You can order groceries online. Get insurance online. Even buy a car online. And you might even think you can essentially buy a house online.

But not really. While 96% of buyers begin their home search online, real estate agents continue to be the most used resource to guide buyers through this infrequent, complex transaction. And for most the single largest purchase most people will make in their lifetime.

And there are good reasons why people need the help.

The internet is a great resource, but it also has its limitations. There are tons of opinions and data and sources about buying a home. But what's reliable? How do you make sense of seemingly infinite information? With so many options, how do you make choices?

In reality, the widespread proliferation of resources and information often leaves home buyers feeling overloaded and overwhelmed.

As home buying experts, local real estate agents – like Realtors® who are part of the Silver City Regional Association of Realtors – help consumers navigate what is for many the most complex and important transaction they'll ever do.

Real estate agents who are Realtors® know the Grant County community like you wouldn't believe. They know local, county and state property taxes. They decipher public property information. They advise on price trends, schools and neighborhoods.

Real estate agents who are Realtors® understand the financial aspects of a purchase. They know how to work with lenders. They stay up to speed on mortgage rates and terms. They coordinate appraisals and inspections.

Real estate agents who are Realtors® manage the legal parts of your purchase. They work with attorneys on legal reviews. They make sense of all required state and federal forms. They handle closing documents.

Two decades ago, at the height of the dot-com boom, the conventional wisdom held that technology would render the real estate agent obsolete. That could not have been further from the truth then and still is not true today. But what is true is that technology is playing an increasingly important role for real estate agents as they work with and advise people in the home purchase process.

There's no question that technology is a powerful tool in the home search and buying process. But it's a matter of knowing how to use it and knowing what you can't know even searching on the seemingly all-knowing internet. Thanks to members of the Silver City Regional Association of Realtors, you don't have to go it alone.