If you are planning to buy or sell your home, having as much information available to you is essential if you want to get the best price for your home. Buyers don’t want to overpay and seller’s want to make sure that they are receiving fair market for their homes. Real estate comparables (comps) can help both parties out, but for some people they just don’t go far enough.
These days consumers have much more information at their finger tips thanks to the internet. Much of this information is free, but not all of it is accurate. Yet, consumers continue to do their research online before buying or selling a home. Read on and we’ll take a look at several sites which could make the difference for you.
Realtor.com — As the largest site listing homes for sale online, you can get a strong feel for local housing prices by researching available listings. Run by the National Association of Realtors, therefore not all “For Sale By Owner” offerings make the list. Visit FSBO.com to find homes being offered directly by their owners.
Realtor Networks — Though most of their listings eventually get on the Realtor.com site, for the most up-to-date information visit the national network sites for Coldwell Banker, ERA, ReMax, and others for listings. Strong, regional networks can also be quite good, but never forget your mom ‘n pop real estate broker — oftentimes, there personalized service trumps all and their listings are exclusive to them.
Zillow.com — Exactly how much is your home worth? With Zillow, they try to give you that information and they do it for free. Not always accurate, Zillow does best with homes of medium value and in neighborhoods where home buying and selling occurs on a regular basis. Other sites with home valuation information include HomeGain.com and RealEstateABC.com.
SayLending.com — Okay, we’re a bit prejudiced. SayLending and SayEducate are part of the same network. Still, if you are looking for free mortgage calculators, money tips, and other real estate information, then a stop here can certainly help you out.
What could be the biggest advantage to using online sources? Saving money on your real estate commissions. Expect that online home valuations and home buying/selling to continue to grow, making the real estate agent’s 6% fee a thing of the past.
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