Dive Brief:
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Almost 90% of Americans who bought homes recently used the Internet to find properties for sale, research neighborhoods or apply for mortgages, according to a poll released this week by Discover Home Loans.
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More than three-quarters of them said online technology made them smarter homebuyers, and 69% said they felt more confident because they used it.
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More than 90% said using the web and email saved them time, and two-thirds said their technology-assisted home searches “reached the point of becoming addictive,” the survey revealed.
Dive Insight:
Homebuilders without easy-to-find websites might want to spruce up their online presence, as the Internet is “truly changing the homebuying process,” noted TJ Freeborn, senior manager of customer experience at Discover Home Loans. Shoppers who want to save time, compare the prices of vast quantities of homes, learn about communities, and educate themselves about builders and the homebuying process are turning to their computers before contacting sales offices or Realtors.
Still, it seems technology can’t replace personal relationships when it comes down to sealing the deal. The poll of 1,003 recent homebuyers revealed that nearly 100% preferred to communicate with agents via phone calls rather than emails or websites.