Comments on: Google Real Estate Search: The Next Industry Takeover? http://phandroid.com/2009/12/15/google-real-estate-search-the-next-industry-takeover/ Android Phone News, Rumors, Reviews, Apps, Forums & More! Mon, 04 Apr 2011 02:51:21 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Destiny http://phandroid.com/2009/12/15/google-real-estate-search-the-next-industry-takeover/#comment-72459 Destiny Wed, 30 Dec 2009 07:05:25 +0000 http://phandroid.com/?p=9425#comment-72459 How is a homeowner How is a homeowner

]]> By: B http://phandroid.com/2009/12/15/google-real-estate-search-the-next-industry-takeover/#comment-71288 B Mon, 21 Dec 2009 22:35:36 +0000 http://phandroid.com/?p=9425#comment-71288 Just to notice that Real Estate searches are available in France, but only in English, and with English descriptions and ads. Weird, isn't it ? Just to notice that Real Estate searches are available in France, but only in English, and with English descriptions and ads. Weird, isn’t it ?

]]> By: Ami Jones http://phandroid.com/2009/12/15/google-real-estate-search-the-next-industry-takeover/#comment-69632 Ami Jones Wed, 16 Dec 2009 22:21:34 +0000 http://phandroid.com/?p=9425#comment-69632 You all should check out www.listingbook.com. It is by far the best online real estate search for buyers and sellers, provided by their real estate agent. Check to see if it is available in your area. You all should check out http://www.listingbook.com. It is by far the best online real estate search for buyers and sellers, provided by their real estate agent. Check to see if it is available in your area.

]]> By: Jrowles http://phandroid.com/2009/12/15/google-real-estate-search-the-next-industry-takeover/#comment-69430 Jrowles Wed, 16 Dec 2009 16:29:41 +0000 http://phandroid.com/?p=9425#comment-69430 As I scrolled down the comments I was thinking, "OK, where is the real estate agent who will defend the status quo by sticking their head in the sand?" and there it was at #9. My company combines the accurate data that real estate brokers can get from their MLS with Google Enterprise search appliances to produce a Google-like user experience that has up-to-date listings. Our strategy is designed to get brokers out ahead of Google while they still have some control over the best data via the MLS, but even I don't think that will last forever. The industry retains control by walling off the upload. There is something to be said for that: By vetting who can upload to MLS (has to be a licensed broker) the MLSs are imposing some QC on the listing data. When houses sell, they get dropped, for example. Since Google cannot get the data from the horse's mouth, it indexes sites that are based on MLS data, but this index of real estate listings once removed lags in accuracy, giving the industry the advantage it is clinging to. Here's the problem: Access to the upload is WAY, WAY more expensive and restricted than it needs to be. Just like classified ads on newspaper sites were before CL came along. All Google has to do is offer a free upload with the same fields, including expiration date, open house dates, etc. and it is Game Over for the MLS. The only question is, why haven't they done it by now? What do they have to lose? It would probably help, not hurt, Adwords sales, so there has to be something else stopping them and the only thing I can think of is liability -- Google just wants to index data, not be responsible for its accuracy, and that simple fact *may* be the reason Google lets the inefficient, overpriced MLS system live. As I scrolled down the comments I was thinking, “OK, where is the real estate agent who will defend the status quo by sticking their head in the sand?” and there it was at #9.

My company combines the accurate data that real estate brokers can get from their MLS with Google Enterprise search appliances to produce a Google-like user experience that has up-to-date listings.

Our strategy is designed to get brokers out ahead of Google while they still have some control over the best data via the MLS, but even I don’t think that will last forever.

The industry retains control by walling off the upload. There is something to be said for that: By vetting who can upload to MLS (has to be a licensed broker) the MLSs are imposing some QC on the listing data. When houses sell, they get dropped, for example.

Since Google cannot get the data from the horse’s mouth, it indexes sites that are based on MLS data, but this index of real estate listings once removed lags in accuracy, giving the industry the advantage it is clinging to.

Here’s the problem: Access to the upload is WAY, WAY more expensive and restricted than it needs to be. Just like classified ads on newspaper sites were before CL came along. All Google has to do is offer a free upload with the same fields, including expiration date, open house dates, etc. and it is Game Over for the MLS.

The only question is, why haven’t they done it by now? What do they have to lose? It would probably help, not hurt, Adwords sales, so there has to be something else stopping them and the only thing I can think of is liability — Google just wants to index data, not be responsible for its accuracy, and that simple fact *may* be the reason Google lets the inefficient, overpriced MLS system live.

]]> By: loser4all http://phandroid.com/2009/12/15/google-real-estate-search-the-next-industry-takeover/#comment-69417 loser4all Wed, 16 Dec 2009 15:50:28 +0000 http://phandroid.com/?p=9425#comment-69417 This feature for the US has been out for over a year now. I have used it for the past two times that I have moved. My latest search revealed how powerful google has become in this market. They have indexed the MLS listings for the county that I was searching in. Searching for realestate via google maps, saving all the relavent and interesting listings in a personal map, then going through and updating the placemark, comments, and pictures, I was able to prioritize the listings, then sync it to my G1, and do drive bys with my nav app. I spent close to 10hours scouring google+MLS listings and creating a map, which cut down on my inperson search time. Last night, I signed on my new place to rent all thanks to the efficent google. This feature for the US has been out for over a year now. I have used it for the past two times that I have moved. My latest search revealed how powerful google has become in this market. They have indexed the MLS listings for the county that I was searching in.

Searching for realestate via google maps, saving all the relavent and interesting listings in a personal map, then going through and updating the placemark, comments, and pictures, I was able to prioritize the listings, then sync it to my G1, and do drive bys with my nav app.

I spent close to 10hours scouring google+MLS listings and creating a map, which cut down on my inperson search time.

Last night, I signed on my new place to rent all thanks to the efficent google.

]]> By: John Coach http://phandroid.com/2009/12/15/google-real-estate-search-the-next-industry-takeover/#comment-69345 John Coach Wed, 16 Dec 2009 06:45:32 +0000 http://phandroid.com/?p=9425#comment-69345 It has been out a while as some of the comments have already stated, but google seem to be pushing it interenationally now and it has the big players in the property listings business scared big style. It has been out a while as some of the comments have already stated, but google seem to be pushing it interenationally now and it has the big players in the property listings business scared big style.

]]> By: realty30 http://phandroid.com/2009/12/15/google-real-estate-search-the-next-industry-takeover/#comment-69297 realty30 Wed, 16 Dec 2009 03:11:47 +0000 http://phandroid.com/?p=9425#comment-69297 Actually google wont take over if realtors refuse to push their properties to the Google base service. Besides REALTOR.com and MLS websites do a much better job than Google does at this. They are entering the game way too late. Actually google wont take over if realtors refuse to push their properties to the Google base service. Besides REALTOR.com and MLS websites do a much better job than Google does at this.

They are entering the game way too late.

]]> By: Matt Wicker http://phandroid.com/2009/12/15/google-real-estate-search-the-next-industry-takeover/#comment-69232 Matt Wicker Tue, 15 Dec 2009 23:15:43 +0000 http://phandroid.com/?p=9425#comment-69232 This is pretty cool and all, and I love how android is developing so far, but is anybody else starting to get a little nervous about Google's ever expanding data amassing? In a world where information is control, it's a little scary thinking about how much leverage and power Google is trying to position itself into. This is pretty cool and all, and I love how android is developing so far, but is anybody else starting to get a little nervous about Google’s ever expanding data amassing? In a world where information is control, it’s a little scary thinking about how much leverage and power Google is trying to position itself into.

]]> By: Tom M http://phandroid.com/2009/12/15/google-real-estate-search-the-next-industry-takeover/#comment-69133 Tom M Tue, 15 Dec 2009 21:13:16 +0000 http://phandroid.com/?p=9425#comment-69133 You all should check out Redfin.com to see if it's available in your metro area. It's has a fantastic online real estate search. You all should check out Redfin.com to see if it’s available in your metro area. It’s has a fantastic online real estate search.

]]> By: mkibrick http://phandroid.com/2009/12/15/google-real-estate-search-the-next-industry-takeover/#comment-69097 mkibrick Tue, 15 Dec 2009 20:23:05 +0000 http://phandroid.com/?p=9425#comment-69097 Also Layar has a real estate layar for both apartments and houses. Also Layar has a real estate layar for both apartments and houses.

]]> By: servo http://phandroid.com/2009/12/15/google-real-estate-search-the-next-industry-takeover/#comment-69092 servo Tue, 15 Dec 2009 20:12:51 +0000 http://phandroid.com/?p=9425#comment-69092 Huh? This is available in the US for a while now.... Huh? This is available in the US for a while now….

]]> By: vfxdee http://phandroid.com/2009/12/15/google-real-estate-search-the-next-industry-takeover/#comment-69084 vfxdee Tue, 15 Dec 2009 19:51:37 +0000 http://phandroid.com/?p=9425#comment-69084 And it's available in the US, too. It isn't just the UK and Australia. And it’s available in the US, too. It isn’t just the UK and Australia.

]]> By: NorCal http://phandroid.com/2009/12/15/google-real-estate-search-the-next-industry-takeover/#comment-69073 NorCal Tue, 15 Dec 2009 19:38:04 +0000 http://phandroid.com/?p=9425#comment-69073 I've been using this for the past couple months in my real estate search too. So nice now that they show the lot lines in the map view. Then create a shape in MyMaps of the lot. You then get a better idea of the land layout in Terrain view. Sweet stuff. Even better now is you can access My Maps on Google Maps though the phone. I’ve been using this for the past couple months in my real estate search too. So nice now that they show the lot lines in the map view. Then create a shape in MyMaps of the lot. You then get a better idea of the land layout in Terrain view. Sweet stuff. Even better now is you can access My Maps on Google Maps though the phone.

]]> By: paladaxar http://phandroid.com/2009/12/15/google-real-estate-search-the-next-industry-takeover/#comment-69072 paladaxar Tue, 15 Dec 2009 19:36:31 +0000 http://phandroid.com/?p=9425#comment-69072 Oh, and I'm talking about the US version of Google maps...just in case anyone was wondering. Sorry, we here in the US sometimes forget that there's "the rest of the world" out there and that we can't just assume people know that "obviously were talking about the US". Oh, and I’m talking about the US version of Google maps…just in case anyone was wondering. Sorry, we here in the US sometimes forget that there’s “the rest of the world” out there and that we can’t just assume people know that “obviously were talking about the US”.

]]> By: paladaxar http://phandroid.com/2009/12/15/google-real-estate-search-the-next-industry-takeover/#comment-69071 paladaxar Tue, 15 Dec 2009 19:33:25 +0000 http://phandroid.com/?p=9425#comment-69071 No offense Rob, but this feature has been available on Google maps for a LONG time. I was using it to search for houses back in June! It may have been out for much longer before that, but that's when I discovered it. No offense Rob, but this feature has been available on Google maps for a LONG time. I was using it to search for houses back in June! It may have been out for much longer before that, but that’s when I discovered it.

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