Record number of Americans, including San Antonio-area residents, are using Internet as key tool for finding and buying homes

San Antonio, Texas (Grassroots Newswire) June 3, 2009 — More than ever, home buyers in the San Antonio area are using technology in their search for new homes. And they’re in very good company. A survey by the National Association of Realtors® found that more than nine out of 10 home buyers in America use the Internet as a key resource to help them find their dream home.

“When it comes to finding and buying homes, the overwhelming majority of people, including San Antonio residents, are using the growing array of online tools, tips and information to assist in their efforts,” said Joe Acosta of Best Homes GMAC Real Estate based in San Antonio. “This is especially the case with home buyers who are 44 years old and younger. More than 90 percent of them report using the Internet as part of their search process. Overall, 87 percent of all home buyers say they use the Internet as one of several information sources at some time during the home-finding process.”

Acosta said Web sites such as www.bhgmac.com have been created to provide consumers with a wide range of constantly updated information, including detailed listing information on homes for sale, photographs, virtual tours, mortgage calculations, neighborhood and community overviews, and more.

“We’re making more information available to home buyers than ever before - from virtual tours, to satellite photos to local school information - which is a huge benefit for consumers as they do their homework on where to buy their next home,” said Acosta.

According to Acosta other key findings of the survey include:

• While older buyers are somewhat less likely to use the Internet, the use of real estate agents in buying a home was broadly consistent across age groups, ranging from 81 percent for those 65 years and older to 88 percent among those 18 to 24 years old.
• Eighty-seven percent of home buyers used the Internet to search for homes, up from 71 percent five years ago. Not only has the trend in overall usage risen, but the percent of buyers who reported using the Internet frequently increased from 42 percent in 2003 to 69 percent in 2008.
• The length of the typical home search increased from eight weeks in 2007 to 10 weeks in 2008.  During the search, buyers viewed a median of 10 homes before making a purchase.
• While both first-time and repeat buyers most often start by looking for properties online, first-time buyers more often seek out information about the home buying process or talk with a friend or relative about the buying process.  Repeat buyers more often begin by looking for properties online or by contacting a real estate agent, suggesting that these buyers not only are more comfortable with the process but also have a clearer understanding of what they are looking for when purchasing a home.

For more information, contact Best Homes GMAC Real Estate, located at 4800 Fredericksburg, San Antonio 78230, at 210-301-2870. Additional information on homes for sale in the San Antonio area can be found at www.bhgmac.com.