ae Technology Can Give You The Upper Hand On Your Next Home Purchase (NAPSA)—Technology has revolutionized the homebuying process in r some surprising ways. What Tech Can Do Today According to Google Trends, the number of searches for homes for sale has doubled in the past 10 years. Online tools streamline the research process and give buyers the power to explore home price trends, quality of schools and even neighborhood aesthetics. These searches offer virtual tours, house-to-house com- parisons anddirect contact with localreal estate agents. The National Association of Realtors reports that while 92 percent of homebuyers still choose to work with an agent, this is no longerthe first step in the process. Instead, 95 percent of buyers search the Web first, then find a qualified agent. The power of technology in the homebuying arena extends well past online listings, however. For instance, Quicken Loans, the nation’s sec- ond-largestretail mortgage lender,takes real estate technologya step further with Rocket Mortgage—the industry's first fully online, digital mortgage. According to the lender, Rocket Mort- gage gives consumers unprecedented control of the mortgage process. It empowers them to apply and get approval oftheir loan in minutes—whether they're on a computer,a tablet or a phone. From there, the system shares rates and terms each New waysto find and buy a home may beat your fingertips. What Tech May Do Tomorrow This ability to make the homebuying process mobile at nearly every phase cements the effect of both real estate industry innovators and tech geniuses. Coming soon is the assimilation ofvirtual reality (VR) into this increasingly tech-driven process. Already a populartool in many com- munities, VR gives agents the power to show homesfrom all overthe globe.Its use extends well beyond homebuying, letting homeowners virtually preview and plan homerenovations. ‘The Motley Fool expects VR devices to be in the hands of more than 171 million people by 2018. As VR becomes more commonplace, its influence in manyindustries, especially realestate, is expectedto grow. Whetheryou're seriously considering purchasing a house or just keeping track individual qualifies for based on income, of homevalues, most of these technolo- living room in just minutes. For further facts or to try some of this technology for yourself, go to www. quickenloans.com. credit rating and otherfactors. Prospective buyers can nowliterally walk through a home, then apply and receive a full approval right from the gies are free and easily accessible. Learn More
