Google Expands into Online Real Estate Market
Internet search giant, Google, has just launched its own solution to cracking the real estate listings market, by displaying a property search tool within its search results.
American users who type in search terms like homes for sale, homes for rent, apartments for rent, or real estate will see a special search box where they can enter their ZIP code and get location-specific property listings.
The real estate search option is integrated with Google maps, meaning that searchers can view the location of a listing on an interactive map.
The launch of this feature is a perfect example of Google’s quest to become an all-inclusive database of information. It will be quite a responsibility for the search giant to keep all the listing information organized and up to data, but if they can do this, other online real estate listing services, as well as many print newspapers will have some tough competition on their hands.
Eric said,
April 15, 2006 @ 9:38 am
theres a new listing site that seems to have some potential. Check out Duru at http://www.goDuru.com
editor said,
April 15, 2006 @ 4:47 pm
Good interface, but not a lot of listings yet. (I just searched for Seattle/All and got no results.)
If they can get a good base of properties listed it could quite a valuable resource.