Why avoid non-specialized marketplaces when buying real estate online
With the digitalization of the real estate sector, more and more buyers are turning to general marketplaces like Facebook Marketplace or non-specialized classifieds websites to search for housing. While these tools may seem convenient and accessible, several studies and official reports show that they have significant limitations in terms of reliability, verification, and the security of real estate transactions.
This article draws on academic, institutional and independent research sources to explain why it is preferable to use specialized and regulated real estate platforms.
The lack of due diligence on sellers and intermediaries
General marketplaces operate on a principle of open publication: anyone with an account can publish a real estate ad, without having to prove their professional identity, sales mandate or even their status as owner.
A qualitative study conducted by the University of British Columbia (UBC) on the user experience of Facebook Marketplace shows that buyers express major concerns related to the trust and authenticity of profiles, particularly due to the lack of formal mechanisms for verifying sellers or advertisers. .
Unlike specialized real estate portals, these platforms do not clearly distinguish between:
Professional and accredited agencies
The actual owners
Informal or unauthorized intermediaries
This makes it difficult for a buyer to assess the legitimacy of the advertisement from the first contact.
A documented presence of fraudulent or misleading advertisements
Several studies show that classified ad platforms are regularly used to distribute fraudulent real estate ads, particularly in the rental sector, which does not exclude sales as well.
Study on Facebook Marketplace
Research conducted by the independent organization Generation Rent analyzed 300 real estate listings published on Facebook Marketplace and found that:
56 % of the advertisements presented characteristics associated with scams
74 % included at least one indicator of suspicion, such as photos copied from other sites or very recent profiles
Academic research on Craigslist
A university study focusing on over two million real estate listings published on Craigslist revealed that the platform was removing less than half of the ads identified as fraudulent over an observation period of several months. Researchers notably highlighted advertisements copied from professional portals and reposted at abnormally low prices to attract buyers or renters. .
These results highlight a structural problem: generalist platforms do not always have sufficient tools or processes to effectively filter misleading ads.
Official data on financial losses linked to fake advertisements
There Federal Trade Commission (FTC), The U.S. Consumer Protection Agency has published a national analysis of online real estate and rental scams. Its report states that:
Tens of thousands of consumers have reported financial losses linked to fake real estate listings since 2020.
A significant portion of these reports originate from classifieds platforms and social networks, including Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist.
Although this data primarily concerns the North American market, it illustrates a overall trend Open and non-specialized platforms are more exposed to abuse.
Information that is often incomplete or non-standardized
Specialized real estate portals generally require certain fields:
Legal status of the property
Certified surface
Mandate of the agent or promoter
Verified professional contact details
Conversely, general marketplaces allow for listings with very flexible descriptions, sometimes lacking essential information. This can complicate things:
An objective comparison between several goods
Legal due diligence before a visit or negotiation
Identifying a responsible contact person in case of a dispute
While we hope you won't encounter any difficulties on these general marketplaces, it's common to run into issues such as a lack of clarity regarding the identity of the parties involved, limited transparency concerning the actual condition of the properties, or even the presence of multiple intermediaries for the same property. These situations can lead to viewings that don't align with your criteria, a considerable waste of time, and a disappointing experience that, ultimately, might even cause you to reconsider an investment project you initially approached with enthusiasm.
It is in this context that a specialized platform like Inmo This makes perfect sense. Dedicated to the province of Tetouan, Inmo offers listings published exclusively by identified developers and real estate agencies, with structured and verified information. The goal is simple: to save you time, provide you with a clear overview of the local market, and allow you to confidently move forward with your real estate purchase project.
Sources and references
CSO Online – Study on Craigslist and fraudulent ads
https://www.csoonline.com/article/554765/craigslist-fails-to-flag-most-scam-rental-ads-study-finds.htmlPhys.org – Summary of the Craigslist Ads Study
https://phys.org/news/2016-03-craigslist-scam-rental.htmlFTC – Rental Scams Data Spotlight
https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/ftc_gov/pdf/rental-scams-spotlight-2025.pdfGeneration Rent – Analysis of ads on Facebook Marketplace
https://generationrent.orgBBB – Study on fraudulent real estate advertisements
https://www.bbb.org/all/scamstudies/is_that_rental_listing_real_scam/is_that_rental_listing_real_full_study