Impact of the Internet on Real Estate

TRENDS Report: The Internet Has Forever Changed Real Estate

RISMEDIA, March 3 — While technology has significantly influenced the way the real estate marketplace operates, the Swanepoel TRENDS Report (www.RealEstateTrendsReport.com) highlights it as one of the Top 15 trends impacting the real estate industry.

The Report predicts that brokers and agents can expect much more from technology as an increased wave of innovation and the continued development of existing technology flood the market.

Now, empowered by a wealth of information at their fingertips, Internet homebuyers are generally experiencing a greater sense of control during the home-buying process. They are devoting more time to research before working with a real estate agent, but they tend to move quickly once they began working with an agent.

Although search engines have been around a long time, most brokers and agents have still not succeeded in optimizing their Web sites sufficiently enough to be found on the first page of the primary search results for search engines such as Google, Yahoo and MSN.

In trend #15, the Swanepoel TRENDS Report also discusses broadband, ASP, Wi-Fi, blogs and more. Until recently, blogs were considered a curiosity, a cult phenomenon or a faintly embarrassing hobby.

But in 2004, blogs unexpectedly vaulted into the forefront of major media, where today there are thought to be approximately 30 million “bloggers” worldwide. Blogging provides yet another tool to help real estate agents maintain an open dialogue with their clients and provide them with valuable information. By posting local current events or financing updates alongside listings, agents can establish themselves as the expert in a specialized area.

Some examples of blogging in real estate include:

-- Fran and Rowenta (Dilbeck Realtors® GMAC in La Canada, California—www.franandrowena.com)—use a real estate blog to inform viewers about prices, trends and events in the real estate market.

-- John Mudd (Exit Realty Suncoast in Largo, Florida—www.homeintampabay.com)—uses his real estate blog as a marketing tool to convey information about current interest rates and the housing market.

-- Hanan Levin (The Champion Company in Riverside, California—www.thegreatteam.com)—uses his blog called grow-a-brain to post topics such as politics, architecture, Americana, cinema, foods and sculptures.

-- Fraser Beach (Select Plan Real Estate near Toronto, Canada—http://toreal.blogs.com)—writes about topical real estate issues, locally-based news and general real estate advice for homebuyers and sellers.

The overwhelming message of Trend #15 is that wherever you look, the Internet is exploding. It continues to drive many of the changes in the real estate industry, opening new opportunities for forward thinking brokers and agents.

The Swanepoel TRENDS Report is published by RISMedia in association with RealSure and can be purchased online at www.RealtyUBookstore.com.

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