BUSINESS SECTION

Products
New and updated products.

Books
The latest insights into career building.

Companies directory
Key vendors and service providers.

NAR releases study of technology use

     ( WASHINGTON ) – NAR’s 2007 study of the use of technology by its membership shows that:
     -- 93 percent use cell phones daily or nearly every day.
     -- 91 percent use e-mail.
     -- 88 percent use computers.
     -- 27 percent use PDAs.
     -- 23 percent use digital cameras.
     -- 23 percent use wireless e-mail.
     -- 14 percent use instant messaging.
     -- 13 percent use GPS devices.
     -- 2 percent use blogs.
     -- 1 percent use podcasts.
     -- 1 percent use RSS feeds.
     -- 74 percent of members use MLS software daily.
     -- 13 percent use MLS software a few times per week.
     -- Half of brokers and agents said they spent more than $1,000 on technology last year.
     -- 25 percent said they spent more than $2,000 on technology.
     -- Two-thirds have business Web sites and 25 percent said they spent $1,000 or more to maintain their site.
     -- 93 percent of sites have listings search capabilities.
     -- 80 percent said the technology supplied by their broker is valuable, but two-thirds would like their broker to expand the amount of technology offered.
     -- 94 percent of those surveyed include MLS-based CMAs as part of their listing presentations.
     -- 75 percent of those surveyed said they must manage as many as 20 documents to complete a real estate transaction.
     -- 59 percent use an automated forms management program.
     -- 23 percent use a transaction management system.
     -- The most popular way to maintain relationships with current clients is through phone calls (48 percent) and e-mail (39 percent).

An honest look at what new real estate agents can expect.




What you need to know to get into this growing business.