Will a consumer find correct real estate information on the Internet?

Richard, excellent advice for the consumer. What is also interesting is all the inaccurate information that is regurgitated over and over again. Working with a local REALTOR® will sort out the nonsense.

Great Blog!!  I unscientifically conclude about the same data from my research as what you concluded from yours!

I believe your third and fourth reasons are my biggest issue.  Once on the internet...it seems to be there forever.  Accurate or not...outdated or not. 

When I search for someone or something...it seems it is more than likely on page 2 or 3  or further into the search results as the first page is mostly full of 2 things...ads and inaccurate information.

I think the commercial where the young woman says, "If it's on the internet, it must be true!" comes to mind. As much as I love having information at hand, I have learned that I still must perform due dilligence.

Richard, you are right on the money. I had a call two weeks ago about a house that was $100000 below the actual list. How it got to that price on Z is a mystery, but actual price was much higher. The caller was so disappointed.

The websites that create a value have not been inside the home, and so do not know what it's worth, nor do they gauge the traffic or anything else. 

So very, very true!  Part of the job we have is to disseminate accurate information and combat the innacuracies.  Realtor.com has a campaign right now called "Accuracy Matters," which helps to point consumers in the right direction for information  that is true, timely, and accurate.  They are great messages and so true!

Accuracy Matters - Doghouse Architects

Accuracy Matters - Mom

Amen Richard, though your comment is a veiled advertisement for you and us Realtors in general.  But truth is truth.  Keep up the good work.

I will often run searches with "2014" on them to make sure I get articles written this year.  Outdated information or anything written that's just wrong definitely does more damage than good.

Great point.  I wrote a blog just on the inaccuracies on Zillow.  http://activerain.com/blogsview/4397274/is-zillow-bad-for-home-buyers-  And they are suppose to be the accurate ones!

Love this post! More buyers and sellers are hopping on the Internet to find real estate information instead of picking up the phone to call an agent. The Internet may be a great place to start, but only a true professional can help them through the process. Great post!

So true; everything needs to be confirmed, double checked, etc.

I feel like I am constantly having to re-train the buyer/seller mind set on prices.

The internet has made it easier to search for information... but it is also extremely easy for others to put incorrect information. I enjoyed reading this post.

It is important to look at the date of articles and posts on the inernet. Real estate is constantly changing and not all the information is accurate, might have been at one time. 

If you are not talkig with a realtor directly you are not getting the most current information.

Richard - another superb post worthy of a feature.  My maternal grandfather used to say "don't believe anything that you hear and only half of what you see".  The internet is so full of garbage and waste yet so many people believe everything that they read.  Do you think that is a product of our public school system?  And with that, I digress...

You nailed it, Richard! I always tell my clients not to trust Internet - because I am there....lol!

I am with you on this one. Want current real estate information, call a local knowledgeable real estate agent!

I agree there is a lot of misinformation out there. Really no way to correct it. I guess my thoughts are that if it makes the phone ring then so be it.

Whatever happened to Truth In Advertising, I am so amazed at the wrong information on the computer