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No one today questions the impact the World Wide Web has had on our lives. It's changed the way we shop, amuse ourselves, do research, and check our bank balance. However, when it comes to buying and selling real estate, the effect of the Web has been revolutionary.
Buying a house in 1995 meant about the same thing it did in 1955: a lot of work plus hours of travel and frustration.
That changed around 1996 when the Web first became a practical tool for the real estate industry. Innovative companies such as the Big Island's Clark Realty Corp. began setting up web sites to show color photos of their real estate listings with brief descriptions.
From those early beginnings, the information available on-line has grown exponentially. Today, buyers rely on the Web for everything from locating a real estate company and tracking market trends to previewing suitable properties and submitting offers.
Virtual tours, brief videos which show several 180 degree views of a home, make it easy for interested buyers to "virtually visit" a house 5000 miles away without leaving the computer screen. And more and more frequently, buyers are submitting offers "subject to personal inspection" based on good web presentations.
With email communication, a virtual tour, detailed property information and, of course, an experienced Realtor, buying a home in the 21st century has become a whole lot easier. All it takes is a computer, an Internet connection and common sense. One thing hasn't changed, though. You'll still need an old-fashioned down payment.
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