NAR Survey results

I recently read the results of the National Association of Realtors (U.S.) on their annual Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers Surveys for 2008. It is always interesting reading. There are 1.3 million realtors in the United States and they have many more resources than us, just based in the numbers. The annual survey always includes over 100,000 participants. The two Canadian factors to keep in mind are: firstly, they have been embedded in a housing recession in some areas for more than two years, and secondly, most surveys related to the internet show that Canadians use the internet in higher numbers than our American neighbours.

Where will you spend your marketing dollars?

When asked what resources buyers used when searching for a home:
87% used the internet
85% used a real estate agent
62% used yard signs
48% attended open houses
47% looked at newspaper or print ads

Buyers usually start their search process on line and then contact a real estate agent.

When asked where they first learned about the home they bought:
34% learned about the property from a real estate agent
32% found the property on the internet
15% discovered it through the yard sign
7% heard about it from a friend, neighbour, or relative
7% found it from a builder
3% from a newspaper or print ad
2% learned directly from the seller
1% from a home book or magazine

Interesting numbers...