Clicking For Condos

But buyers need to be aware that BirdsEyeSearch and other sites that pull their listings from broker databases do not contain every available property in the condosphere. One big drawback to these sites is that new condos -- often advertised through in-house sales agents, not brokers -- are missing. To find your dream pad, you may have to visit a sales office. There are also sites which serve up information on new developments, like OnlyNewCondos.com, another Odio project.

Even consumers who did not grow up with the Internet are coming to rely on its resources.

Doug Meyers, a 47-year-old defense contractor, is using ArlingtonCondo.com to monitor the local market before he bids on any units. Meyers, who currently lives in a Washington rowhouse, plans to sell it and move to Arlington.

Meyers said he appreciates ArlingtonCondo's ability to search within specific buildings and quickly suss out details like property amenities, year built, photos and, most importantly, current prices and past sales going back to 2000. The site describes nearly every condo development in Arlington, even proposed developments and properties under construction.

Having now tracked the site for a year, Meyers considers himself a knowledgeable consumer.

In fact, Meyers is so plugged in, he wonders about the day when realtors might become obsolete.

"The percentage and the rates that they charge haven't gone down, but it seems to me that people can pretty much find what they're looking for without a realtor," he said.

Meyers believes real-estate agents ought to be more flexible with the commissions they charge, now that they do less work.

But he admits he will need Bosl to wade through all the paperwork and to unlock the properties. Coincidentally, Meyers is looking to purchase a two bedroom in Clarendon 1021 for between $600,000 and $700,000.

Bosl agrees that the Web has changed the nature of his work -- for the better. "Some realtors tell me I give away too much info and that I should be withholding it until I get some information from the user. I say, 'Welcome to the Internet Age,' " he said. "There are still a lot of dinosaurs in real estate who think their power comes by controlling information."

Before the Web, realtors reigned over particular communities, refusing to share information with other agents. Consumers had to work with numerous brokers to see everything that was available.

Eventually, the development of the multiple listing service fostered cooperation between brokers. Then, when the Web came along and provided public access to the multiple listing service, realtors had to alter their business approach.