| Purchasing a home in the Miami metro area for | | | | they will eagerly become a consumer's first |
| the first time could be a truly emotional, and | | | | contact in a realty transaction, and may perhaps |
| mind-boggling episode. | | | | even charge agents a fee to gain customers or |
| Getting the right house, which is one that fits the | | | | hire property brokers as employees or |
| preferences, needs and tastes of an individual or | | | | subcontractors to handle the more sensitive direct |
| family, is everyone's priority, as well locating the | | | | aspects of closing home sales. |
| best areas or districts to stay, are major | | | | How Home Buyers Are Approaching Online |
| concerns. The investment aspect of real estate in | | | | Property Brokers |
| this city has made home ownership very | | | | That homebuyers and sellers are using Internet |
| attractive to people, and their home's equity has | | | | resources to aid them in their transactions has |
| most often become their greatest asset. | | | | become abundantly clear. |
| The Internet is fast transforming the relationship | | | | The Economic Research Council of the National |
| between consumers and property agents, and | | | | Association of Realtors® (NAR), in its June |
| now includes the process of selecting an agent. | | | | 1999 report entitled "Realtors and the Internet: |
| Out-of-town home buyers have more access to | | | | The Impact of Online Technologies on the Real |
| a wider information base about new homes in | | | | Estate Industry", has indicated that an estimated |
| Miami and local real estate agents than ever | | | | 23 percent of all potential homebuyers used the |
| before, and they are more likely to consider the | | | | Internet to search for a home. Furthermore, the |
| quality and attractiveness of the information | | | | study found that even potential homebuyers who |
| provided on a online realtor's Web site, in their | | | | do not currently use online services expect their |
| home purchase decisions. | | | | Realtor® to be Internet-savvy and have clear |
| The Widening Scope Of The Internet Has | | | | opinions on what they expect from online real |
| Revolutionized The Real Estate Market | | | | estate services. |
| Those who are entering the real estate | | | | In a study conducted in 1999 by Weston Edwards |
| profession now and in years to come, will surely | | | | & Associates of Laguna Beach, CA, they |
| see the Internet as an obviously effective | | | | noted, among other things, that "In 2000, half of |
| marketing medium. They'll use the online tools to | | | | all homebuyers will use the Internet to help them |
| their best advantage, and hopefully, will have | | | | find a home and the money to finance it, |
| already mastered the art of online marketing, and | | | | compared to 40 percent last year. Property |
| establish themselves as the top online real estate | | | | brokers, lenders, and title insurance companies are |
| professional in your area. | | | | struggling to catch up with the demand for |
| Could the rising wave growth of the Internet as a | | | | Internet services." |
| marketing tool actually threaten the continued | | | | What To Do Before Signing Up With An Online |
| sales results of successful property brokers? | | | | Broker |
| Most certainly it does -- not just for top | | | | Housing industry experts suggest that new home |
| producers and not just from new and | | | | buyers in the Miami metropolitan area first check |
| computer-savvy brokers. | | | | out the Web site of the National Association Of |
| Unless agents act quickly to ensure being the | | | | Realtors (NAR), or go the its Miami office for |
| primary contacts on the Internet for property | | | | advice on appropriate housing options, as well as |
| buyers and sellers, loan, escrow and other firms | | | | in getting adequate info on local market trends |
| will be happy to fill the gaps. With their attractive | | | | and conditions. |
| Web sites and millions to spend on promotion, | | | | |