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Whether you prefer to skim for-sale homes online or regularly drive through your dream neighborhood, there’s another option to consider: house hunting apps.
With a house hunting app, you can take your search on the go and catch all the latest listings.
In such a hot housing market, the right app can help you zone in on the exact features you’re looking for, quickly contact an agent, or even tour the homes virtually.
We’ve gathered a list of the top 5 house hunting apps to help streamline your search and get ahead of the competition.
1. Zillow
Zillow has one of the top real estate websites in the U.S., so if you’re already comfortable using their site, just download the app on your smartphone to take its features along with you.
Zillow is for buyers, renters, or sellers, with access to millions of listings and a wide range of filter options.
Many listings have 3D tour options available, and if you run through a tour and are eager to take the next step, you can contact the listing agent or owner through the app.
Zillow also has a full real estate agent directory to help you find a local agent, plus mortgage tools and calculators to help you estimate payments or start budgeting.
One of Zillow’s most well-known features is its “Zestimates,” which provides value estimates for buying or renting. These estimates are a helpful starting place, although app users say they may not always be accurate, so keep this in mind as you search.
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Trulia began as an independent company but now is owned by Zillow, so you may notice a few similar features such as a “Trulia Estimate” that mirrors a “Zestimate.”
However, the main difference is Trulia’s laser focus on finding a home to purchase. This includes specific home feature filters and unique neighborhood and community information.
For example, Trulia uses polling to gather data from specific neighborhoods and showcase this data on the app. This might include whether children like to play outdoors, whether it feels safe to go out for a walk, and more.
Trulia also has dedicated map views and numerous overlays such as crime, schools, stores, and restaurants.
Some users say Trulia’s biggest benefit is in its millions of rental listings in addition to purchase listings, making it a top choice for those seeking rental options.
3. Realtor.com
The Realtor.com app is affiliated with the National Association of Realtors, so due to the strong relationship between the site and real estate agents, users get added benefits from the Multiple Listing System (MLS).
This data relationship means a wider range of properties and faster updates for users.
The most notable feature, Sign Snap, allows users to take a photo of a real estate sign and immediately access property details.
It’s also easy to connect with local agents through the app to schedule a tour or just chat with the agent.
Property listings include relevant details such as crime, neighborhood noise level, the FEMA flood factor, and more.
4. Homesnap
One of the most helpful and user-friendly features of the Homesnap app is the ability to snap a photo of any home you’re interested in and receive accurate, real-time information about the property.
This house hunting app also has messaging and sharing features that make it simple to send listings to friends, partners, or your agent — whether they have the app or not.
One stand-out feature added during the pandemic was the virtual open house, where users could attend a live broadcast hosted by the listing agent.
Homesnap also has the typical features available on most other apps, including home value estimates, tax information, property history, school ratings, and more.
Users appreciate it for its intuitive, organized layout and real-time MLS data.
5. Redfin
Redfin’s app is praised for its home value accuracy, which some users say beats Zillow’s estimates.
The app also provides the ability to filter for upcoming open houses, which could give eager buyers more opportunities to find the right home before it’s gone.
Users can schedule virtual or in-person tours with a Redfin agent through the app, with tour times listed on the property pages.
You can keep track of past tours in the app, and add upcoming tours to the in-app calendar.
Redfin also has a handy feature that many other apps don’t — the ability to “X” out a listing so it doesn’t keep appearing in your future searches.
Get Pre-Approved for a Loan with Homefinity
If you’re serious about finding the perfect home, your first step should be connecting with a trusted mortgage loan officer to get pre-approved for a mortgage loan.
The dedicated loan officers at Homefinity can help you get ahead of the buying competition by guiding you through the pre-approval process.
Start here to get a customized rate quote in minutes. We look forward to sharing our expertise to help you get the best custom rates possible.
Some references sourced within this article have not been prepared by Fairway and are distributed for educational purposes only. The information is not guaranteed to be accurate and may not entirely represent the opinions of Fairway.
*Pre-approval is based on a preliminary review of credit information provided to Homefinity, which has not been reviewed by underwriting. If you have submitted verifying documentation, you have done so voluntarily. Final loan approval is subject to a full underwriting review of support documentation including, but not limited to, applicants’ creditworthiness, assets, income information, and a satisfactory appraisal.
