This information is from various sources including the National Association of Realtors.
More information is at the Realtor.org Customer Support page or call NAR’s Information Central at 1-800-874-6500.
What repeat buyers want
Find the right house to purchase 53%
Help with price negotiations 13%
Help with paperwork 8%
What comparable homes are selling for 11%
Help determining how much buyer can afford 11%
Find and arrange financing 2%
The ‘average’ Realtor
Average weekly hours: 46.
Gross personal income: $62,300.
Median experience: 9 years
Gender: Male 46%, Female 54%
Education : Some college/associate degree 45% Bachelor’s degree 26% High school graduate 9% Graduate degree and above 11% Graduate study 9%
Affiliate memberships: RLI 11% WCR 4% CREW 1% REBAC 9% CRS 11% CCIM 2%
Annual sides per agent: 12
Number of years with present firm: Agents 2; Brokers 4.
Affiliation with firms: Independent contractor 92% Employee 8%
Method of purchase
Agent/Broker 81%
Direct from Builder 10%
Direct from previous owner whom buyer didn’t know 5%
Definitely would use same agent again 66%
Sources used in home search
Real estate agent 85%
Yard sign 63%
Internet 80%
Newspaper 55%
Home book/magazine 34%
Open house 47%
Builders 26%
Television 11%
Relocation company 5%
NAR membership
Members: 1,369,955 (as of November 2006)
Number of local associations: 1,443
Most difficult tasks for FSBO sellers
Getting the right price 11%
Understanding paperwork 16%
Preparing/fixing up home for sale 18%
Attracting potential buyers 9%
Having enough time to devote to all aspects of the sale 9%
Technology
Personal computer 97%
Cell phone 95%
Realtors’ use of email for business 44%
How buyer found agent
Referred by (or is) a friend, neighbor, or relative 40%
Used agent previously to buy/sell a house 13%
Visited open house and met agent 7%
Walked into/called office and agent was on duty 4%
Internet Site 7%
If used Internet:
Drove by/viewed a home 74%
Walked through a home viewed online 61%
Found agent used to search/buy home 23%
Over the next 10 years?
...minorities are expected to account for an even larger share of household growth — a record 71%, up from 63% in 1995-2005.
...the number of household heads in the 50s will rise by nearly four million while the number in their 60s will increase by seven million.
Top 5 websites for listing
Realtor.com 82%
Local firm site 76%
Local association site 50%
Franchiser’s site 30%
Broker IDX/broker reciprocity site 29%
FSBO Methods Used to Market Home
Yard Sign 51%
Friends/neighbors 53%
Newspaper ad 31%
Open house 29%
Listing on the Internet 22%
Why choose a Realtor?
Reputation 35%
Honesty 21%
Friendship 12%
Neighborhood knowledge 10%
For Sale By Owner
. . . the typical FSBO home sold for $187,200 compared to $247,000 for agent-assisted home sales.
Real estate companies with web pages
Have one 87%
Don’t have one 9%
Home buyer and seller
Active home search: weeks searched - 8; homes seen -9
Prior Living Arrangement
Owned previous residence 49%
Rented an apartment or house 38%
Lived with parents, relatives or friends 9%