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Information overload? Know who to trust Published February 27, 2010 The Internet has changed our world dramatically and is also largely responsible for changing the real estate industry. Research shows that almost 80 percent of recent homebuyers conducted their home search online.HAR.com is the nation’s preeminent real estate Web site, offering valuable, readily available data for the greater Houston area. In addition to searching for properties, you can estimate property value, research demographics, assess schools, learn about communities, and even get satellite imagery of a neighborhood or house, all for free. If you’ve searched online for real estate information recently, you’ve probably noticed the proliferation of real estate-related blogs. Blogs are an excellent place to ask questions, interact with experts and find data that’s already been deciphered and analyzed. Online news stories about the real estate industry often create negative impressions among readers. That’s because there are no true space constraints for stories posted online, where writers are not confined to traditional publication schedules and deadlines, and readers can post comments. These information streams can create information overload for someone who’s not in the real estate industry. Much of that information is extraneous, erroneous or simply invalid in our market, so it’s sometimes hard to know who to trust. Internet stories are written authoritatively and wrapped in a pretty package, which lends instant credibility, sometimes without good reason. As a trusted adviser, a Realtor can help you navigate the modern real estate transaction, sift through the data and arrive at sound decisions. The Internet has added a new dimension to the real estate world, and it’s made many aspects of the transaction easier, quicker and more transparent. More data and solid research make for a more involved and informed buyer, which are positive consequences of today’s Internet-based real estate tools. All that available information has added a level of complexity to the process as well. Nancy Furst, CIPS, TRC, GREEN, GRI, is owner of The Furst Group and serves as southeast district director for the Houston Association of REALTORS® (HAR). She is actively involved in HAR’s governmental affairs efforts and has lived in the southeast district since 1997. Please visit TexasRealEstate.com or HAR.com for more. - Written By Nancy Furst |
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