The Value of a Real Estate Professional is More Important Now Than Ever in Home Buying and Selling Processes.

Consumer Survey of Recent Home Buyers and Sellers in Mid-Atlantic Area Reiterates Need for Professional Guidance

ROCKVILLE, Md. -- In a landmark study examining the home buying and selling preferences of consumers in the Mid-Atlantic region, 95 percent reported that working with a real estate professional is just as important, if not more important, than it was just a few years ago. The survey results are released in a new research paper entitled "Keepin' it Real", by MRIS, the area's Multiple Listing Service (MLS) and leading developer of real estate information technology.

According to the report, which can be found on www.MRIS.com, today's consumers recognize this is not the time to complete a real estate transaction on their own, and are placing a stronger emphasis on the agent's professional skills. As such, trustworthiness was ranked as the most critical factor in choosing an agent, followed by experience, willingness to look out for a client's interest, expertise in negotiating contracts, responsiveness, familiarity with contracts and knowledge of the local community. These requirements are evidence that consumers are seeking more than simple guidance, they are looking for an expert they can trust to execute a step-by-step process throughout the entire transaction.

"In today's housing market especially, this is no time to go it alone," noted John L. Heithaus, Chief Marketing Officer of MRIS. "With 95 percentof all buyers and sellers reporting that working with a professional real estate agent or broker is important, it is evident that consumers understand how vital they are to the process. A real estate professional has the industry knowledge, networking ability and expert guidance on home buying and selling to deliver top notch customer service and advice, and provide a successful experience for consumers."

Additionally, the "Keepin' it Real" report reveals that 68 percent of buyers and sellers rated their agent with a 6 or 7, on a 7-point satisfaction scale. This high level of consumer confidence reinforces the credibility of the real estate professionals in the Mid-Atlantic area. Nearly half of the consumers surveyed, or 48 percent, found their agent by way of referral. Moreover, 80 percent of consumers stated that they would recommend their agent to a friend or family member, especially those that purchased or sold a home in the past twelve months.

Whereas in years past, the agent was the first step in the home buying or selling process, today, internet savvy consumers can gather information and educate themselves, long before contacting an agent. The internet empowers consumers to search for homes and neighborhood information, compare pricing and explore financing options on their own. Yet, despite all of the tools and resources available, when it comes time to actually buy or sell a home, there is nothing more valuable than the industry knowledge, expertise and guidance a real estate professional brings to the table.

The "Keepin' it Real" research paper is confirmation that today, more than ever, a real estate professional is an invaluable resource in the home buying and selling process. To read the research paper in its entirety, including the top 5 reasons why homebuyers value real estate agents, visit: http://mrisblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Keepn-it-Real.pdf.

ABOUT MRIS

MRIS is real estate in real time[TM], enabling its customers to list and sell nearly $97 million in real estate each day and nearly $100 billion in listings and closed sales in 2009. A leading developer of real estate information technology, MRIS connects its customers with timely, accurate and actionable data with a growing portfolio of technology solutions, including broker and agent software products and an industry-leading consumer portal, HomesDatabase.com. Behind the scenes, the CURE Solutions Group subsidiary of MRIS provides back-end technology to other MLS systems through CURE, a proprietary solution. MRIS serves nearly 50,000 real estate professionals spanning a 22,000 square mile section of the Mid-Atlantic region, including Maryland, Virginia, Washington, D.C. and markets located in Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Visit us at mris.com, "Like" us on Facebook.com/MRISonFB, and follow us on Twitter, @MRIS_REal_News.