- For 42% of home buyers, the first step in the home-buying process was looking online for properties and 14% of home buyers first looked online for information about the home buying process.
- The use of the Internet in the home search rose slightly to 92%.
- The typical home buyer searched for 12 weeks and viewed 10 homes.
- 88% of buyers purchased their home through a real estate agent or broker – and increase from only 69% in 2001.
- 88% of sellers were assisted by a real estate agent when selling their home.
- 2/3 of home sellers only contacted one agent before selecting the one to assist with their home sale.
- The share of home sellers who sold their home without the assistance of a real estate agent was 9% - of that 40% knew the buyer prior to home purchase.
- Recent sellers typically sold their homes for 97% of the listing price, and 47% reported they reduced the asking price at least once.
- 36% of sellers offered incentives to attract buyers, most often assistance with home warranty policies and closing costs.
- 39% of sellers who used a real estate agent found their agents through a referral by friends or family, and 25% used the agent they worked with previously to buy or sell a home.
- 85% of sellers reported that their home was listed or advertised on the multiple listing (MLS) website.
- Among recent sellers who used an agent, 84 % reported they would definitely (65%) or probably (19%) use that real estate agent again or recommend to others.
- The primary reason that sellers choose to sell their home without the assistance of a real estate agent to a buyer they did not know was that they did not want to pay a fee or commission (46%).
- Approximately 1/3 of FSBO sellers took no action to market their home, and 64% did not offer any incentives to attract buyers.
- The typical FSBO home sold for $184,000 compared to $230,000 among agent-assisted home sales! That’s leaving $46,000 ON THE TABLE!!!
It not only makes sense to use a REALTOR®, it makes cents. There still is time this season to sell your home in the Desert! Many buyers taking refuge from their cold northern homes are seeing this as their permanent winter destination! Call me today to find out you can take advantage of today’s real estate market!
