Smart House Hunters Shop Online

(NAPS)—Even in today's real estate market, it's still all about location, location, location. Since nine out of 10 homebuyers start their search online, this is especially true when selecting a real estate Web site, or the right Web address, to find

your new address. If you're thinking about buying a home, learn the secrets smart buyers are using to find the right home at the right price in the right neighborhood. Knowing where and how to look is essential right now. Is the market you're looking in hot or not? Some markets are hotter than others and that means more competition for the really great high-value buys. "Recently, home prices have softened in many local markets and inventory levels are above normal, creating great conditions for smart buyers looking for values," said Realtor.com president, Errol Samuelson. "Our data in early 2009 shows many markets are experiencing dramatic year-over-year increases in search activity on Realtor.com. Markets like Miami, San Diego and Phoenix-Mesa are just a few attracting significant interest by potential buyers." Smart Deals For Smart Shoppers. How do you know a good deal when you see it? Some sites, like Realtor.com, offer home valuation features and neighborhood data to help you understand trends in local markets. Use these features to see how a listing compares with nearby, comparable properties in terms of value, actual sales prices, home features, neighborhood characteristics and more. In many markets, through Realtor.com's Find Home Values, you'll see what buyers paid for similar properties that sold recently, and you'll find the area's most active REALTORS®. Find an Expert. Finding a great REALTOR makes the difference in locating, making the right offer on and closing on the home of your dreams. It's easy to find the right REALTOR on Realtor.com, including those specializing in representing buyers in your neighborhood. Get the 411 Before You Step Inside. It's difficult to know much about a community from an online listing. But schools, crime and proximity to shopping and work all impact property values. So, talk to a REALTOR and go to Realtor.com's Find Neighborhoods to explore what may become your new community. Also, save time by looking at photos, videos and virtual tours, leaving time for personal tours of a home closer to your liking. Are The Property Details Reliable? Buyers need to know when a listing has experienced a price change. Realtor.com updates most listings every 15 minutes with information, including price changes. Fresh and reliable information is critical and only Realtor.com time-stamps listings so buyers can make better-informed decisions. By requesting an e-mail alert, smart buyers stay on top of changes so they can be first to act. Technology and the challenges of today's real estate market have made buying a home very different than it was five years ago. Values and opportunities abound if you know how and where to find them. Smart buyers are putting online technology to work in ways today that'll bring them closer to the home of their dreams tomorrow. A survey found that nine out of 10 homebuyers begin their house search on the Web.