Buying a new home has never been an easy process. Sure, it can be fun looking at properties on the market and imagining yourself living in the dream home, but after a while the shopping can get tedious, and there is no shortage of frustrations when it comes to properties that don't quite meet your wants or needs in one way or another (or have everything you want but are totally out of your price range). That said, the advances in computer and mobile technology have made it easier than ever for home buyers to take control of the process, narrow down their options, and find a suitable house before they ever call a real estate agent to arrange viewings and broker deals. Here are just a few essential types of applications that every prospective home buyer should consider downloading.
1. MLS. You may or may not be familiar with multiple listing services like Zillow, Trulia, and dozens of others. But if you've decided it's time to start the search for a home, one of these apps can provide you with a good place to start. You can use MLS applications to see what's on the market, perform targeted searches, and compare properties, including prices, features, and more. This information can help you decide on neighborhoods where you want to start looking for a home, pinpoint specific properties you want to view, and even get in touch with listing agents. And if you've got your heart set on a specific property, think about using Redfin, an app that lets you follow properties you're interested in and get alerts when they go on the market.
2. Mortgage calculator. A mortgage calculator is a handy tool to have when you're looking at homes, unless you happen to be a whiz with the principal-interest formula. Quicken Loans makes a good one, although many MLS sites also include simple mortgage calculators on their sites if you prefer to have it all in one app.
3. Demographic info. Before you move into a neighborhood, you probably want to know who your neighbors are. And there are apps designed to give you at least some of the information you're looking for. Sitewise, for example, can provide you with all kinds of demographic data for an area you're interested in making your home, such as the prevalence of singles versus families with kids, population by age group, and data on employment, schools, public transportation, and more. You may also want to check out an app like Sex Offender Search, which delivers just the kind of data you might expect.
4. Local business finder. It's important to know that you can find the services you need in any area you move into, and although apps like Yelp and Urbanspoon can help you out, one of the best applications for this purpose is still Foursquare. As a bonus, it lets you check in at your favorite destinations and build points that can net you discounts, deals, and other special considerations.
5 Property sorter. One problem that many home buyers have, whether they're seeking Nashville, New York, or Knoxville real estate, is keeping properties straight once they've viewed them. Was it the house in the hills that had the great master suite or the one in the new development downtown? With an app like House Hunter you can track and compare the properties you view, complete with photos, a checklist of amenities, and the ability to add photos. When you're looking at dozens of homes, this digital tracker can be invaluable.
Alice
