It’s a lifestyle…Not just a home!

Consumers have many resources at their fingertips when it comes to home searches! They also have many avenues to search when the time arrives to identify their dream home. From pricing data to neighborhood comparisons, it’s all on the internet. The start of over 90% of home searches is done via internet today. This digital house hunt has changed the way consumers search and Real Estate agents market homes! Buyers are using very specific tools at different phases of their home buying process. Google recently reported that internet searches which were Real Estate related were up 253% in just the past few years. What exactly are the consumers focusing on?
Indicators show that local internet searches top the charts in real estate searches. Consumers, no matter what their age is, are focusing very heavily on the Lifestyle versus just the home. They are looking for specialty grocers, rave review restaurants, entertainment, school system that fit their children’s needs, nearby worship community, proximity to employer, and so many personal pieces of a puzzle that complete their definition of community. What’s even more unique is that today’s national home builders have recognized this demand and have started building “mega-communities” which offer an array of lifestyle activities, on site fitness centers, acres of parks and lakes for community use, solar powered home sites and many other features found in a specific community.
Purchasing a home is an important life decision, and many factors can influence the home choices buyers make. Buyers’ preferences vary when it comes to a home purchase primarily due to factors such as region, demographics and household composition but their desire to live in proximity of a lifestyle that suits their individual needs is on the rise and is becoming the deciding factor for many home searches today!