A growing number of real estate brokerages are offering home buyers a “one-stop-shopping” option, including home loans and title services, according to a recent survey by marketing firm Imprev, Inc.
The company’s 2013 Thought Leader Survey found that 75 percent of top real estate brokerages surveyed offer at least one major ancillary service. Most of those firms (89 percent) offer home loans; 71 percent offer title services; and 49 percent offer home warranty services.
The trend is being driven by consumer demand for a simpler home-buying experience. Imprev cited a 2011 consumer preference study by the National Association of Realtors and Harris Interactive, which found that three-quarters of home buyers believed that one-stop shopping would save them money, while making the home buying process simpler, more efficient and more convenient.
Michael Lewis is Managing Editor at the National Notary Association.