She wanted her neighbor’s house, so she made a waitlist

Ever slow-roll past a house and wish it were yours? Unlisted turns that impulse into an actual waitlist: Buyers can express interest in homes they hope to buy someday; owners can see who’s already eyeing theirs. Founder Katie Hill makes the case for shopping homes years before they hit the market.

Q: What inspired you to create waitlists for homes that aren’t for sale? “I’ve wanted to buy my neighbor’s house since the pandemic. So one day, when he was mowing the lawn, I went up and told him, “If you ever want to sell, I’d be interested.” His face lit up. He said he and his wife had been thinking about retiring and moving, and that he’d let me know once they were ready. That was my light bulb moment: We think about real estate as black or white—a home is for sale or not. But there’s a lot of gray where you’re thinking you could move in a few years to downsize or to get into a good school district. In that time, you should be able to collect or express interest in a home for the day you’re finally ready.”

Q: How does Unlisted work? “The site features public property records and Google Street View images of 121 million homes in the US, searchable by area, size, and amenities. About 2,500 homeowners have claimed their homes and indicated when they may be ready to sell, and 2,500 buyers have signed up for waitlists. When a property gets waitlisted, we mail the owner a repurposed wedding invitation saying someone is interested in their home and include a way to message the buyer.”

Q: Has this led to any sales yet? “We launched in June, and so far, we’re aware of 10 sales. Most were local, where the buyer could have knocked on the homeowner’s door, but didn’t feel comfortable doing so. Several were empty nesters, growing families, and real estate investors. For investors, this is a good deal, since we send the invitation to the homeowner and save them a cold call. It’s also great for flippers who, the instant they buy a house, could put it on Unlisted and say it will be for sale in four months.”

Q: What advice do you have for people using your site? “My advice for buyers is to cast a wide net and be patient. For homeowners, my advice is to claim their home so they can prepare for the day they want to sell. It’s a lot like LinkedIn: You put up a profile long before you need to find a job so that when you do need to make a change, you’re in a stronger position.”

Q: Did you ever end up buying your neighbor’s house? “I’m still waiting! He thought maybe this past Christmas, but that didn’t happen, which is okay. I’m in no rush.”