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There are a lot of websites out there that will provide you information regarding the real estate in the area. One of the most important things to know is that Texas is a non-disclosure state, meaning that when a property sells, it is not disclosed to the general public or to companies who are seeking that information. So a lot of times the Internet platforms are guesstimating what a house sold for. A lot of times you can get your hands on the mortgage information, but, a lot of these internet sites work on the 80/20 principle. That 20% was put down and the mortgage is for 80% of the sales price of the home, and that is not always the case, especially not here in Texas and in today's current market. 

We're seeing more buyers putting down significant amounts, which then make the loan amount much less than the 80% that we see a lot of times. This then creates a disparity of information as you go on the Internet and you see what homes sold for, that may not be anywhere near what a home has sold for. In addition to that, the status of a home could also be wildly inaccurate. For instance, in the state of Texas, we have statuses that are active, active kickout, active contingent. All these will register on these internet platforms as active, which indicates to a buyer looking on the Internet that these properties are available. However, active and active kickout, yes, those are available. But active contingent or active option contract, those homes are not currently available. So one of the best things that you can do is get set up on a search with a real estate agent who will provide you information from the MLS so that you know as soon as the property goes on the market and under contract.

We also have to remember that a lot of these internet platforms are providing new information based on the general rule of thumb in the entire country. However, mortgages,  property values, and taxation rates differ greatly across the country and we need to make sure that when we are looking at Internet information, that it is not just general information and the best way to find that out as to contact a real estate agent. 

Real estate agents also have access to houses that are not even on the market yet. There's a lot of networking that goes on with agents. And so we know a lot of times about house that's coming on the market even before it goes on the market.

Although I love the Internet, when it comes to one of the largest financial purchases that you will ever make in your life, you really need to seek out a professional to help you do so. A professional will be able to provide you all that information so that you can make the best decision possible for yourself and your family.