Hamilton Herald Masthead

Editorial


Front Page - Friday, July 12, 2019

Homebuyers prefer shorter commute times over other house features




I know many people but I don’t know anyone who loves sitting in traffic. Sitting still on the road keeps us from doing what we want to do – and I hate it.

I’m not alone. Commute time is very important to buyers when they’re choosing a home to purchase, an article for Realtor Magazine titled “Homebuyers rank commute time above square footage” reports.

Eighty-five percent of buyers say they would sacrifice other home features – including lot size, square footage and home style – to shorten their commute to work, the survey of more than 600 realtor.com users found. Forty percent say they’re looking to reduce their commute time by up to 45 minutes.

Because of this survey, realtor.com has announced a new tool that enables buyers to filter their home-search results by rush-hour and off-peak commute times.

“Our commute time filter gives buyers the ability to toggle between rush-hour and off-peak commute times,” Chung Meng Cheong, chief procurement officer for realtor.com, tells Realtor Magazine. “With a more holistic view of their drive to and from work, people are able to make more informed decisions about where to live and hopefully reduce some unnecessary stress from their daily lives.”

Homebuyers can enter basic search information, such as number of bedrooms, bathrooms and location desired. They can then filter listings to match their preferred commute time, says the article on Realtor Magazine.

The article goes on to say commute times are offered in 10-minute increments up to 60 minutes or more.

All of the available homes that match the search parameters and commuting distance are then displayed.

Listening to our clients and their needs when they’re searching for property is one of the most important roles of a Realtor. Realtors use the latest in technology to better serve our community. That’s Who We R.

Greater Chattanooga Realtors is the voice of real estate in Greater Chattanooga. A regional organization with more than 2,000 members, Greater Chattanooga Realtors is one of some 1,300 local boards and associations of Realtors nationwide that comprise the National Association of Realtors. Greater Chattanooga Realtors services Hamilton and Sequatchie counties in southeast Tennessee and Catoosa, Dade and Walker counties in northwest Georgia. Information: www.gcar.net or call 423 698-8001.