June is Homeownership Month
Using Technology to Find a New Home
Tim King, President
North Coast Building Industry Association – (NCBIA) – www.ncbia.com
Gone are the days when driving through a neighborhood or asking friends and family for a recommendation were the only ways to find a new home. Conducting your house hunt online has become the new standard, for millennials and boomers alike. Websites such as Realtor.com, Redfin.com and Trulia.com have maps, photos and even virtual tours of homes for sale. Below is a guide to using technology to help find your new home. If you are looking for new construction, the NCBIA’s 24/7 Virtual Parade of Homes allows you to look at some of our builders’ new homes and communities on your mobile device or computer at your leisure. We know time is our greatest asset and via our NCBIA Virtual Parade of Homes, we save you time looking for a new home or a community that fits your lifestyle. Just go to www.ncbia.com, click the Consumer tab and then Virtual Parade of Homes.
Check for Updated Content. If you’re looking to purchase a home within the next six months, you’ll want to utilize a website that updates its content frequently. Real estate agents have access to up-to-the-minute data from a multiple listing service and are a good starting point for accurate and recent information.
Look for Details. Almost all websites and mobile apps with home listings have photos and maps. Not all websites have details about the type of neighborhood in which a home is located. Does the area have a good school system? What crimes have been reported in the area? At what price points have homes in the area recently sold? You should utilize websites that provide a complete profile of your future home and neighborhood, so you can make a more informed decision about your purchase.
Sign up for Notifications. In a hot market or desirable neighborhood, affordable homes are sold quickly. Look for websites that allow users to sign up for e-mail or text alerts, and notifications on homes sold or new listings. This is a useful tool if you’re looking to purchase a home in the next three months.
Don’t Overlook Mobile Apps. Another resource to boost your new home search are mobile apps. Most apps have features that allow you to easily share listings with family and friends via text message, email or social media. Phone numbers and emails are optimized on apps, which makes it easy to contact listing agents.
Beware of Dated or Misleading Websites. Make sure the website you are navigating reports on delinquent homes, sold homes or pending sales. You do not want to fall in love with a home that is not available. Websites make money by selling ads, so the realtor next to the home listing you are reviewing may not be an area specialist. Be sure to ask questions to determine his or her knowledge of the area in which you are looking to purchase a home. Please note that our Virtual Parade of Homes is a dependable site to view if you are thinking about building your dream home!
To learn more about the benefits of homeownership or to help you build a new home that is right for you, contact us. The NCBIA is your local not-for-profit trade association representing member companies from accountants to window washers and those involved in all aspects of home building, remodeling, and other aspects of services available to help you in the future as well as more information on the above topic. So, you can see it is for your protection that you use a NCBIA member. If you are unsure that your contractor is a member of the NCBIA or you are looking for a list of NCBIA members, you can visit our website at www.ncbia.com or call 440-934-1090. We also have a job posting board (under the Industry tab).
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Homeownership is truly a cornerstone of the American way of life. The North Coast Building Industry Association is dedicated to the advancement of the building industry, its members, and the communities it serves. North Coast Building Industry – Come Build with Us!