What are the most effective ways for buyers to use the Internet as part of their home search?

"The Internet is without a doubt a huge tool for
homebuyers. The ability to browse listings with the
click of a mouse is easy and less time consuming than
tediously thumbing through newspapers or driving
around town looking for real estate signs.

The most effective way for a buyer to search for homes
on the Internet is to first find a web site which is
easy to use. If a buyer finds the web site to be
confusing and busy, they won't re-visit. Giving a buyer
the ability to view addresses will help them rule out
houses that are not in their desired neighborhoods.
Also, buyers should make sure that the site they're
using enables them to view all MLS listings, not just
listings for that company's office.

With the majority of homebuyers now browsing listings
on the Internet for several months before physically
walking into a house, it enables them to narrow their
search, and educate themselves about the market.
This gives the buyer more confidence and knowledge than
ever before!"

Jenny May, ABR
Web Site: www.JennyMay.biz
Email: jenny@jennymay.biz
Phone: 978-828-4142

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"The most effective way for buyers to use the Internet is to sign onto my web page at www.patfenton.com and enter the towns and price range that suits them. They will be able to search all the homes currently available and see all the same data that we as Realtors see. The information provided on my web site is the highest quality they can receive in terms of content. This allows them to understand what's happening in the market, see what their dollars will purchase, and decide what they feel comfortable buying. It puts them in control of the buying process, and they will feel comfortable knowing that every property on the market is available to them."

Pat Fenton
Web Site: www.patfenton.com
Email: pat@patfenton.com
Phone: 978-524-8717

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"The obvious is as an educational resource to learn about markets they're interested in. Many use lots of different resources - Realtor sites, craigs list and Zillow (they like the satellite photo features). When they see a property that interests them, they can easily copy me on it. It's a great communication tool that saves us loads of phone time. When you're moving into an area you're not familiar with, just Googling the towns can bring up information about the community that helps you decide if it's the sort of place where you'd like to live."

Cricket Sperry
Buyer Specialist, Kristal Pooler Team
Web Site: www.kristalpooler.com
Email: cricket.sperry@comcast.net
Phone: 978-578-5446

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"It sometimes seems like before you buy a house, you'd better buy a computer and printer! The Internet has brought a wealth of information to the real estate investor that has changed the way people look at and purchase property. Today the Internet allows a buyer to find a property, view a property, and even buy a property without even stepping foot in the property! There are a lot of web sites that provide property information, but I like to make sure my clients know that not all sites are up-to-date and user friendly. The www.sullivanteam.com web site, powered by iMaxWebSolutions.com, allows the buyer to view the property in a specific price point, see a virtual tour, and with one click set up an appointment to view the property of choice, then get the driving directions for the appointment.

Members of the web site can track the property for price changes or sale trends and even allows a daily email or cell phone page when a new listing hits the market! This is a great service when you are in the heat of a property search!
You can spend hours on the Internet finding school stats, community information, flood zones maps, mortgage calculators, and some sites even offer price opinions. A well designed web site offers all of this information with a click of the mouse!

However, let me remind the real estate investor to not believe everything they read just because it is in print! A smart consumer knows that the Internet is no replacement for the personal touch or past experience when it comes to buying large ticket items! A real estate investment is no exception! I tell my clients to use the Internet as a resource for research then print articles for me to clarify and put into a local context!

Not every state has the same real estate values and there are different ways to purchase real estate globally. To an untrained eye the information on the Internet is appealing but note that it often lacks regional reference which is vital for a real estate purchase! In closing, I recommend that a real estate buyer or seller uses the Internet to learn all about buying and selling and then go to Google, search on RE/MAX and find a great local real estate listing agent or buyer specialist! Once you find the home you want to buy, this same agent will help you explore the Internet to find the sites that provide the information you'll need to get through a home inspection, a property repair, and even to close on a mortgage!"

Andrea D'Amato
Web Site: www.FindYourNewHome.biz

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"I think the use of my web site www.margaretbelmonte.com is a very effective way for buyers to use the Internet as part of the home search. The Internet is a great way for buyers to get an overview of the market in regards to price, housing style, and differences in towns. My web site is an interactive tool which enables the buyers to email any interest or questions about a particular home as well as stay on top of new listings, price reductions, and under agreement. The Internet is a valuable information tool for buyers; however, I don’t think any tool takes the place of a solid and trusting relationship with a Realtor who is experienced in working with buyers as evidenced by the ABR designation and years of full time real estate sales experience."

Margaret Belmonte
Web Site: www.margaretbelmonte.com
Email: margaret@margaretbelmonte.com
Phone: 978-927-2737

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"The Internet has definitely become the most effective way for buyers to begin searching for their dream home! The most effective way for a buyer to use the Internet for their home search is to find a local real estate agent that also has their own web site. For instance, my web site names are www.LillianLoGrasso.com and www.GloucesterandRockporthomes.com. Real estate is local and a lot of web sites out there just buy domain names to capture buyers and then offer the lead to a real estate agent for a substantial fee.

A savvy buyer should find a real estate web site that specializes in the areas they are looking in. Personally, I feel if a real estate agent does not have their own personal web site and is not up to date with technology, it says a lot about the agent. My web site offers full access to the all properties listed in the MLS and this includes properties listed with any other broker. You will never miss an opportunity! It updates every ten minutes and it can send a message to your cell phone with hot properties, it can send you daily e-mails, and best of all you can look up properties that have sold or expired which I know for a fact that most other websites do not offer! So my best advice would be to begin your search through a major search engine that includes the towns you would like to buy in and mentioning RE/MAX would ultimately get you the best result, LOL!!!"

Lillian LoGrasso
Web Site: www.LillianLoGrasso.com
Email: lillianlograsso@remax.net
Phone: 978-479-2250