MOVING WITH THE TIMES.

Byline: Sherri Buri McDonald The Register-Guard

Linda Falcone, a Eugene-based RE/MAX Realtor who began her career in Phoenix 24 years ago, remembers when her life was ruled by a tyrannical pager. It would beep, and she would dash to the nearest phone - usually a phone booth where she would have to stand in stifling 100-degree heat.

"It seems like the Stone Ages now," she said

Falcone said she was so relieved when mobile phones were introduced that she was the 11th person in Phoenix to buy one back in 1981. The bulky device was mounted on the floor of her car and cost $1,500, plus more than $1 a minute.

These days Falcone routinely communicates with clients via cell phone and e-mail, and relies on a range of other gadgets, including a Palm Pilot and digital camera.

In the past decade, technology has transformed the real estate profession in big and small ways. It has changed the way houses are bought and sold, how real estate agents do their job, and the dynamics between consumers and their agents.

Despite all the changes, however, real estate agents don't think technology will make them obsolete.

"In some way or another, Realtors will stay central to the transaction because most people are not comfortable buying and selling real estate themselves," said Cory Neu, president of the Eugene Association of Realtors.

Sellers have discovered a wealth of information on the Web, including sites such as zillow.com that help them figure out the value of their house.

"There is a greater instance of people trying to sell their property themselves because of the Internet," said Barry Wardell, director of franchisee relations with Assist-2-Sell, a Reno-based low-cost, full-service brokerage. "The level of success has not been phenomenal," however, he said.

Buyers, too, are flocking to the Internet, to view listings and photos of houses for sale.

Finding the right house, however, is only a small part of the overall buying process, said Bob Percy, principal broker at John L. Scott real estate, a Eugene realty.

"There's a lot that comes after you find a house that isn't affected by technology," he said, including making an offer, negotiating with the seller, overseeing inspections and closing the sale.

Even though buyers are doing more of their own legwork online, most still hire a real estate agent, according to a recent survey by the California Association of Realtors. Nearly all (97 percent) of traditional buyers hired an agent; and 83 percent of Internet buyers hired an agent, the survey found.

There's no denying that the Internet has changed the way houses are marketed. Since 2001, the share of people using the Internet to help them find a house to buy has nearly doubled, to 70 percent, the California survey found.

With the ability to go online and browse through property listings - once the sole domain of real estate agents - consumers have more control over the buying process, real estate experts said.

In Oregon, the multiple listing service published its listings in a phone-directory size book for real estate agents until 2000, when the books were discontinued and the data was only available online.

Information in the books was at least two weeks old because that's how long it took to print it, said Neu, who is on the board of directors of the multiple listings service based in Portland.

But old habits die hard, and real estate agents were accustomed to controlling the listing information.

"When we talked about taking that book away from the membership, there was a huge outcry, even though that information was so stale," Neu recalled.

These days, agents access the multiple listings via computer, or they can download them to a PDA, such as a Palm Pilot.

"We've gone from these big ugly books to having everything in a Palm," Falcone said.

In today's Internet age, where eager buyers can peruse listings the minute they're posted, many consumers expect their real estate agents to be more accessible and responsive than ever.

"Consumers want to be informed about activities going on in their transaction" said Ken Howe, technology director for Prudential Real Estate Professionals. "They want to be in touch with us more than before."

And when they need information, tomorrow isn't soon enough, according to the California Association of Realtors survey.

Almost half of consumers who requested information from an agent through the Internet, expected a response within two hours, the survey found.

Nearly a quarter expected to hear back in 5 minutes.

"What it means to our people is we have to be available and more responsive during more hours of the day," Howe said.

That has led to staffing changes at Prudential since it began listing properties on the Internet nearly two years ago.

"We have staff people who work seven days a week, until 9 or 10 at night," Howe said. "Our goal is to speak with (customers) within 5 minutes of making the request."

Another key difference between Internet and traditional buyers is that those using the Internet spend more time doing their homework before they call up an agent.

"Consumers - especially buyers - are more educated by the time they get an agent involved," Neu said.

Internet consumers spend on average nearly six weeks researching the market and listings before they contact a real estate agent, whereas traditional consumers spend only two weeks, the survey found.

"In the past, when people got to town they found a real estate agent who drove them around," said Chris Suarez, a RE/MAX real estate agent. "Now they're getting around town online before they even contact an agent."

Suarez estimates that 70 percent of his business is conducted through the Internet.

"I've had people buy a home strictly from photos," he said, adding that he has created virtual walk-throughs of houses and e-mailed the audio or video files to clients out-of-state.

He stays in touch with clients by e-mailing them throughout the day.

"People love it and it keeps me, as an agent, connected with my buyers and sellers day-by-day," he said.

Suarez, 27, belongs to the new generation of real estate agents, who never had to do the job without the Internet, PDAs, laptops and cell phones.

But Falcone, 57, remembers Two years ago, when Verizon introduced a wireless hands-free headset, Falcone said she was at the head of the line. She downloads property listings to her Palm Pilot, which she can consult throughout the day wherever she is, and she can clip that device into a cradle that electronically opens key lock boxes at homes she's showing.

Falcone has turned her leased BMW SUV into a virtual office, with a wireless laptop computer and portable printer/copier/fax.

"In real estate you can work long hours, and all of these things can make your life so much more efficient," she said.

CAPTION(S):

RE/MAX Realtor Linda Falcone relies on a variety of gadgets, including a cell phone and a Palm Pilot, to keep in touch with her clients. Falcone found her first car phone recently while cleaning out the garage. Captionf=PoyGT Black s=9.5oSourceCaptionInfo: RE/MAX Realtor Linda Falcone uses a cell phone with headset and email to keep in touch with clients. She downloads multiple listings into her palm pilot and can clip that device into a cradle to electronically open lockboxes at homes she's showing. She has turned her BMW SUV into a mobile office. (CHRIS PIETSCH/The Register-Guard)