The combination of declining prices and rising inventory has started to draw seekers of NJ homes from the sidelines. And as many in the real estate industry will attest, house-hunters – now more than ever – are using available technology to aid their searches.
Between the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) site and various realtors’ web pages, those in the market for NJ homes have many technological options. Given the depressed state of newspaper advertising, some realtors have even started to abandon standard listings.
House-hunters have still been known to consult the Sunday papers, but realtor search engines allow a user to evaluate a large number of properties in a relatively short period of time. Simply enter the desired criteria – price range, number of bedrooms/bathrooms, town or county location – and begin checking out NJ homes.
All realtor web sites feature pictures of available homes, condominiums and apartments. Some actually offer enhanced 360-degree perspectives. At the very least, the volume of information and views available through the Internet reduce wasted time. After all, why would a house-hunter spend an afternoon visiting a property he or she didn’t consider visually appealing?
Extensive details about NJ homes available via home computers and Smart Phones has led sellers and agents to even question the necessity of traditional open houses. Depending on the time of year and temperature, open houses may be prevalent. These do not, however, always result in sales.
Open houses offer potential buyers the chance to view a property in person and ask questions of the agent on duty, but realtor web sites may very well fill that function. A web site can’t reach a house-hunter the way a skilled salesperson might, but it will generate a considerable amount of information with a few clicks of the mouse.
Though New Jersey is among the nation’s smaller states acreage-wise, it includes too many towns to assess in a week or even a month. Maybe you’re searching for a Jersey City condominium with a short commute to New York City, or a sprawling estate outside of Philadelphia.
The bottom line is New Jersey’s real estate prospects can’t be properly considered with just a newspaper and a map. Inexpensive and easy-to-use technology is now available to all, and the real estate industry is taking full advantage of the trend.
