In 2022, we can do pretty much everything online – from shopping, doctor’s appointments, banking, dating, and business meetings, pretty much everything is now automated or available in the online realm. But what about buying a house? Thanks to the internet, fast smart devices, and increased digital literacy as well as accessibility, it is now entirely possible to buy a home from the comfort of your sofa, desk, or wherever your phone might be. Sound crazy? Read on!
Getting financing
There is no need to go traipsing around banks or mortgage broker offices in 2022. Now, the entire mortgage process can be done online, starting with finding the perfect deal. You can start off with mortgage advice from Trussle, who bring together all the best deals from leading providers, sorted as per your criteria and specifications. Pre-digital era, you’d have to schedule appointments at local brick-and-mortar offices just to get the ball rolling. However, nowadays a simple click of a button or phone call can kickstart the process of setting up a mortgage in principle or the real deal itself.
With this easy accessibility, online services save you a significant amount of time and enable you to compare different offerings to find the one that suits you best. In addition to making the process easier, using this service can even help you save money on your mortgage repayments and initial fees. Furthermore, research shows that buyers find online brokers more trustworthy and have more faith in them providing the best deals. Once you find the deal you want, you can progress digitally with most providers, meaning you don’t need even to set foot in an office even once.
Finding the right home
When you’ve got your mortgage in principle or just a better idea of what you are after, you can start looking for the perfect property. Previously, this would have meant visiting regional estate agent offices or constantly checking over the classifieds in the paper. However, thanks to the internet, things have changed. Now, there are powerful real estate search engines that can sift through thousands of properties in seconds, finding those that meet your needs in terms of size, location, and price.
You can even drill down into exact requirements with sites such as Rightmove, Zoopla and OnTheMarket. These websites allow you to select options like street and property features, sorting the houses available by price, date added, or applicability. This saves weeks and months and makes finding your dream property much easier.
Looking around
Now comes the interesting part. While many people want to look around in person before buying, sometimes it is not always possible. In addition, if interested in multiple properties, it can be beneficial to view them online before narrowing them down to just two. Thanks to technology and the internet, this is now possible. As reported in this article by the BBC, not only can you view pre-recorded walkthroughs, but new methods are being developed and rolled out. For example, AR and VR are now employed to help buyers make decisions.
Walkthroughs with or without headsets can be created, allowing buyers to explore at their own pace. AR can also be used to allow interested parties to try out paint colors, change fittings, and even experiment with putting furniture in. While this kind of experience is still in its infancy, it is possible, and we can expect it to drastically change things in the future.
Sealing the deal
Last but not least, sealing the deal can also be done online. The majority of us bank via apps and can make all necessary transfers with a simple swipe of the thumb. Likewise, legal documents can be filled out and signed via computer or laptop and sent back to the recipients in a matter of seconds.
In the coming years, blockchain technology will likely have a part to play as we will see the sale process managed by smart contracts. These are self-executing contracts that enable the process to move along without management from a third party.
