Technology has been transforming the real estate industry. Less than a decade ago, finding homes for sale on the internet was a waste of time. Today, the internet is where it’s at. When I developed my business strategy years ago, I decided that one of the most important things was to always be on the cutting edge of real estate technology – to always give my clients the best way to buy and sell homes.

This week I am taking a major step forward in home search technology. It’s my pleasure to announce the release of an online map-based search feature on my Illinois real estate website. As many of you who have used my online property search know, the search I had available was a numerical search – basically, put in your requirements, and the system would show you a list of properties that met your search criteria. The downside was that many of you are looking for homes in a particular area. A simple list of properties gives you no idea of where the home is in relation to other properties you’ve seen or the areas you want. I have been searching for a solution that would allow my buyers to go online at any time of the day or night, search for homes in all areas of Northern Illinois and not only see details about each home, but also see where they all are in relation to each other.

Now I’m happy to bring you this solution. After lots of research into different technologies, I feel I’ve come up with the most advanced property search in the industry to offer to you. My new online search tool will allow you to search by two different methods. It will still allow you to search by criteria – number of bedrooms/bathrooms, search price and area. However, it will now allow you to search by map area. By zooming in the main map area, your display will be constantly refreshed on-the-fly with new properties as you scroll the map around. It will also allow you to narrow down your search criteria with a series of tools on the left toolbar. This means that you can limit the properties displayed to those that exactly meet what you’re looking for, and then compare those properties visually. Since this technology is also based on the Google Maps API, you can change your view to a satellite map or hybrid map and actually see what the homes look like.

Once you find a property you like, you can view detailed information about the property – a description, virtual tour, multiple photos and similar vital information. Just like you remember from my previous property search, you can save a search that will automatically send you property updates by e-mail as soon as a property comes on the market. I’ve also added a feature that allows you to “Favorite” your top properties, so you can log in and view your top choices at any time. You can print the property listing, convert it to a PDF and save it to your computer, bookmark it, email it to a friend and request information about it from me or even set up a showing – all online. The property photos appear as a slideshow as soon as you select the listing, but you can also view the photos in full-size by selecting the appropriate option below the photo slider.

While it was very important for me to develop a new visual search tool for you, I also wanted a search tool that had a lot under the hood – not just a bunch of pretty photos on a map. My new search feature offers plenty of home search tools besides the map search that will make selecting the right homes for you an easy, fun and interactive process. An integrated mortgage calculator can help you figure out an estimated monthly payment and the school and community information will allow you lean more about the area. There is even information about how close the home is to a grocery store or gas station. Finally, one of the newest tools available is an integrated Zillow Zestimate that will give you a rough idea of the value of the property. While many of these features have been available before on different websites, my new search tool integrates them into a single full-featured suite that will help you narrow down homes.

Another one of the newest features my search tool offers is an integrated Google Streetview for selected properties. On the property detail screen, select the “Maps” tab. A satellite map will open that shows you an overhead view of the neighborhood with the home you selected highlighted. When available, below this map is an integrated Google Streetview display that will allow you to see the outside of the home – even move up and down the street and see exactly where your selected home is in relation to the other homes in the subdivision. For homes without exterior photos or virtual tours, this will even allow you to see what the home looks like and what the other homes in the area look like.

If you haven’t already checked out my new property search, I would like to invite you to play around with it. Using it is completely free – you will eventually have to register to keep viewing properties but I think you’ll agree that it’s one of the most comprehensive property searches available. Check it out by clicking this link.

The Tanner Trails subdivision located off of Tanner Road in North Aurora is finally nearing completion despite a bankruptcy filed by the primary builder – Neumann Homes in October 2007. Many residents were concerned with the unfinished status of several of the streets and parks. However, in a decisive move, the Village of North Aurora utilized credit extended on the behalf of Neumann Homes to complete several projects around the community. The end result is an excellent community of just over 500 homes on over 350 acres of land surrounded by several parks, conservation areas and area hiking and biking trails.

Initial construction began in 2003 at Tanner Trails and it instanly became a popular place for buyers seeking large new homes at a reasonable price. Escalating home costs in 2004 and 2005 pushed home values in the subdivision from the low to the high $300,000’s yet interest in the homes remained brisk, even through the beginning of the market downturn in 2006. Currently, Tanner Trails represents a great place to look for resale values. Due to the size of the community, competition from the number of homes on the market continues to drive home prices downwards. If you’re looking for North Aurora homes for sale, make sure you keep Tanner Trails at the top of your list.

Buyers really have it good in today’s market. In some cases, too good. I have found in several circumstances that the extreme number of homes on the market right now is causing an interesting problem. The wide selection of choices available is causing some buyers to get “burnt out” of house hunting.

The problem begins with the buyers trying to see every home available in a certain market range. While this sounds like a pretty good strategy if you’re buying a home, consider that depending on the area and price range, a search of all homes available could yield hundreds of homes in the initial search with between 5 and 10 new homes appearing for sale every day. At first, buyers feel like kids in the candy store, but soon realize that going through hundreds of homes takes a lot of time and energy. Unfortunately this has caused many buyers to just give up on hunting altogether in frustration.

Back when we were at the crest of the housing wave and homes were selling rapidly, seeing every home out there made sense – there was less selection and buyers needed to often make quick choices. This made a “larger to smaller” approach to home searching make sense – there was a much smaller pool. In today’s market where there is an extreme housing glut, a “smaller to larger” approach makes more sense.

Buyers have to shift gears and be more selective in the initial searches. There are many great homes to choose from so chances are, you’ll be able to find exactly the home you’re looking for – it pays to be really picky in the beginning. If you don’t find what you’re looking for at first, then widen the search. Just remember a couple ground rules: the good homes still go fast even in today’s market. If you spend a week going through all your choices, by the end of that week, some of the best ones on your list will be gone. It’s better to start with a smaller list and add to it if you don’t find what you’re looking for. Also, don’t be afraid to go ahead and make an offer if a home you see fits your picture. I’ve worked with buyers that found the perfect home but wanted to continue to look and see “what else is out there” only to find that 3 days later, another buyer bought their perfect home while they were out looking at dogs. DONT LET THIS BE YOU!

Finally, it’s very important that you work closely with your REALTOR and be specific about your search requirements. If you’d only buy a home with a basement, it doesn’t make sense to see homes without one. If you’re thinking of looking for a home to buy this year, I’d love to talk to you about how I can make the search process easier. Just give me a call and I’d be happy to meet with you: 630-346-1041.

If you’re shopping in the $400-500,000 range, you really have the run of the store. You can pretty much choose your community, area and style of home. If a new home is on your shopping list, you might want to consider one of the custom homes located in The Reserves at Tanner Trails in North Aurora. There are currently several spec homes and builder models available in this community of custom and semi-custom homes located at the far western edge of North Aurora real estate.

R.A. Faganel Builders is currently offering a 4BR/2.5BA full-brick-front custom spec home packed with upgrades for around $435,000 and they’re also offering their builder model for sale featuring 4BR/3.5BA and over 3300 square feet with a natural stone front – also packed with upgrades for around $520,000. Another builder currently offering a spec home is Wyndham Deerpoint Builders who are offering a fully-built Richmond floorplan spec home featuring a gourmet kitchen with granite tops, 2-story fireplace and 4BR/4BA for right around $450,000. These prices and availablility is highly subject to change, so if you’re in the market to buy, jump on one of these deals before they’re gone.

I’ve seen a lot of folks predicting a lot of things about the housing market. First, know that real estate is local. Market conditions in other parts of the country will change differently than our area. I feel it’s impossible to “peg” the market in general as far as what’s going to happen. However, in our area, I see a lot of optimism for this year. Let’s take a look at the factors:

There hasn’t been a lot of market activity over the past couple years. Buyers have been waiting for a good deal. Foreclosures are moving briskly but there’s an ever-plentiful supply. This has made it difficult to impossible for existing home owners to move. This pressure has created pent-up demand in the market.

Mortgage rates are extremely low right now. Close to the levels they were back in 2005 before Greenspan messed them all up. Lenders have tightened restrictions but those that can buy will be getting a good deal on loan rates.

There is increasing national attention being put on the housing crisis and the extreme number of foreclosures. The government may be stepping in at some point this year to stem the tide of foreclosures. Once the foreclosures slow, values will begin to rise.

Rentals are now getting harder to find and rent prices are rising. Rent prices are now getting higher than the cost of owning a condo or single-family home. This increases the number of buyers in the market as renters decide it’s better to buy than pay more in rent.

We’re now entering the spring market – a naturally busy time. This should reduce inventory as buyers begin to take up the slack. If the number of foreclosures begins to slow, we’re going to see a further reduction in inventory for the fall. This points to the possibility of an uptick in the market beginning this fall. I predict conditions will remain flat during the spring and summer as the existing inventory begins to be eaten up by buyer demand but this fall we should see a slightly better market.

What does this mean for home buyers? If you haven’t yet entered the housing market, now is the time. You want to buy when the market is at or close to bottom – not after it has started to recover. If you’re looking for the point at where there’s the biggest inventory at the lowest prices, put yourself in the position to purchase this spring and summer.