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Surfing the Web might conjure up images of young, agile bodies hanging 10 in cyber land. But in the 21st century, larger and more diverse segments of the population are discovering that the Internet has an ocean of information, and a majority of home buyers are diving in.
The sixth annual California Association of Realtors Internet Versus Traditional Buyers Survey turned up these tidbits:
* Home buyers who used the Internet as a key part of the process grew from 56 percent in 2004 to 62 percent in 2005.
* Internet home buyers devoted more time to research before working with a real estate agent. But after that, they moved quickly, spending just two weeks looking for a home with an agent, and viewing only 6.2 homes.
By contrast, traditional buyers spent less time doing their own research, and relied more heavily on an agent, spending seven weeks searching for a home with an agent and viewing 14.5 homes.
* Information from the Internet has complemented - not diminished - the role played by real estate professionals, as four out of five Internet buyers used an agent in the home buying process.
* Satisfactory consumer experiences for both Internet and traditional buyers depended mainly on their agents' quick responses, communication skills and professional expertise.
* First-time and repeat buyers were somewhat alike in their use of the Internet to...