does not broadly exist today. Until it does, she encourages sellers considering a private sale to ask their agent direct questions: Will my home be visible to agents outside your brokerage? How many buyers’ agents will realistically see it? What might I be giving up on price compared with a full public launch? For sellers of higher-end homes on the Eastside of Los Angeles and beyond, she believes the best strategy starts with the seller’s goals and works backward from there. Sellers preparing to list can find more guidance in the ACME | SERHANT. Buyer and Seller Toolkit.
Poulos’s proposal highlights a growing tension in real estate: the desire for privacy versus the need for maximum exposure. If adopted, her idea could reshape how off-market listings are handled, giving sellers more control while ensuring they reach the widest possible pool of buyers—ultimately aiming to deliver better outcomes for sellers in Los Angeles and beyond.
