The digital age has, without a doubt, transformed the home finding process.
The vast majority of buyers use online sites themselves, and it’s now the dominant and expected searching method. The number of buyers who simply rely on their agent to find homes for them is extremely small.
The Key Statistic
According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR) 2023 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers:
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98% of home buyers used the internet in searching for a home.
This makes the internet the number one source for finding a home, dwarfing all other methods.
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The Buyer’s Process: Searching Online Listing Sites and Data
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Virtual “First Pass”: To quickly eliminate homes that don’t meet their basic needs (e.g., number of bedrooms, location, price) by looking at photos, maps, and data.
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Creating a Shortlist: Compiling a list of homes they are interested in seeing in person.
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Discovery & Education: To get a sense of what’s available in their desired price range and neighborhoods.
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Setting Up Alerts: To receive instant notifications when a new property matching their criteria hits the market.
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Scheduling Access: Either with an agent or directly with the seller, to get specific information on the home’s condition and ‘feel’.
- Market Knowledge & Data: Research pricing, neighborhood trends, and how competitive a listing might be.