The first national company to provide this service was The Buyer's Agent, Inc. A 2008 study by Consumer Reports indicates that prior to this development, a Realtor was presumed by state law to be working for the seller.
[4] Another trend is the emergence of alternatives to the commission model, including flat-fee, hourly home selling, and for sale by owner tools.
[5] With social distancing and health guidelines coming from the COVID-19 pandemic, technology has played an even larger role in the buying and selling of homes according to a study by the National Association of Realtors (NAR).
Websites like Craigslist (United States), Daft.ie (Republic of Ireland) and Gumtree (UK) became in the 21st century the main sources for both buyers and sellers.
[7] Apps like Zillow, Trulia, Zumper, and Rentberry are primarily accessed via mobile devices and have become very popular sources for listing properties for sale or rent.
Real estate investment continues to grow in popularity across the United States, as both new and seasoned investors look for opportunities in a competitive market.
In America, local SEO[9] has become a valuable tool for targeting specific geographic markets, allowing investors to connect with clients in both urban centers and more remote locations.
The emphasis on digital channels has only increased following the COVID-19 pandemic, as the shift towards online engagement has made technology-driven marketing more vital for real estate success The United States Department of Justice Antitrust Division announced the launch of a new website in October 2007 to "educate consumers and policymakers about the potential benefits that competition can bring to consumers of real estate brokerage services and the barriers that inhibit that competition.