The internet has dramatically transformed the real estate industry and, even though virtually all buying decisions are made face-to-face, the internet provides the most effective search tool for a knowledgeable consumer.

 

Many national websites feature real estate listings, but the key to your success is data-accuracy and it varies a great deal from site to site! Many national and global websites have elaborate consumer-marketing campaigns, a slick design and are extremely entertaining, but their property listing data is often riddled with inaccuracies – duplicate listings, expired listings, sold listings, and other outdated information. These big websites, however, are big business on Wall Street and they are focused on revenue from user-traffic and mouse-clicks, not on your home buying success. They do not represent the seller.

 

Local real estate company websites have an advantage by utilizing direct data feeds from the local MLS. These websites are more effective because they are continuously updated. On a local- level, brokers cooperate with each other to display active listings – it’s called IDX, or Internet Data eXchange.  Because these local real estate company websites can display all of the listings of other MLS brokers, and are continuously updated, they are the best source of market information! Search with confidence knowing that these property listings reflect the current price and status.

 

If you’re serious about finding the right home, search the real estate company websites directly connected to the local MLS.