Online Listings
Of Homes for Sale
by Sheree R. Curry
From The Wall Street Journal Online
March 03, 2008
The National Association of Realtors reports that 84% of 2007 buyers used the Internet in their search for a home. Here are homes for sale found at Roost.com, a home search site that was launched in January.
PLACE/PRICE: McKinney, Texas / $295,000
TAXES: $6,599 / year
THE PROPERTY: 4 bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths, 3,107 square feet
DESCRIPTION: This home has hardwood floors in most of the rooms, including the master, which also has a bay window seating area. The family room has a gas log fireplace The kitchen has a butler s pantry and built-in planning center.
NOTABLE: Ninety-five percent of buyers were looking for properties for sale in their Internet search; while 21% were looking for general information about an area, according to the NAR Profile of Home Buyers.
PLACE/PRICE: Alpharetta, Ga. / $700,000
TAXES: $7,569 / year
THE PROPERTY: 5 bedrooms, 4 1/2 baths, 1,715 square feet
DESCRIPTION: This brick and stone two-story home in a gated community has a three-car garage. The dining room opens to the living room, which is separated from the kitchen area by columns.
NOTABLE: The most useful Web site features as reported by buyers are photos (84% found them to be "very useful ), 82% and 60%, respectively, said the same about home features and virtual tours.
PLACE/PRICE: Boston, Mass. / $879,000
TAXES: $4,750 / year
THE PROPERTY: 4 bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths, 1,995 square feet
DESCRIPTION: This colonial has a formal dining room with paneled chair rails and corner china cabinet. The kitchen has travertine flooring, granite counter tops and doors that lead to a private garden and patio.
NOTABLE: Home buyers who used the Internet -- 82% of them -- were more likely to use a real-estate agent than those who did not use the Internet -- only 65% of non-Internet users used an agent.
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