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Trulia and Google give Street View Street Smarts!

They say that a picture is worth a 1000 words. Well, if that's the case, then Trulia just cornered the Word market!

In their continuing efforts to become the Real Estate "Go-To" site, Trulia has recently partnered with Internet Goliath, Google, in implementing their 'Street View' application.

Google Street View is a feature of Google Maps that was introduced in 2007 and provides 360° panoramic street-level views. It allows users to view parts of selected cities and their surrounding metropolitan areas at ground level. When it was originally launched, only five cities were included. It has since expanded to more than 40 U.S. cities, and includes the suburbs of many, and in some cases, other nearby cities (For the list of cities currently available, GO HERE).

So, in addition to being one of the premier home listing aggregation sites; offering excellent source information relevant to real estate; and providing a forum for consumers and real estate professionals to interact, the inclusion of Google Street View (referred to as "Walk the Neighborhood" by Trulia) allows Trulia Users the opportunity to view high-resolution, street-level 360° captured shots of prospective neighborhoods/homes.

Now your Buyers can see that HUGE water tank next door. Or maybe the description of a 'filtered' or 'partial' view by the Listing Agent gives new meaning to embellishment. And who knew that the Next-Door-Neighbor was a Used Car/Appliance collector? You can begin to see the value that this incorporated feature will offer.

I especially like the way Trulia has streamlined the integration of Street-View into their platform, and incorporated it into each listing where the service is available.

And, as is typical with Trulia, ease-of-navigation is very straight-forward and seemless.

Kudos once again to the folks at Trulia for bringing further enhanced value to their platform, and providing more useful tools for consumers.

Get the full story at the Trulia Blog

Posted by Rich Jacobson ~ ActiveRain Community Builder on 04/08/2008 11:55 PM

Comments (52)

trulia, google street view

52 Comments on Trulia and Google give Street View Street Smarts!

I was very impressed with this when I saw it earlier this evening. Good job Rich!

04/09/2008 12:04 AM

by Jessica Horton (Brio Realty)

Very cool, Rich - you are my go to tech genius now:)

04/09/2008 12:16 AM

by Courtney Cooper, Owner/Broker, Realtor- Seattle WA & Seattle Suburbs Real Estate (Cooper Jacobs Real Estate Services )

Looks like a great feature. I need to check it out to if it is available in our area. Thanks for the information Rich.

04/09/2008 12:30 AM

by Cowlitz County Real Estate Agent Venancio Gonzalez (Windermere Real Estate/Allen & Associates)

Thanks for the information. There is always something new to consider.

04/09/2008 12:35 AM

by Robert Machado, CPM MPM Sacramento Area Property Manager and Property Management (HomePointe Property Management, CRMC)

Rich,

Looks like a great opportunity for us in the mortgage and real estate businesses to highlight our services. I'll check out Trulia and see how it can fit in. Thanks.

04/09/2008 12:35 AM

by Esko Kiuru - Las Vegas NV Mortgage Consultant (Sinifox Financial)

Wow! More and more innovation, this is a great tool for consumers...nice coup Trulia!

....Now Trulia just needs to get the audio and smell-o-vision to give consumers the complete neighborhood experience! : )

04/09/2008 01:16 AM

by Deborah Burns ~ Seattle Real Estate Agent (BRIO Realty)

Great feature!

Finally, Google/Trulia came up with something to compete against Zillow/Microsoft (Birdseye view).

Ivan

04/09/2008 05:17 AM

by Ivan Tchakarov (Nesters.com)

Trulia was already impressive enough - once you learn how to look at "sold" properties. The only drawback I've seen so far is the time lag, sometimes it takes awhile to get the solds in. Very nice.

04/09/2008 05:44 AM

by Penny Hull - Stanton Homes, Triangle Custom Home Builder (Stanton Homes Inc)

Thanks, I didn't know, I respond to Trulia voices but haven't done much with it except syndicate my listings, I'll go take a look and see how the street views show up.

04/09/2008 05:52 AM

by Missy Caulk Ann Arbor Real Estate (Keller Williams Ann Arbor, Michigan)

Thnks for the tips on Trulia. I did not know that they did along with Google.

04/09/2008 05:57 AM

by Russ Ravary-- Michigan Homes for sale-- Your local Real estate & Mortgage person (Remerica Hometown One)

Hi Rich - Didn't they start doing this a few weeks ago? Anyways it certainly is a great featue for Trulia to have.

04/09/2008 06:47 AM

by Bill Gassett Metrowest Massachusetts Real Estate (RE/MAX Executive Realty)

We were looking at Trulia just the other day---quite impressive to say the least.

04/09/2008 06:49 AM

by Diane Bell, Hilton Head Real Estate, Bluffton (Charter 1 Real Estate, Hilton Head, Bluffton, SC)

Hi Rich,
Great feature for Truila, must take a look and see.

04/09/2008 06:52 AM

by Cynthia Tilghman, Realtor® Onslow County NC Home Specialist (Kingsbridge Realty, Inc)

Rich,

I've played around with this before...pretty cool and an alternative to google earth.

04/09/2008 07:00 AM

by Neal Bloom-Realtor ® Assoc.-CRS-Weston FL (RE/MAX Premier Associates)

Trulia is the 800 lb gorilla in the listing marketing space now... This is cool! Steve

04/09/2008 07:40 AM

by Steve Homer (The HBH Group (Keller Williams affiliate))

Believe it or not, I had coffee probably 7 years ago with a professor at Caltech whose expertise was mapping and asked him if it would be possible to show neighborhoods as if you were walking through them...well, it's here, but, unfortunately not in my Lake Norman area yet:( Thanks for the update!

04/09/2008 07:49 AM

by Lake Norman Real Estate ~ Diane Aurit (RE/MAX at the Lake)

Rich, I also think Trulia Voices is an interesting tool. I will experimet more with their mapping now.

Do you think that the abundance of information available to the consumer will lessen the liability of Real Estate Professionals?

04/09/2008 08:18 AM

by Suzi Gravenstuk|Independent Broker| License # 17787|MGC Realty, LLC (MGC Realty, LLC)

Trulia is doing a great job, there is no doubt about it.

04/09/2008 08:21 AM

by Richard Lecinski (Long Realty Company)

This is a great feature. I started tinkering with embedded streetviews on my listings last week. I like that htey used a larger version then the one that I was able to embed from google.

04/09/2008 08:31 AM

by Michael Pierce - Overland Park Real Estate - Leawood Real Estate (Prudential Kansas City Realty - Overland Park, Kansas)

That is a neat feature, especially for someone looking to buy a home in a different state. I will have to take a look at that. Thanks for the info.

04/09/2008 09:16 AM

by Colorado Springs Realty Patricia Beck (Prudential Professional Realtors, GRI)

This is a great application, Rich, as you clearly know. I have found more and more buyers are using it snd Google Earth to look at properties they are interested in on-line, especially those who are relocating here to carlsbad and nearby areas from out of state. They already know that a some homes have awful views, or look at power towers, and other unpleasant things that make them shy away. Saves me and them time in teh home search.

Jeff

04/09/2008 09:26 AM

by Jeff Dowler ~ Carlsbad Real Estate (RE/MAX Associates)

Street view has become addictive. I hear people talking about it all the time. What a great addition to anyone's website!

04/09/2008 09:32 AM

by Tony Fantis, Realtor , ABR, Associate Broker - Salt Lake City (RE/MAX Associates - Fantis Group)

Suzi - I don't think our exposure to potential liability will ever be diminished. If anything, it will only increase. But that's not necessarily a bad thing. It just necessitates us to ensure that we do our jobs to the maximum extent possible.

04/09/2008 09:39 AM

by Rich Jacobson ~ ActiveRain Community Builder (ActiveRain Corporation)

With Trulia's new site launch it definately add's another level for consumers, however the feature is not available in my town of Steamboat Springs...I'm sure it will be well used and enjoyed by all!

04/09/2008 09:55 AM

by Sharon Morlock RE/MAX Steamboat (RE/MAX Steamboat)

Hi Rich!

Thanks for highlighting our new street view feature. Jon is lucky to have you on board!

In my opinion, it's pretty much the next best thing to actually being in front of the house. Pretty cool for someone who wants to scope out the surroundings and neighborhood from the comfort of their home before actually making the trip out there.

Thanks to all who have commented here. Your feedback is always welcome.

Enjoy!

Rudy

Social Media Guru at Trulia

04/09/2008 10:05 AM

by rudy bachraty (Trulia.com)

'Heard a segment on talk radio yesterday about a Pennyslvania couple suing Google for invading their privacy. From the discussion I gathered that google has car-mounted cameras being driven up and down streets, and some of them have entered private driweways. Okay, now I'm off to check out street views on Trulia. Thanks Rich.

04/09/2008 10:13 AM

by Margaret Woda, Maryland REALTOR (RE/MAX VISION)

Google Street View is cool. Too bad they are getting sued right now by a couple who's house was on a private road and now, it isn't "private" anymore. lol

04/09/2008 11:17 AM

by Mo Thweny--Michigan Homes (Remerica Hometown One)

Hi Brad - I recently joined Trulia. I have noticed a lot of Trulia stuff comes up on searched. I get questions from Clark County, but it is all Vegas. Unfortunately, Mesquite is not big enough to be included in a lot of sites, but I am hoping that it will soon. Thanks for the tip and nice to see you back in action!

04/09/2008 12:09 PM

by Virginia Hepp - Mesquite NV Real Estate (Mesquite GMAC Real Estate)

That's pretty cool, but I don't think it will be offered in my little market anytime soon.

04/09/2008 12:50 PM

by Fran Gatti - Crescent City CA Real Estate (RE/MAX Coastal Redwoods)

Fran - I wouldn't be so sure. If they did Spokane, Crescent City shouldn't be too far behind!

04/09/2008 01:14 PM

by Rich Jacobson ~ ActiveRain Community Builder (ActiveRain Corporation)

Rudy - Hey, man! It's totally my pleasure. We appreciate what you guys are bringing to the table these days...Keep servin' it up!

Mo Thweny & Margaret - yeah, it's unfortunate. With as litigation-happy as our society has become, there will always be those think lawsuits are a free ticket....

04/09/2008 01:18 PM

by Rich Jacobson ~ ActiveRain Community Builder (ActiveRain Corporation)

They had a big article about this in our local paper and several people were concerned about privacy issues. I guess it will get sorted out. I think it can be a good feature, however, be sure and watch that skinny dipping or your could be on the street view!

04/09/2008 02:06 PM

by Joan Whitebook, ABR, e-Pro, CEBA (Buyer's Option Realty Services)

Wow! I haven't heard about this. I just checked it out, and it is amazing!!! There is always something new to learn on Google.

04/09/2008 03:45 PM

by Carlie Pardue (Placer Title Company)

Wow, that's great. I love those things. I was looking at my old house using Google Earth. It's truly amazing!

04/09/2008 05:27 PM

by Christy Powers - Pooler, Savannah Real Estate Agent (Keller Williams Coastal Area Partners)

Its good to know and quite exciting...we at CENTURY 21 have partnered with trulia and zillow. Hope it works for us!

04/09/2008 05:57 PM

by Midori Miller-Daytona Beach Florida Real Estate Training (CENTURY 21 Sundance Realty)

Trulia keeps raising the bar and this is yet another great implementation into an already top notch site. Clean site, great navigation, easy search features, lots of great information.

04/09/2008 06:27 PM

by Real Estate Advertising - Misty Lackie (Go Smart Solutions, LLC)

really great thanks

04/09/2008 07:29 PM

by Alan Robinson (PTE REAL ESTATE GROUP)

Let's very smart of them. Aerial view actually helps a lot, I am learning this first hand since I have been scouting for warehouse spaces lately.

Cheers,

Cindy

04/09/2008 08:17 PM

by Cindy Lin @ Staged4more, ASPM, IAHSP, IRIS (Staged4more Home Staging & Redesigns)

Hi Rich - there was a big hullabaloo in the Boston area about the possible invasion of privacy issues with this street view tool. Not sure how that all played out. Seems kinda cool to me. And I guess I better mosey over to Trulia to experiment a little.....

Ann

04/09/2008 08:29 PM

by Portsmouth NH Real Estate ~ Ann Cummings (RE/MAX Coast to Coast - Portsmouth New Hampshire)

Rich, can you believe how far this industry has come in the last few years? And the the technological changes are not done yet. This is amazing. I did hear google is fighting a couple privacy law suits. thank you for the post. AJ

04/10/2008 01:34 AM

by Alan 'AJ' Nisen California Contra Costa Mortgage Officer (A Large Bank in America)

That is such a cool feature...thanks for sharing that info, now I've got a cool new tool to play around with! Thanks for sharing and keeping us all at the head of the pack!

04/10/2008 01:41 AM

by Donna Henry (Exit Real Estate North)

Rich, here in Central Florida it was on the news just yesterday that somebody is suing Google for invading their privacy, although the pics are taken from public places. Will be interesting to see how it plays out.

04/10/2008 06:43 AM

by Petra Norris, Broker, REALTOR®, Lakeland, FL (CDV TransAtlantic, Inc.)

Took a look this morning. I'm So Sad! Payson is too small to be included here. But I just bought a Flip Video camera and plan to put videos of some neighborhood on my website. Since our population is only 15,000, we really have to be resourceful. Thanks for the info.

04/10/2008 07:20 AM

by Sandra Scott, GRI, Four Seasons Realty, Payson, AZ

NBC News tonight showed the home in question. Google cameras not only drove down a long private drive (the no trespassing sign was in the clip) but nearly went up to the people's back door. Definitely more than a view from a public street.

04/10/2008 09:03 PM

by Elaine Reese, REALTOR® in central Ohio (Real Living HER, Worthington Ohio)

I played around with it when I saw it on someone else's blog. I definitely need to take the time to use it on mine. Good stuff!

04/10/2008 09:28 PM

by Lake Mary & Orlando Real Estate, Central Florida, Christopher Myers (Orlando Property Group at Keller Williams)

That is a terrific feature, all these enhancements will give the consumer alot of information before physically going to the location.

04/14/2008 06:48 AM

by Jennifer Fivelsdal,ABR,GRI,SRES (Keller Williams Realty)

Street View is a neat feature for the very few places that have it. I think it will be a long time before it reaches my neck of the woods.

04/14/2008 10:23 AM

by Geordie Romer, CRS, e-PRO (Windermere Real Estate / NCW)

Geordie - If they can do Spokane, no reason they won't ge out your way soon!

04/14/2008 11:05 AM

by Rich Jacobson ~ ActiveRain Community Builder (ActiveRain Corporation)

Doesn't anyone think this is creepy? Sure we all want to be able to search the streets looking for homes, but what about privacy? Has our concept of privacy been totally eroded, just like our basic rights? Wake up and smell that camera looking up your a** in your windows! Yeah I know, if you have nothing to hide then what are you worried about? Everybody has something to hide.

04/14/2008 03:20 PM

by Georgina Hunter Maui Realtor (Jim Sanders Realty Inc. - Maui)

Windermere just hooked up with Trulia, I guess it is called progress! JRockcliff Real Estate in northern CA just hooked up with Zillow

04/15/2008 12:58 AM

by Jean Powers CRS,PMN,ASP Broker, Northern California (Windermere Welcome Home)

thanks for the new information! You are always on top of this stuff! GREAT!

04/18/2008 11:18 AM

by Bill & Barbara Jo - Florida Realty Professional - AHWD (Charles Rutenberg Realty)

Rich: Excellent post. Lots of new information here for me to check out. Thanks so much for sharing.

04/24/2008 12:48 AM

by Fort Worth Real Estate - Karen Anne Stone (RE/MAX Trinity)