Most buyers seek out the assistance of a professional.
Using a Realtor will help expedite the search, and give you a source for answers to many of your questions. It's often used incorrectly to mean real estate salesperson. Companies like Xerox, Kleenex, and Formica have been fighting the same battle for many years. When you hear the brand Xerox used to refer to a copier machine or Kleenex used in place of tissue, you can quickly see how frequently trademarks are misused. You might find it interesting to know that not all real estate salespeople are Realtors.