No.

It may change how and who does business but there will be the need for representation.  

I think we still have a safe career for awhile, people will always want to see a place in person. The only time I can see the entire viewing, sales, closing process being able to be done online is if Virtual reality ever takes off and you can literally tour any home in a life like way from your current home. 

It's possible in a distant future with Facebook buying Oculus for a billion dollars there are certainly companies working on virtual reality.

We definitely have a surplus of several hundred thousand real estate agents. And, many of them have antiquated thinking and practices. The roles of real estate professionals are rapidly changing.

No.  It has made it easier for home buyers/sellers to see what is available and what someone else thinks a property is "worth" but there is still too much legality involved in buying or selling a property for me to worry about it.  I choose to embrace the technology that deliveres ready and willing clients to my office door steps :)
Spirit

Oh Chris and Dick I loved that answer.

My response is no, we are still needed. I don't mind my clients doing some research, I feel it adds validity to what I'm telling them; it can help narrow down what they want in a home. Also, we are kept up to date on the new laws and quite frankly, what stops many people selling or buying their own house is that they don't want to have to think or hassle with everything. I also think more lawsuits will incur without us. Granted it was Facebook, but I read an article that talked about a buyer suing the LA and seller for not disclosing the house they bought was infested with dangerous snakes. Personally, I think without agents, a lot more dishonesty will happen. Sure some people think there's nothing to selling a house, but we all know that's not true.

Doubtful

I don't think so.  I have had some buyers say they could google everything they needed to know and they didn't need a real estate agent. They tried purchasing a fsbo then gave me a call when things were not working the way they intended.  The ended up purchasing and have called me since for more business.  We as Realtors add a lot of value.

No as you need a human to open the door and write a contract.  Unless with get realtor robots!

Realtors are necessary. What technology doesn't take into account is the "Human Factor"  At the end of the day, our buyers and sellers, want a live person to talk too and  someone to listen to their concerns.

e v e n t u a l l y

I personally think it will change the way we "do" business but not put us "out" of business.  Dealing with appraisals, inspections, conflicts, title problems, etc. can't be handled by a simple on line search.

Tony Lewis Who is going to show the property and insure the transaction is successful to the closing. If this were true, we see a whole lot more FSBO's.

NO WAY, a buyer can find a home online but then they need to be pre-qualified, they need to see the home, they need to make a good offer, they need to do inspections, they need help with their mortgage, what do they do if something is found in the inspection process? Then there is communication, updates and the glue that holds the sale together, 

Good morning Tony. I don't see it that way at all. It will enhance the need, as long as you build a referral based business.

I do not think it will make it obsolete. It will make it harder to turn a profit.

Tony - The internet has certainly changed the way people search for homes, but I don't think it can replace writing a offer, negotiations, inspections, addendum's, disclosures, securing a loan, and everything else that has to do with the actual process of buying or selling a home.

Tony Lewis - actually Internet is helping us!

You could not have blogged if Internet was not there!

No it is a people business and people like to look a Realtor in the eye, face to face. Even FaceTime can't replace this. 

The internet didn't place my ads for open house today, The internet didn't design, order, pay for, and mail my post cards announcing the open house, the internet didn't put up and take down my 7 directional signs, the internet didn't host my open house for 3 hours, the internet didn't but the ink so i could print fliers, the internet didnt't go to the store and buy snacks etc for my open house, the internet wasn't available to meet and interview visitors to my open house, the internet didn't turn off all the lights and locks the doors for me at my open house, the internet didn't take all the photos I needed to market the house, the internet didn't place all the ads I used to promote the open house, the internet didn't report results to the sellers, the intrent wasn't there when we signed the listing agreement, the internet didn't do the cma and suggest list price to seller, the internet never picks up my buyers and drives them around to view houses, the internet doesn't pay my MLS or realtor association dues, the internet doesn't answer my phone or reply to texts or emails, the internet didn't meet my buyers home inspector and spend 4 hours at the house with them, etc, etc, etc....

I do not feel that the internet is going to make the job of the Realtor obsolete. The home is one of the most expensive purchases you will make, so why wouldnt you want to visit the home in person? 

Last week, I received two phone different phone calls from potential clients which said they wanted to see a home listed for sale. However, when I checked out the addresses in the MLS they were not for sale. The websites they had received their information from did not bother to update from 2 years ago when the houses sold. 

I have also seen houses that look wonderful on the MLS, but when you get to the home, it is much smaller than in the photos. 

No no and no. For some consumers perhaps, but by no means, for all. The public is vastly mistaken if they think they know as much as Realtors who have sold hundreds of homes.

If Zwestimates become accurate, maybe. Otherwise, no.

The Internet has made the searching process shorter, however. 

No way, the internet does not analyze trends.

It makes the value of our profession different than in the past. People can get some information much easier without using an agent. But getting accurate information is a different story. Accuracy, complex legal forms, disclosures issues, IMO the reasons people should use a good agent are even more important now.

 No.  It has and will change but there will always be a need for real estate professionals.

They can research all they like but who is going to unlock the Supra?