More Americans are using the internet to find a place to relocate to

[webmaster]

A new study finds that more Americans are using the Internet to find a place to live, thanks to the greater wealth of home listings and other real-estate information online.

The Pew Internet and American Life Project said Wednesday that 39 percent of online Americans have gone online in search of a place to buy or rent. That's an increase from 34 percent in 2004 and 27 percent in 2000.

More than half of online adults under 30 have done so, possibly reflecting the fact that they are typically more transient. Nine percent of the Internet users ages 18-29 said they looked for housing information on a typical day, compared with 4 percent two years earlier.

Home listings, once printed out in books available only to real-estate agents, are now obtainable by anyone online, accompanied by increasingly sophisticated photographs and virtual tours.

Pew previously found that about half of Internet users have taken virtual tours, including checking out a home available for rent or for sale. And nearly a third have used an online classified service like Craigslist, where housing information is circulated.

The telephone survey on real estate was conducted in August with 972 Internet users and has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points.

[ozzie]

About a year ago, my husband showed a slight interest in relocating and we did some searching on the Internet to find homes that were listed. We enjoyed checking out some of them. At that time, he decided he wants to stay put.

[medako]

My husband and I have done quite a bit of looking at homes and areas to relocate to online. We've checked out schools, medical facilities, shopping, dining, etc. and have crossed several communities off of our list because of some of the things listed. The internet searches have been a great timesaver allowing us to research before getting attached to a home in a less desirable area.

[caligirl]

As well I think that the internet allows people to see more information about the area they are going to be relocating to. When looking at houses via internet you are able to see surrounding schools, landmarks as well as statistics.

[lcsamano]

People now just don't have the time like they used to, to go out and look at properties or houses. With the advancements of the internet and with the millions that use it, it is easier for people to use the internet to find what they are looking for.

[medako]

I think one of the greatest new-er things of researching homes online is the ability to take a virtual tour. It gives a much better feel for the place than standard still photos.

[caligirl]

That is so true. It is so much nicer to get the virtual tour. You don't get the full effect of actually going to the house. However, it gives you an idea of what the house looks like and if you want to go and see the house in person. It is really a time saver.

[medako]

Now someone needs to invent a 3D tour where you can just put on a hat and virtually walk through a home. LOL