They will help agents market and sell houses, attract new listings and improve overall efficiency of the home buying process. Beyond looking at specific houses online, home shoppers can use real estate websites for many other services such as locating the perfect neighborhood, checking daily interest rates, gathering information on the community, estimating monthly mortgage payments, finding a suitable loan, locating a sales agent and much more. Coldwell Banker has a service called the Personal Retriever. Potential home buyers determine what area they would like to live in and what qualities their ideal house must possess. They are notified via email when any houses come available that fit into their portfolio of qualifications.
Buyers can also bid on houses straight from the website.
Deciding monthly mortgage payments requires a detailed equation, but on the internet, house hunters can just type in some simple numbers and get an estimate within seconds. The next step is securing a loan which can also be done over the computer. Applications can be sent electronically and approval can be received as quick in as three hours. For first time house hunters and even for people looking to buy their second or third home, the logistics can be frustrating and confusing. Real estate websites provide an abundance of information and advice to help with the search for the perfect home.