Use the Internet to find your next home
Before, if you were interested in looking for a house to buy, you would check the classified ads in your local newspaper or come across For Sale signs while driving through various attractive neighborhoods. It’s true that while many potential home buyers continue to use these time-honoured techniques, there’s something to be said for using the Internet to search for your dream home. Using the tools available to you, you have the ability to investigate houses, condos, and apartments before physically exploring the property. Here are some tools to keep on hand for your next home search.
Real estate search engines
Most people think of Google or Yahoo when contemplating Internet search. While both major portals are useful for the home hunter (Yahoo has a real estate channel and Google allows searching for home listings through Google Base), don’t discount the smaller niche engines designed to outline properties. available. A functional real estate search engine will allow you to enter your price range, desired location, and number of bedrooms and bathrooms. Results are tailored to your specifications, and if the engine you choose doesn’t offer enough information through maps and photos, you may want to supplement your findings through Google Maps’ Street View feature to get a better idea of the neighborhood.
Popular real estate search engines include Trulia.com, Realtor.com, and Zillow.com.
RSS Feeds
MLS rosters can change daily. The For Sale sign you see one day may have a SOLD notice attached to it the next. Especially in a buyer’s market, you need to have an advantage over other home hunters to be able to bid on the home you want. If you are familiar with real estate companies in your area, you can research their websites to see if they offer RSS feeds on their website.
By applying real estate RSS feeds to your Internet home page or RSS reader, current home listings are downloaded to one location, so you don’t have to search the entire Internet for information. As you find listings that appeal to you, simply click on the listing for detailed information.
mobile text messaging
Does your cell phone accept text messages? You may want to have new listings sent directly to your phone so you can easily search for a home when you’re not in front of your computer. The New York Times, for example, offers current listings via mobile SMS.
From Internet maps to syndicated feeds, it’s easier to search for new homes online. Use the available tools to plan your next home search.