With the largest consumer response yet, the latest Gomez.com/Realty Times poll shows that home buyers are more interested in using the Internet to easily search and evaluate listings than any other reason.

In answer to the question: "Why would you use the internet to shop for your next home?", 631 respondents made their selections:

Possible Answers / Percentage

• See many homes quickly instead of driving neighborhoods: 27.3 %
• Easily search / evaluate listings by selected criteria (price, amenities): 30.7 %
• Get school, crime data to compare different neighborhoods: 10.1 %
• Browse neighborhoods, listings without facing high pressure sales tactics from agents: 27.1 %
• Don't plan to use the internet to shop for a home: 4.8%

"It is significant that less than five percent of consumers said they do not plan to use the Internet to shop for next home," said Nick Karris, real estate analyst for Gomez.com. "Consumers have proven time and again that they enjoy shopping for homes anonymously," adds Blanche Evans, editor of Realty Times. "Why? Because the Internet helps consumers find what they want quickly. They can peruse hundreds of homes at a sitting without leaving the comfort of their homes and they have access to such a wide range of data on each home.

"They can also use the Internet to avoid agents who try to "hard sell," suggests Karris.

Karris points out that consumer use of the Internet is also beneficial to agents. Far from cutting them from the transaction, the Internet makes their jobs easier. Using the Internet, agents can spend far less time sharing neighborhood information. Buyers can use the Internet for a selection tool as well as an elimination tool, saving the agent hours of driving the buyer to unsuitable homes. Relocation clients and buyers who have not purchased in many years get a realistic assessment of prices and values through the homes they view.

"Instead of spending time driving neighborhoods with unfocused clients, winning agents will spend their time negotiating and closing transactions," says Karris. "Leading agents will draw on their wealth of local contacts to become Home Ownership Consultants, advising clients throughout home buying, improvement, and selling process."

Past Poll Results: