negotiations

I believe that I have found the single most stressful thing in the world: buying a home.

We have begun the arduous process of making offers and counter-offers, demands and concessions. I lost plenty of sleep a few nights ago, worrying over downpayments, interest rates, and the like. I'm at the point now where I can't wait for the whole process to be over with. I've read more legal documents and signed more things in the past three days than I think I have in the past three years. The worst part is, there's much more to come. I'm sure it will all be worth it, though, when we're doing the happy dance in the middle of our newly purchased home. Right?

One thing that this ordeal has taught me however is the permeance that technology and the Internet in particular is gaining within society. Realtor.com, for instance, was absolutely invaluable during our home search. With the wealth of information that this and other similar services have, I'm surprised that anyone would ever need to visit a realtor in person to search for homes. You enter your preferences, and instantly get just about every home that falls within your price range and specifications, complete with pictures, detailed descriptions, and maps. This is a perfect win-win-win situation. The buyer has an easier time searching for a home, the seller gets more exposure for the home, and the realtor has less work to do.