I’m really excited about a new feature I’ve installed on my website this weekend.
On the Property Search menu choice at the top of my site, I’m providing free, advanced search capabilities to all of the listings on MRIS, our local multiple listing service. That covers the Northern Virginia areas I serve, plus Maryland and Washington DC. Both properties listed for sale and for rent (think apartments!) are included. Data is updated daily, so by searching on my site you get timely information.
And the information that is included is extensive. It’s easy to see properties on a map and get a quick snapshot simply by passing your mouse over the marker on the map. The marker even indicates what type of property it is, so you can distinguish a detached single family home from a high-rise before you take the time to zoom in. A listed property’s price history, walk scores, and Zillow price estimates are just a few of the extras included, along with all of the real estate staples, such as “beds” and “baths.”
The arrows on the nearby screen shot highlight some important tabs. Just click the image for a better view. For example, it’s easy to switch from the search criteria to a list of the matching properties, or from the map view to the details of a particular listing. Once you find a property of interest, it’s easy to see how affordable it is with the mortgage calculator I’ve included on the Tools tab. The interest rate shown is a current national rate from the Wall Street Journal, and low mortgage rates are helping to keep home buying affordable.
You can register and save your searches and choose to receive automatic updates when a new listing comes on the market that matches your search criteria.
In my sidebar to the right, I’ve included a quick version of the advanced search capabilities. There’s a pull down for a short list of communities I serve, with just a few selection criteria. It’s a great tool if you just want to get a quick feel for the listings in a town without taking the time to filter the properties.
In the coming weeks, I’ll make additional posts about how you can get the most out of these search capabilities. They’re a great way to look at the real estate market when it’s convenient for you. Whether you’re looking to buy a home or want to check out the competition before listing your home for sale, having timely and complete information is critical to making the right decision.
Try clicking on a few listings. I’m sure you’ll be as impressed as I am with the amount of information included. My 2 dogs are impressed that I was actually able to pull off integrating these great tools in such a short period of time, but that’s a story for another day.
Feel free to call me at 703-608-4004 or email me to share your feedback.
703.608.4004