Every year, Properties Online compiles a report compiling highly relevant real estate statistical information from a variety of sources, including the National Association of REALTORS®, the California Association of REALTORS®, RealEstateSites.com and 15,000 single property websites. The report provides a comprehensive look at real estate tech trends – invaluable information for today's real estate professional.

The internet and agents – together they're the magic mix

Ninety percent of home buyers use the internet to search for homes, with 52% using it as a first step. Eighty-seven percent of home buyers used an agent to search, with 89 percent using an agent to actually purchase a home once they found one. This figure has risen from 69 percent since 2001.

Home buyers are relying heavily on online sources and their agents to provide information, with decreasing use of some sources, such as newspapers and open houses. Agents found purchased homes for 34 percent of respondents, while 42 percent found the home they ultimately purchased on the internet. For Sale By Owner, beware. Only 2 percent of respondents bought their house this way.

An internet presence is crucial to success in today's real estate market. Sixty percent of buyers Googled their agent before hiring. And both buyers (70 percent) and sellers (75 percent) are looking primarily to the internet to find an agent.