Zillow : Next Gen Real Estate Comparison Engine
If you are shopping for home like I am, or just plain looking to snoop around your area and see what is happening, I highly recommend checking out Zillow.com.
Zillow is best described as a real estate shopping comparison engine on steroids. There are a myriad of features and if you can get the hang of it, it puts basic MLS systems to shame. The site features typical real state and home listings but adds additional features that pack a great punch.
My favorite piece of the site is a map tool that is powered using Microsoft’s version of Google’s satelite imaging system. Using an interactive map, the user can actually zoom in on properties and see the price they are currently valued at using Zillow’s estimate system. By clicking on individual properties you can actually pull up a chart showing the previous selling prices and estimated property values trended across yearly periods.
So, have you ever wanted to know what your neighbors or friends really paid for their place? Now you can see, and even if you don’t know the exact address, all you need to do is click and drag from residence to residence on the map. Very cool stuff.
On the down side, the site’s structure is still shaky. Using the back button and can ruin an entire search. When you click on a new item, just get used to finding ways to get the information you need by never reversing direction.
Zillow still has a way to go, but the potential is extraordinary. If you are interested at all in real estate, you will quickly get lost for hours after you learn how to navigate through all in the data.
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