Using the Web for real estate searches

December 16, 2006

A recent study by the Pew Foundation concluded that 39% of Internet users are looking for housing information online. This number has been growing steadily the last six years mostly due to more online sources for listings and real estate information. Six years ago Realtor.com, the site owned by the National Association of Realtors, pretty much controlled online residential listings. Today it seems that every week brings a new web site online to offer listings and home valuations.

Younger Internet users were more likely to seek housing information online than older Web users. Fifty-one percent of Internet users 18-29 years old have searched online housing information, compared with 43 percent of Internet users 30-49 years old, 27 percent of Internet users 50-64 years old and 15 percent of Internet users age 65 and older. The number of years a person has been an Internet user and the type of Internet connection they have at home were two other characteristics associated with the likelihood of seeking housing information online, according to the study.

Century 21 Lois Lauer Realty would be interested in receiving feedback from Internet users in our market area. How often do you search online for housing? Which Internet sites offering real estate information do you like best? Click on the "comment" button and type in your comments.