Gladwin Real Estate Information
Buying and selling homes? Use the Internet. by Jonathan Gropper, COO, OnlyOpenHouses.com
A recent article on eMarketer reports on a study by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) which reveals that
the Internet is fast becoming the most popular aid for home buyers searching for a new home. From a mere 2% of
home buyers using the Internet to search for homes in 1995 to over 77% in 2005, the Internet has really
permeated and changed the real estate industry and how Americans go about buying and selling homes.
Interestingly, the use of the Internet does not really circumvent the middle-man, the real-estate agent. In fact, a
high proportion of the people who use the Internet to do their initial search for homes online end up buying a
home through a real estate agent. Realtors seem to have taken cognizance of this fact and are investing
accordingly in information technology so that they are found and selected by prospective homebuyers. This is a
race in which each realtor is looking to out-do or at least, be on par with his/her local and national competitors.
A couple of implications of the NAR study:
a) There is considerable value in Internet sites that offer homebuyers detailed information on properties to buy. In
fact, multiple listing service sites (MLS) are among the most popular sources for homebuyers to find out about
property to buy. They rank much higher than real estate company websites, real estate agent websites, or even
the local newspaper websites. What seems to be obvious is that homebuyers want detailed information and
variety. Not to mention unbiased choice.
As homebuyers become more sophisticated and comfortable with using the Internet, they expect more content,
features and functionality in helping them through the home buying process. It is precisely this need and
expectation of home buyers that we strive to fulfill and exceed with www.OnlyOpenHouses.com, a niche site that
helps home buyers to search for and find open houses through out North America. Home sellers and realtors
benefit by being able to list their open houses, and cost-effectively reaching target buyers.
b)Homebuyers value knowledge and expertise. When they search for homes (and open houses) on the Internet,
they are also looking for real estate agents, mortgage companies and ancillary service providers. It is in a realtors'
business interest to get listed on relevant real estate sites, and make themselves visible- effectively.
Strategically, this is a necessity as realtors are competing against an increasingly more focused and smaller base
of realtors targeting the same buyers and sellers canvassing specific neighborhoods and cities. Realtors are
forced to keep up with the times and actively target buyers and sellers where they shop for homes. This means
getting to the right nexus and targeting the right audience at the right time. Niche websites like
OnlyOpenHouses.com play a vital role here by allowing an almost one-on-one targeting of realtors, homebuyers
and sellers.
To summarize, the benefits of the Internet in buying and selling of homes are quite clear, and the latest results by
the NAR validate those. Homebuyers, sellers and realtors will do well to maximize these benefits to their
advantage, and save time and money (and many hassles too) in the process.
About the Author
Jonathan Gropper is the COO of OnlyOpenHouses.com LLC, the only site for live open houses throughout North America. If you
looking to visit an open home or list an open house, there is only one site you need to visit.
Article provided by GoArticles.com
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A recent article on eMarketer reports on a study by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) which reveals that
the Internet is fast becoming the most popular aid for home buyers searching for a new home. From a mere 2% of
home buyers using the Internet to search for homes in 1995 to over 77% in 2005, the Internet has really
permeated and changed the real estate industry and how Americans go about buying and selling homes.
Interestingly, the use of the Internet does not really circumvent the middle-man, the real-estate agent. In fact, a
high proportion of the people who use the Internet to do their initial search for homes online end up buying a
home through a real estate agent. Realtors seem to have taken cognizance of this fact and are investing
accordingly in information technology so that they are found and selected by prospective homebuyers. This is a
race in which each realtor is looking to out-do or at least, be on par with his/her local and national competitors.
A couple of implications of the NAR study:
a) There is considerable value in Internet sites that offer homebuyers detailed information on properties to buy. In
fact, multiple listing service sites (MLS) are among the most popular sources for homebuyers to find out about
property to buy. They rank much higher than real estate company websites, real estate agent websites, or even
the local newspaper websites. What seems to be obvious is that homebuyers want detailed information and
variety. Not to mention unbiased choice.
As homebuyers become more sophisticated and comfortable with using the Internet, they expect more content,
features and functionality in helping them through the home buying process. It is precisely this need and
expectation of home buyers that we strive to fulfill and exceed with www.OnlyOpenHouses.com, a niche site that
helps home buyers to search for and find open houses through out North America. Home sellers and realtors
benefit by being able to list their open houses, and cost-effectively reaching target buyers.
b)Homebuyers value knowledge and expertise. When they search for homes (and open houses) on the Internet,
they are also looking for real estate agents, mortgage companies and ancillary service providers. It is in a realtors'
business interest to get listed on relevant real estate sites, and make themselves visible- effectively.
Strategically, this is a necessity as realtors are competing against an increasingly more focused and smaller base
of realtors targeting the same buyers and sellers canvassing specific neighborhoods and cities. Realtors are
forced to keep up with the times and actively target buyers and sellers where they shop for homes. This means
getting to the right nexus and targeting the right audience at the right time. Niche websites like
OnlyOpenHouses.com play a vital role here by allowing an almost one-on-one targeting of realtors, homebuyers
and sellers.
To summarize, the benefits of the Internet in buying and selling of homes are quite clear, and the latest results by
the NAR validate those. Homebuyers, sellers and realtors will do well to maximize these benefits to their
advantage, and save time and money (and many hassles too) in the process.
About the Author
Jonathan Gropper is the COO of OnlyOpenHouses.com LLC, the only site for live open houses throughout North America. If you
looking to visit an open home or list an open house, there is only one site you need to visit.
Article provided by GoArticles.com
b-7