It used to be when someone wanted to buy a home they rode around in the back seat of a real estate agent's car until they either found a property they liked, or both parties became exhausted and postponed the buying decision. But times have changed.

According to recent research by the National Association of Realtors, eight buyers out of 10 begin their search by checking available properties listed on the Internet before they even talk to a real estate agent or physically view any properties at all. A growing number of consumers are finding there are many benefits to taking the online route in their initial home search.

Through the Internet, a potential homebuyer can see many properties and their specifications quickly.

Listings on the Internet usually include at least one picture of the home. Increasingly, however, more Internet property listings now have three-dimensional, panoramic 360-degree views of the property, which gives prospective buyers an even better idea of what the interior and exterior of the home is like.

In addition to viewing the physical appearance of a potential home through the Internet, buyers can also check out various neighborhoods including their proximity to important features such as schools, churches, shopping and other amenities. Other useful information that can be found on the Internet includes an area's traffic patterns, tax rates, and crime statistics.

Potential homebuyers who use the Internet for their initial search often are able to eliminate a large number of properties and neighborhoods that might be less suited to their needs and tastes, and concentrate on the few that are probable prospective choices.

The Internet does not eliminate the need for a real estate agent or to visit potential properties, however. It just makes the process more efficient, organized, and oftentimes less frustrating. Typically, the Internet-savvy consumer sees fewer properties than in the old days, spends less time on the search process, makes a more informed decision and ends up more satisfied than was possible before this new technology became available.

While there are a number of good sites available on the Internet to choose from, the best Eastern Connecticut site to search for properties is the Association's web site at easternctrealtors.com. The site utilizes the new Web site created by the Connecticut Multiple Listing Service at CTReal.com. You can find listings using a mapping feature, searching by town, or even by listing number. Check it out, you'll find it very useful.

If you are considering relocation to another part of the country, the most comprehensive site is realtor.com, the proprietary site of the National Association of REALTORS® and the premier source of home buying, selling and virtually all housing and shelter issues. Realtor.com contains the lion's share of the nation's listings, with more than 90 percent of the available listings posted at one time. It is constantly being updated, and covers the entire country (and Canada). The information is free, timely, and besides property listings, the site contains a wealth of background information for the consumer interested in homes. It should be the cornerstone of any search.

Visit our web site at easternctrealtors.com and our blog at ECARVoice.com.

Merry Cassabria is president and state director of the Eastern Connecticut Association of REALTORS®