Find your next house… online
Mar 4, 2007
Author: Family Realty, LLC

The times have changed. Just a few years ago, you would spend the afternoon riding in the back seat of a real estate agent’s car looking at house after house. It can be a long and exhausting process for the agent and for the homebuyer. Now, homebuyers are doing something that saves them valuable time and effort.


According to the National Association of Realtors®, eight buyers out of 10 begin looking for a new home by checking out a real estate web site. They spend time looking at detailed information and photos before ever speaking to an agent or physically viewing any property.


Homebuyers are finding that there are numerous benefits for using the Web for their initial home search. By searching online, the homebuyer can see the available properties that meet their specifications very quickly. Internet listings usually include multiple photos of the property, including most of the rooms in the house. Additionally, the listings usually include detailed information on all the features of the home, tax liabilities, location/neighborhood information and many other items homebuyers use in their decision-making.


Potential homebuyers who use the Internet for their initial search often are able to eliminate a large number of properties and neighborhoods that might be less suited to their needs and tastes, and concentrate on the few that are probable prospective choices. The Internet does not eliminate the need for a real estate agent or to visit potential properties, however, it just makes the process more efficient, organized, and oftentimes less frustrating. Typically, the Internet-savvy consumer sees fewer properties than in the old days, spends less time on the search process, makes a more informed decision and ends up more satisfied than was possible before this new technology became available.


While there are a number of good sites available on the Internet to choose from, you should speak with your Realtor® to find out if they have homes available for viewing on their site and if it also shows listings from the Multiple Listing Service. If you and your agent are working together, you can create a seamless and fun way to search for your new home.