Obviously the internet has become a tremendous tool in the Real Estate world.  There are information and "service" sites galore.  Sometimes it can also be overwhelming and confusing.  Some even have expressed concern that the internet will replace Realtors.  (By the way, I am not concerned about that.)  The fact is, the internet is an extremely useful tool for customers (and Realtors as well) for buying and selling Real Estate.  Here's some tips in using the internet effectively:

1. Online Pricing Sites - This has become one of the hot areas lately.  BE CAREFUL! Automated sites can very misleading for buying and selling and have a very high margin of error.  The other option is to put in your information and "a professional" will call you.  Obviously you will not know who and can get some more information on them later.  My suggestion is take the guess work out and contact a Realtor you know or has been recommended to you in your area.  Most Realtors offer FREE property evaluations and will know the local market.  This will allow for more accurate pricing and better information as to what factors are contributing to the price. 
2. Shopping - Listing sites are a great resource to preview many properties right from your own PC.  My suggestion is to: 1) Make 2 columns on a piece of paper - one "The Characteristics You Want In a Property" and the second "What Would Be Nice To Have" (these are usually things that can easily be added later or are more customized) 2) KNOW YOUR PRICE RANGE (being pre-qualified before ever seriously shopping is highly recommended) 3) Either make a list of MLS #'s and address or print the listings you would like to visit.  4) Contact a Realtor to show you the properties. 
3. Shopping Sites - I highly recommend public access MLS in your area and/or www.Realtor.com. This site is tied in with MLS for the most part so you will be getting more accurate information.  Point2Home NLS is another useful site although rather new.  Point2 has become a huge provider of Broker and Realtor websites which pulls from the listing information from those sites.  Unlike public access MLS and www.Realtor.com, these other sites require manual additions.  Therefore, you may not be getting the full picture of what is truly available in an area.  You can also ask your Realtor if they provide public access to the MLS through their own website.  Most Realtors design their websites to be "full service" and include public MLS access.  For example, my site (www.KathyWestRealtor.com) has both the full Florida MLS and the Local MLS so the customer has an option plus many other valuable Real Estate resources are available.
4. Mortage Calculators - These are wonderful in beginning your search.  These DO NOT replace a "pre-qualification" from a licensed lender, but can give you a very good guage of what you can afford.  Be honest and use this as a guage only.  If you are seriously shopping, contact your Realtor for a lender referral or contact a leneder you know to get a "pre-qualification". 
5. Local Infomational Sites - www.Localism.com is a powerful tool which allows information to be shared in reagrds to neighborhoods and towns.  I just started using this myself and set up 2 neighborhoods in our area.  What I like about this is that it can become a community hub, and I think we sometimes forget how "local" is local.  For example, Palm Coast, FL (my area) is divided into ""sections".  It is not uncommon for people to identify where they live in Palm Coast by first saying the "section".  Each of these sections are neighborhoods and have become rather unique in their own ways.  The sections also perform differently in the Real Estate world.  Therefore, I have begun sharing information for my own neighborhood as well as the overall area.  Plus other news and developments in the neighborhood can be shared here.
6. Email - This is an extremely useful tool in communication when it comes to Real Estate.  Make sure your Realtor has yours.  You will be amazed at how much smoother and less stressful the shopping and transaction process can be through email communication.  Document exchange alone is extremely beneficial.  Plus so many other communications regarding the selling process.
7. Read My Blog - Ok, this probably shouldn't be in the list.  But I like to think I have some good things to say every once in a while and absolutely love meeting new people.  Plus my husband says I have a nice smile that brightens his day (I think he just wants to get out of cooking dinner), but that's a good reason too isn't it?

The internet many times has been equated to a "library . . . with all the books scattered all over the floor".  The organization has greatly improved, but the amount of information can still be overwhelming.  Find where you are comfortable and have found the information to be accurate.  And I always suggest contacting a Realtor for your Real Estate needs.  Not because I am one, but because I always used a Realtor before entering this career.  These are complex transactions and a trusted source is very valuable in many ways.