Home Listings: The Truth Behind 'Days on Market'

The most common question buyers have about homes that have been on the market a long time is: "What's wrong with this house?" The best answer is probably: "The economy."

But the mindset lingers, and buyers are suspicious of homes that have been listed for a year or more. As a result, real estate agents sometimes will withdraw a house from the market -- just long enough to comply with their local MLS guidelines -- and then put it right back on with a new MLS number. In some places, they are able to reset the "days on market" clock to zero, so the house even appears to be a fresh listing.

Is it deceitful or just smart marketing?