I agree that there are alot of things the Internet can do to improve the process and reduce some costs. For example, i have always felt that title insurance is one of the areas consumers get taken for a ride on. I actually found a SD Company that put all the title insurance state filed rates on the internet and allows for comparison shopping. It is illegal for them to go below those rates but it is difficult to get those best rates unless you know what they are and ask for them. I always do now and typically save my clients about 30% on their title insurance premiums.

The problem with Internetizing RE transactions is that everyone is diferent and there tends to be a ton of conflict resolution/troubleshooting that rules cant account for. There are lots of emotions involved and principals often stand on ceremony over a couple hundred dollars to their own detriment.