While technology is reshaping the way Americans search for homes, most homebuyers still want to consult with mortgage and real estate professionals before buying, according to a survey released today by JPMorgan Chase. Sixty-eight percent of potential buyers start searching on their own — and 53 percent primarily use digital devices to conduct that search. But about three-quarters prefer to meet with a mortgage professional to explore financing options and a similar share still believe a real estate agent is essential to the process.
Buying a home tops the list of purchases Americans are saving for, and eight in 10 believe that people should start saving for a home in their twenties. And while the top-listed reason for owning a home is having a place to raise a family, the second-ranked reason was for investment purposes. Two-thirds of respondents said they believed the value of their home would rise over the next five years.
