RISMEDIA, January 12, 2011—While many real estate markets in 2010 experienced extraordinary highs and lows in response to tax credits, low interest rates and price swings, consumer interest in real estate remained consistent. Las Vegas and Los Angeles came in as the first and second most searched markets every month in 2010, while Orlando, San Antonio and Miami vied as the third, fourth and fifth most searched cities respectively. Phoenix, San Diego, Austin, Tampa and Chicago, in that order, held the sixth through tenth positions as the most searched markets in 2010.
The top ten most searched real estate markets in 2010 were established based on the number of visitors that viewed properties in each Metro Service Area (MSA) in the United States from January 2010 to December 2010 on Realtor.com, one of the leading homes-for-sale websites operated by Move, Inc., a leader in online real estate.
In early 2010, home sales and prices rose throughout the country faster than they had for several years. This was largely in response to the Federal home buyer tax credit for first-time and repeat buyers. After the Federal home buyer tax credit expired at the end of April 2010, sales slowed throughout the country in summer and fall 2010—even though mortgage rates remained low, and dropped below 4% in the fall. List prices and actual sale prices continued to fluctuate in response to sales, foreclosure, and other trends throughout 2010.
Despite changing market conditions in 2010, the nation’s most searched destinations remained remarkably consistent, focusing on the sunshine states of California, Nevada, Florida, Texas and Arizona.
“Online search is a critical measure of interest in real estate, especially now that more than 90 percent of buyers search for their homes online,” said Realtor.com President, Errol Samuelson. “As the number one homes for sale website, searches on Realtor.com show us where the highest potential for activity is across the country. Changing conditions throughout 2010 in the sunshine states resulting from foreclosures, the tax credit, interest rates and other factors created more interest in real estate compared to other states that we hope leads to increased activity and sales in 2011.”
For more information, visit www.Realtor.com and www.move.com.
