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Austin among top searched real estate in U.S.

Austin Business Journal – by Staff Reports – January 11, 2011,

Austin was among the top ten most searched real estate markets last year, according to a recent Realtor.com report.

Las Vegas and Los Angeles came in first and second most searched markets every month last year, while Orlando, Fla.; San Antonio and Miami vied for the third, fourth and fifth most searched respectively. Phoenix, San Diego, Austin, Tampa, Fla. and Chicago, held the sixth through 10 positions for most months in 2010.

Austin ranked highest in October last year, coming in fourth most searched that month. The city didn't appear at all on the top 10 in the first three months last year, then moved mostly between eighth and 10th.

The rankings were based on the number of visitors that viewed properties in each MSA from January 2010 to December 2010 on Realtor.com, operated by Move Inc. (Nasdaq: MOVE).

Despite changing market conditions, the nation's most-searched destinations remained remarkably consistent, officials said, focusing on the sunshine states of California, Nevada, Florida, Texas and Arizona.

"As the number one homes for sale website, searches on Realtor.com show us where the highest potential for activity is across the country. Changing conditions throughout 2010 in the sunshine states resulting from foreclosures, the tax credit, interest rates and other factors created more interest in real estate compared to other states," Realtor.com President Errol Samuelson said.