Searching for a new home is often a bit like looking for the perfect ring, but now there’s a way to buy them from an automated site.
A new online platform that’s available to home buyers, called the Real Estate Council, lets users search for homes online using a range of factors including price, size, location, history and history of previous homes sold.
They can then buy the property directly from the site or via a broker who’s licensed to act as a broker.
The site also offers a variety of options to help people find suitable properties.
For example, if you want to buy your own home, you can search for properties within your region using the Realestate Council’s ‘Find Homes’ tool.
There’s also a ‘buy now’ option that lets you view properties that have been sold but you haven’t yet purchased.
Real Estate is a booming industry with prices increasing at an exponential rate.
But the current housing crisis is putting more pressure on homeowners to find a place to live, with many finding it hard to find new homes to buy in their area.
Real estate broker Richard Lee says the rise in demand for properties is partly the result of people moving to other countries.
«There are now so many people living in these suburbs and cities and many of them are buying property in the middle of nowhere,» Mr Lee said.
«People have a lot of disposable income, so they’re willing to spend a lot more on property.»
While the online market for home purchases has been booming, Mr Lee says there’s still plenty of work to be done.
«It’s really hard for the broker to keep up with all the listings,» he said.
Buyers are now getting their first look at properties from a real estate company rather than a private listing company, he said, and the market for real estate agents is starting to see a lot less consolidation and the need for a broker to help make sure there are a high number of agents in a given area.
«In the past, if we had one agent per 500 properties we’d have lots of agents.
But now it’s a bit more spread out.»
One area where there’s been a lot change is the size of houses being listed.
The number of properties listed on Realestate.com is up by more than 500 per cent since the year 2000, according to the site.
«A lot of these properties are in very rural areas, so the demand is there,» Mr Smith said.
For those looking to move out, there are still a number of steps to take.
«Some people will have to get permission from their local council to move back in, but there are other things like renting or selling,» Mr Lees said.
Mr Lee is optimistic the growth in the industry will continue, but he wants to see the market grow at a steady pace.
«We’ve seen the growth of the industry come and go, but it’s still there for the taking and we have to continue to look after the existing owners,» he he said in an interview.
For now, Mr Le, who is also the Real estate Council’s CEO, says it’s important to have the right information available to people who want to purchase a home.
«For me, I’m always trying to find the most accurate information I can so I can make the best decision possible for my family and I know it’s always going to be a bit difficult for a buyer to find what they need to get the job done,» he explained.