The initial reaction of the residential real estate community to this new world order, observers said, was something akin to fear and loathing. Today, local brokers and industry honchos say agents are more secure with their status, given that the lion's share of transactions still involve a broker at some point. I think if you did a poll today, across the U.S., there's probably a higher level of confidence that technology is going to be used as a really nice tool for the consumer and the agent. If nothing else, observers say, technology has compelled agents to reexamine their role in the complex dance that is a home purchase. But since 1997, when Internet use by house shoppers and sellers began to rise, the number of licensed professionals in the state has increased, from a 10-year low of 297,359 to the current figure.
Most people are incredibly clueless.
They're just too valuable. But I think people realize that now that the information is opened up, it actually helps their business. Our job is to facilitate the transaction. I love all the tools. Everywhere we turn it's getting easier and easier.