Technology has made searching for a home infinitely easier.
No more driving street to street or attending countless open houses every weekend. Instead, all it takes is a few clicks of the mouse or the swipe of the finger, and you can have picture-perfect listings all at your fingertips.
Is buying a home on your radar this year? Here are the five tech tools and apps you can use to help:
Zillow
At this point, Zillow’s the old standard in home searching. It’s available via mobile app and on desktop, and its “Zestimate” feature is a good way to gauge home values on a property or in any given area. The site is also rife with detailed information, including school ratings and local amenities, and you can even save your favorites simply by hitting the little heart icon located on each listing. And if you’re looking to sell your home before buying your next one? Zillow Offers can be a quick-and-easy solution. Visit Zillow
Homesnap
Homesnap’s app is a unique one. See a house you’re curious about while out and about? Just open the app, snap a photo, and get all the details about its size, value, assigned schools, and more. You can also use the app to browse local listings or connect with a real estate agent. It even has a built-in messaging feature so you can share those listings with your spouse, friends, or family members and immediately get feedback. Visit Homesnap
Neighborhood Scout
Want to learn more about the neighborhood or community you’re considering? Neighborhood Scout can help you do it. The tool offers real estate insights, crime stats, school data, demographic information, and other info on trends and future forecasts. Be warned: It is a paid tool. You’ll need to pay $29.99 for a single report or sign up for a monthly plan to pull as many reports as you like. If you’re looking for a free option, City-Data.com can be helpful, but it’s not as user-friendly or easy to understand. Visit Neighborhood Scout
Realtor.com
This one is always a favorite among homebuyers. It’s multifunctional, letting your browse homes, connect with real estate agents, and filter listings by deep-dive details and keywords you don’t find on most other platforms. It also has a Sign Snap feature that lets you pull up full listing details using just a photo of an agent’s yard sign. Visit Realtor.com
Xome
If you’re looking to flip a property or just find a real fixer-upper, Xome can be a great tool to use. Not only does it have standard listings like the other platforms out there, but it also includes REO properties, short sales, and foreclosures, too. Whether you just want a steal of a deal or you’re looking to play Chip and Joanna for a spell, Xome can help you find the right property to do it with. Visit Xome
Get More Help
A good real estate agent can also help you immensely on your house hunt. Need a recommendation for a great local Realtor you can utilize? Get in touch with your Premier Nationwide Lending office today. We’re here to help.
Premier Nationwide Lending is an Equal Housing Opportunity lender. Sponsored by NTFN, Inc. 6201 West Plano Parkway, Suite 100, Plano, TX 75093 | NTFN NMLS 75333.
