Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Look No Further, There’s an APP for That!

Thinking of a gift to get a family member or friend? If they are currently looking at buying a home look no further. With smart phones and iPhones becoming all the rage over the last few years, app’s now can be the perfect gift, and in this case, an app for house hunting.

After realizing the success of apps, last year The Houston Association of Realtors released an iPhone app and this past September released an Android App. So what does that mean and how is this suppose to help someone looking for a home?

The app works as a consumer property search portal and a members-only portable with multiple listing services. If you’re a member of the HAR, the free app allows you access to MLS date, their leads and listings, their brokerages' listing inventory, showing instructions, days on market, and various MLS reports.

Now this may seem a lot like a simple internet search, and that’s because it is. But having the app on your iPhone and Android adds to the convenience that everyone prefers. Now you no longer have to be near a computer or log onto the internet on your smart phone. The app is there and ready to narrow down your searches with just the tap on the screen.

According to the association, users can filter searches by property type, price range, lot size, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, square footage and school district, among other criteria. Listing details include a property description, tax information, agent and broker contact information, driving directions, and up to 16 photos. Registered users can also save listings and searches and sign up to receive email notifications when homes matching particular user-selected criteria are posted to HAR.com or when a saved listing's status, price or other listing information is updated. Other app features include a mortgage calculator, nearby open house search, and the ability to share listings via email

I like the idea of this app not only for convenience but also because agents and consumers alike can use the app to search for-rent or for-sale homes by automatically searching for homes nearby or typing in an address, ZIP code or MLS number. Unfortunately this app is only available for people living in or looking in the Greater Houston area.

The app is already ranked 94 in the Lifestyle category and No.11 under the keyword “real estate.” With technology always expanding, I have a feeling more people with jump on board the real estate app. 

About Ann Stiles:
Ann Stiles is a real estate broker for Wilkinson and Associates. She began by selling homes in New York and has over 29 years of experience in real estate. After relocating with her family to North Carolina in 2008 she continued her passion for real estate. She currently resides in the Trump National Golf Club Community in Mooresville, NC with her husband and five children.


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