Google joins the real estate market allowing users to search for a property to buy or rent using Google Maps.
The launch of Google Maps has revolutionised the internet and now Google has taken it one stage further with the introduction of Real Estate and Property for sale listings which now appear directly on a local property search within Google Maps. This service is available on the US version of Google Maps but this does include UK and worldwide property listings.
It is obvious that this service is in testing and is still in an early stage of development but you have to be impressed with the quality of the results. Finding the link to the service is a little difficult and could easily be missed. If you perform a Google maps search for “New York Real Estate” in Google Maps US you will notice a small Advertisement above the sponsored links on the left hand side of the map interface. The text reads “Real estate on Google Maps”. If you click on the link you will be taken to the new Google Maps real estate interface. Currently the service allows you to search and filter results by listing type, number of bedrooms, number of bathrooms and the square foot Area. You can also search for properties within a certain value range i.e. from $100,000 to $150,000.
Each property result is shown directly on the map and offers links to get directions, search for properties in the surrounding area, visit the property on street view, save the property or send the property details by email or directly to your phone or GPS device.
The full page description offers further details including images, web pages and estate agent and realtor details. You have to remember that this is currently a completely free service and data is currently being pulled by Google from real estate websites and Google base. With that in mind this truly is a great service allowing users to view properties for sale in an area, from a variety of different agents, on one easy to use map interface.
We will have to wait and see how the Realtor and Estate Agency industry reacts to the service, the National Association of Realtors have been quoted as calling Google a site “Scraper”. It’s important to see this not as a threat but as a new channel of marketing properties and with that in mind Realtors need to embrace the technology and make sure there properties are listed as soon as possible.
Article by Creative SEO UK
