When it comes to home buying, millennials are much more traditional than previously believed, according to a recent survey of 2,050 Americans aged 18 to 34 conducted by CentSai, the financial wellness community.

Three-quarters (75%) of respondents said that they would use a local real estate agent instead of an online agent, reports CentSai. Almost three-quarters (71%) said they would choose a local lender.

This is in stark contrast to recent data showing approximately 69% of all home buyers would apply for a mortgage online.

Online mortgage lending and brokerage services are expected to transform home buying, but millennials surveyed by CentSai said that – contrary to popular belief – they prefer local providers due to existing relationships and local knowledge.

"We were surprised to learn that online providers are not yet as big a disruptor in this sector as we first thought, despite purported cost savings," said Doria Lavagnino, CentSai co-founder and president. "We found that millennials place a high value on the personal touch and knowledge of a local agent. Buying a home for the first time is daunting, and working with a local agent – particularly an agent referred by a parent or friend – could provide peace of mind."

Likewise, the survey reveals that online real estate agents seem less popular with millennials than expected, despite advertising cheaper overall service via mobile apps. That said, the vast majority (91%) of millennials surveyed said they would use an online site or mobile app to research neighborhoods and home prices and to identify houses that they might buy.

The survey respondents cited various reasons for going local, including personal touch and handholding, longstanding relationships, local knowledge, and amount of hassle.

More than half (56%) of the millennials surveyed by CentSai plan to purchase a house in the next two years. Of the 44% who said that they did not plan to buy a house in the next two years, more than two-thirds (68%) said that they are not buying because they cannot afford to do so. Only 12% said they preferred the freedom of renting, and 10% cited student loan debt as a reason not to buy in the next two years.