The real estate market goes through highs and lows just like every other industry in the country. After the 2009 recession, the market was on the brink of collapse which led to great prices for buyers but brokers had trouble finding clients.
Ten years later, the internet has revamped the way buyers search for real estate. Buyers used to go browsing on their desktop computers, but now mobile apps have made house hunting even easier.
Mobile apps can be downloaded for free or for a monthly fee through the iPhone or Android app store. Real estate apps allow users to filter results by school district, location, and price.
They can also send a message directly to the realtor or seller to inquire about the property. If you want to see the newest homes for sale in Rio Rancho, for example, then read our guide to the best real estate apps.
1. Dwellr
Launched in 2013, the Dwellr app was created by the U.S. Census Bureau to help Americans find homes. Information is collected through the American Community Survey–a yearly survey conducted by the census bureau to uncover the economic and social demographics of a region.
For years, urban planners, developers, and public officials have used the survey to decide where to allocate funds and projects. Now, the information is used to help local residents go house hunting.
Through the Dwellr app, users can learn more about the top residential communities in the U.S. based on their preferences. Users can also leave reviews, rate locations and create a profile allowing them to interact with each other.
Users can also set their preferences to find maps of the top places in the country and share their findings via Twitter and Facebook.
2. Zillow
Zillow is probably one of the most well-known, and downloaded, house hunting apps in the Apple and Google Play stores.
Zillow’s desktop site has been popular for years with its user-friendly interface. Users can list or browse homes, apartments, and condos for sale or rent. They can also get a Zestimate on the market value of their current home.
Zillow also has calculators that provide information on current mortgage rates including fixed-rate and APR terms.
The mobile app has the same features as the desktop version. The Zillow app showcases over 100 million homes all over the country and allows you to filter results by size and school district.
You can also get personalized loan quotes by submitting information about your zip code, purchase price, down payment, and credit score.
Much like the desktop site, the Zillow app is user-friendly with a simple interface.
3. Trulia
Trulia gives users an insider look into the real estate market with home price maps, U.S. property records, and data on the latest stats and trends.
The home price map is an interactive tool that lets you set the desired listing price, valuation, and sale price per square foot. It also lists the average listing and sales price for each state.
The Trulia team has also curated a real estate guide for each state with sales statistics, price trends and market activity.
With the mobile app, users can access desktop features and browse photos of homes with special features.
4. Xome
Sellers can list their home on the Xome marketplace for a flat fee and gain access to a wide array of services. Xome connects sellers with a real estate agent that handles everything from showings and photos to negotiating offers.
If your home is sold through Xome, you receive at least 1% back on the purchase price.
Xome also works with other house finder apps like Zillow, Trulia, and Realtor.com to post listings on their sites.
Users can speak to the Xome concierge service, the site’s support team, to handle any questions or concerns.
The mobile app lets you schedule home tours and speak to Xome agents.
5. Homesnap
Homesnap integrates some of the best features of social media into a house finder app.
Users can snap a picture of a property they’re interested in and Homesnap will pull information about the home from its database.
For real estate agents, Homesnap Pro University teaches brokers how to create your own profile and connect with clients.
Homsnap uses real-time data to let users know about upcoming sales and contracts. You can also search property history and lines.
6. Doorsteps Swipe
Doorsteps lets you swipe to accept or reject listings. It’s similar to Tinder with the swipe option.
The desktop site is colorful and interactive with graphics for each major city. Doorsteps focuses on apartments and homes for rent.
You can browse homes by neighborhood and read articles that highlight local culture and gives tips about residential life.
On the app, click “like” on the listings that stand out to you and Doorsteps organizes them by location. The app also uses search algorithms to pinpoint the features you like the most in homes such as multiple bathrooms.
7. Realtor.com
The realtor.com desktop site is a staple in the real estate community. Not only does it give information about local listings, it helps users find mortgage lenders in their area and provides real-time data on mortgage trends.
Their blog offers advice on financial stability and finding the right loan for you. The My Home feature gives homeowners access to valuation and equity information on their property.
If you’re looking to remodel, My Home offers remodeling tips and access to home financing options.
The app helps you pinpoint your search using filters for real-time information on schools and districts.
8. Redfin
Redfin provides its own full-service agents to help users with listings.
The app integrates modern technology with buyer needs by offering virtual 3D home tours, new listing notifications, and online bidding wars.
Users can track the interest in their listing by referring to the My Redfin dashboard. Charts and graphs tell you how many people see your listing and what Redfin is doing to market your property.
The app also helps you organize offers through the Deal Room feature.
They walk you through the process with the required documents and activities like ordering an insurance policy.
9. Local Real Estate Apps
Mainstream house-hunting apps aren’t for everybody, and many local realtors have created their own house hunting apps to service their community.
To find these apps, do a search on your Google Play or Apple store. You can also search their websites because most realtors will provide a link to their app on their desktop site.
These apps service a smaller community so realtors can offer a personalized experience to users.
Learn More About The Best Real Estate Apps
Hopefully, our guide to the best real estate apps will help you find new clients for your agency. Our blog is filled with tips to help you promote your agency and build your clientele. Be sure to check out our business resources section to find more tips about real estate.