Just came from Puerto Rico, so here are some of my lessons learned. Puerto Rico looks like a inner city ghetto but prices are high like upscale towns. I got some amazing deals on priceline.com, but there were always extra fees at the hotels, so the price I was bidding was far from final. There either a "service fee" or clean up fee, at the hotels where I was staying. I mean I don't care that you charge me extra, but be upfront about it. Dont trick me in, and then set "fee landmines" all around to lure money from me!

So I wanted to save some money and decided to get another house insurance. Coincidentally, I was on the phone with Geico updating my car insurance, so I decided to switch, since they were offering a special discount for those who have both of their insurances with Geico. This deal saved me almost $50 per month, so I thought I was getting a deal. Not until I get a letter few moths later from Geico, telling me that I have to do 10K worth of house improvements getting new roof and that I have three weeks to do this, otherwise they cancel my insurance. By the way the letter comes two weeks before christmas when it's 30 degrees outside. Even if I really tried and was willing to spend 10K to make my house "safe" there is no way I can find a contractor to get on the roof in this weather.

Geico: you are really out of your mind, and it looks like you will not be getting much of my business any more!

I have been doing some light house hunting lately, and realized again how that the realtors are just pack of wolfs trying to snatch a bite. In addition, the stick together with their National Association of Realtors (NAR) basically preventing healthy competition in the market. You are pretty much out of luck trying to sell your house with being in MLS and in order to get there, you have to agree to 5% commission on the sale of your house.

Here some facts:

• Realtors spend most of their time marketing their services and hunting for other clients, rather than marketing your property and thus increasing your changes for selling your house for more and quicker.
• Most listing agent does is tell you what your house is worth, and enters (often incorrectly) your house in MLS
• There is conflict of interest when you are buying a house: despite of your agent's BS, she really wants you to pay the most for your house, because that means she gets the biggest paycheck.
• There is a conflict of interest when you are selling your house: despite of your agent telling you that it her best interest to sell the house for as much as possible, the reality is she would rather sell quicker than higher, so you will get pressured to sell at the first offer.
• I read this one in New York Times: the main reason realtors do open houses is not to sell your place but to get more clients. Becoming a listing agent for your neighbor is pretty much free money.

Here is an example of my recent experience. I found a great looking apartment (found it myself). I took my whole family to look at it (I mean packed the baby, drove an hour, found the what I thought was the listing agent). The listing on www.zillow.com said two bedroom apartment for 370k, when we got to the office the realtor could not find it, and it was actually selling for 500k. Then we walked with him to the listing agent's office, got the keys, walk 2 miles to see that place and to our surprise, there was one bedroom missing! So after we get in the office, he reads in the footnote (could be converted into two bedroom). Whoever is responsible for all this misrepresentation just wasted half day of our precious family time.

I am not what the stats are, but this is how I buy a house: I find it online, go drive by to get a feel for the area, and then try to find the listing agent to show me the property. I am very picky, and finding the right property takes hours, which no realtor will devote to it.

Fortunately, there seems to be some light in the end of the tunnel. There is not way to get into MLS for a flat free, so anybody can give it a try to sell their home themselves. Average prices in NYC tristate are are in around 400K and so 20k is a hefty fee for little bit of paper work a lot of BS sweet talk...