Would Like Opinions On Criss-Cross/Haines

Comments(12)

• 
  bgrossnickle14th December, 2004

  What is the URL for criss-cross and haines? I am actually researching data services right now and have heard of them but do not have them on my list.
  
  brenda

• 
  jwalko14th December, 2004

  Brenda:
  
  It is www.haines.com/
  
  I am wondering if the information will suit my purposes. The demo on their web site doesn't answer my question. I filled out the form to have someone contact me, but no one has to date.
  
  John

• 
  bgrossnickle15th December, 2004

  Are Haines and Criss-Cross the same? What is the URL for Criss-Cross?
  
  Thanks
  
  Brenda

• 
  commercialking15th December, 2004

  The Haines Criss-cross directory (yes Brenda they are the same) is a reverse directory. i haven't used one in years but they used to be organized in two sections. In one street addresses of a city (they only do certain major markets) are listed and the names and phone numbrs of the people who live at each address is given.
  
  In the other section phone numbers are listed in order and the name and address of the owner of the phone number is given.
  
  If you are farming an area the Haines directory is very useful. You can, for example look up the address of a property that recently sold and find the names of all the adjacent property owners.
  
  The phone number information is probably less useful these days since you can pretty much get that information off the net for free.
  
  As I recall its a pretty pricey tool ($300 + per year) but, like most tools, if you use it a lot its a bargain.
  
  I'm unaware of any price information in the versions I have used (although they do say this is a new product for them in their web site). Its more of a mailing list tool than a price guide.

• 
  jwalko15th December, 2004

  Commercialking:
  
  Can you tell me if they list property values as well? I am interested in finding out what other homes sold for in a certain radius.
  
  That is what I would really be interested in, at least initially.
  
  Thanks;
  
  
  John Walko

• 
  JohnMichael15th December, 2004

  angelface007
  
  Looks like this property would only be good for a long term hold as long as you would create a strong positive cash flow.
  
  The margin of profit and loss seem to be to close for a long arm investing strategy. As dealing with property out of your local naturally drive your cost up.
  
  Or at their web site at http://www.citydirectory.com
  
  Excellent source for locating preforecolsed homeowners by working the directory in a reverse pattern from newest to oldest for location Leeds information.
  [addsig]

• 
  commercialking16th December, 2004

  I wouldn't start with Haines looking for property values. There are about 1,387 threads here on TCI about how to find comparable sales. Most of them have good advice.
  
  John Michael: Huh?

• 
  bgrossnickle16th December, 2004

  I think John Micheal got confused.
  
  As someone who has now spent two nights reading all the threads returned from a search of "comparables", "comps", "foreclosure listing", "pre-foreclosure listings" etc, let me tell you that most of the threads have useless information.

• 
  jwalko16th December, 2004

  Currently, I use a number of sources, including the local MLS listing (but that only shows me properties for sale, and not sold properties). I also use the local county tax records, as that shows what the property actaully sold for and when, but the information is often old (sometimes very old). I have two friends who are RE agents, who can pull comps for me, but I reaqlly hate asking them about every property I am researching, as this can be a lot of properties. So, I am looking for alternate resources.
  
  Any suggestions?
  
  John Walko

• 
  jameswing11th January, 2005

  Haines has 2 diffrent direcories, the first is the reverse lookup, which is in book form, and is avaliable in the map section of county libarays. The second is the Criss+Cross Plus Real Estate, This gives last selling prices for properties, as well as building and lot information. When I worked for a civil engineering firm we did a lot of work with the paper directories, and I did a trial of the RE. but it didn't suit the needs of the office there. Lately I ave been getting comps from one of the local title companies.

• 
  sirjenia14th January, 2005

  jwalko, try www.realquest.com you can pay them monthly per county. i pay $85 for comps, property detail reports, profile-custom search, maps, transaction history reports.

• 
  jwalko15th January, 2005

  Sirjenia:
  
  What do you tink of their information? Is it accurate in your experience?
  
  If so, this looks like what I wanted.
  
  Thanks;
  
  
  John Walko