Consider this scenario.
It’s the early nineties. You’re on the hunt for a house. Cutting through the bits and pieces of local classifieds, identifying ”for sale” signs in various localities, and trying not to get convinced by your network of realtors into buying a certain property. Your hair, as a fine litmus of your bodily conditions, has almost turned grey amidst all these stressful undertakings.
Thankfully (and tearfully), the Endgame is over, and you’re not living in the 90s anymore. The real estate market, as we know it today, has emerged as a single interactive platform, for both buyers and sellers; thanks to the advent of convenient online portals that are fast turning the traditional endeavor of real estate surveying by foot into a redundant effort. And the emergence of this trend is all too apparent, these days, in developing countries. Take the case of Pakistan, for instance, where the recently launched Prop.pk seems fast on track to become one of the major internet-based contenders in the nation’s already saturated real estate niche.
Finding properties that best fit your home ownership criteria, while still meeting your budget expectations, is a lot easier today than it used to be in the days of yore. (Word of advice: it is always best to enter the real estate market with proper information in order to get the best deals).
Let’s take a look at the top real estate apps that investors simply can’t seem to get enough of. And what’s more – most of these digital platforms are freely accessible and available on both IOS and Android operating systems.
Zillow: the best there is
Zillow is widely hailed as the best known real estate app ever created – at least since the mobile internet app fever of the early 2000s first starting making its appearance. Founded in 2006 by former Microsoft executives, it quickly entrenched itself in the U.S’s property sphere, eventually becoming the pioneer internet platform for determining home value estimates.
The app lets you choose from a wide variety of options including home loans and agent finder. The interface is pretty neat and user-friendly – making Zillow definitely a standout among its competitors.
Better yet, the Zillow smartphone app is available for download on both IOS and Android platforms. Convenience at its best!
Nothing can go wrong with Redfin
Redfin functions as both a digital platform and a brokerage firm. Several users have even referred to its estimated home values as being more accurate than Zillow’s algorithm.
With an array of options such as for-sale-by-owner listing updates, foreclosure notifier, and short sales alters, Redfin is arguably one the most comprehensive real estate apps in the field.
Perhaps one of the most striking features of the app is that it allows users to book an open or home tour through a single button click. This Redfin’s Real Estate Agent feature is definitely worth a try!
Realtor.com: finding nearby properties you might otherwise miss
This app stakes a claim: it has the most extensive list of ‘sellable homes’ as compared to other real estate apps. It also serves as the official search portal for the National Association of Realtors. Now that’s something you don’t hear too often.
Listings on the app are updated every 15 minutes (talk about moving fast!): the Multiple Listing System (MLS) transmits data feeds used by most sites to Realtor.
Moreover, Realtor lets the user filter listings based on address, city, zip code, home prices, and a multitude of other factors.
Other commercial real estate apps have nothing on LoopNet
LoopNet is the Zillow for bigger properties. This statement alone makes it the most sought-after app for real estate investing, as it is programmed to cater exclusively to property investors.
Unlike Realtor.com, which boasts of showing more homes for sales, LoopNet claims to show the most number of listings and geographic coverage with respect to commercial properties.
All you have to do is narrow down your search filters, and LoopNet will locate the best multi-unit residential and commercial office spaces for you—along with financial details, extensive photos, and street views.
Active home search just got a whole lot easier with Trulia
Trulia is designed for users engaged in active home searches. It offers time-saving features that make house-hunting a piece of cake and contains an amazing collection of photos and virtual tours, as well as interactive maps.
Trulia also allows users to plug in specific home features such as hardwood floors, prior to commencing with a search query. Moreover, users have the options to share their favorite properties with friends and contacting their listing agents.
The most distinguishable feature of the app is its affordability breakdown option that helps users calculate the full cost of their desired properties. You can also schedule an open house visitation, as well as calculate mortgages.
