Home Buyer & Seller Statistics:

Information Sources Used in Home Search-Here's where homebuyers looked for their new home...

Real estate agent - 84%

Internet -84%

Yard sign - 59%

Open house - 48%

Home book/magazine - 31%

Builders - 24%

Television - 9%

Billboard - 7%

Relocation company - 5%

Other Interesting Buyer Facts:

Active home search (median):
Number of Weeks Searched - 8
Number of Homes seen - 9

Method of Home Purchase, By Use of Internet:
Agent/Broker - 81%
Direct from Builder - 10%
Direct from previous owner whom buyer didn't know - 5%

Definitely would use same agent again: 68%

Actions taken as result of using Internet site: 
Drove by/viewed a home - 73%
Walked through a home viewed online- 57%
Found agent used to search/buy home - 23%

Prior Living Arrangement:
Owned previous residence- 47%
Rented an apartment or house - 41%
Lived with parents, relatives or friends- 9%

Source:
2007 National Association of REALTORS Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers