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The Best Apps for Realtors and Why Realtors are Using Smartphones

By
Real Estate Agent with Keller Williams NYC

According to a March article of this year from the National Association of Realtors, “56% of realtors used a smartphone daily or almost daily in 2010. . .”  That was up slightly from the previous year from 42%.  According to that same article 71% of realtors used a cellphone daily or almost daily in 2010.  That number dipped slightly.  Obviously because those cell phone users have converted over to smartphones.  Number one smartphone used by realtors?  Blackberry still holds that title with 38.2% and iPhone close behind with 26.2%.  


Best apps for Realtors

 

*Here’s what realtors are using their smartphones for the most:

 

Access to MLS:  57.3%

Social Media:  54.5%

Weather:  41.8%

 

apps for realtorsWhat is everyone else doing with their smartphones?  According to a New York Times article in September 2010, game playing was number one, weather checking came in at two, followed by maps/navigation, social networking, music and news, respectively.  

 

Here’s a few I and my agents have tried and are looking into:

 

Trulia and Zillow.  Great to use -- all the bells and whistles!  

 

Loopnet.  A nice app for realtors.

 

Realtor.com.  This one’s been around for a bit and we think it’s a good one.

 

One to watch for and recently released:  CoStar, an app for realtors. NYC is the third city to have this one.  It’s available in Atlanta and Dallas.  Read about it here.  

 

Streeteasy.  

Search for real estate listings.  For New York and New Jersey-based agents. 

 

I did some digging around on the internet to find out what other apps realtors are exploring.  Below are a few I found.

 

Glimpse

Share your location with anyone (clients, colleages, friends) for a specified period of time.  Simple to use: “Easier and faster than a phone call or text message, simply select a contact, set a duration, and hit send.”  Has anyone tried this one?

 

Real Estate Calculator. Blackberry app for realtors ($2.99) 

 

Smarter Agent. Read that this was a nice app; reviews seem to be mainly positive.

 

My New Place

 

Dictionary of Real Estate Terms. $2.99

 

Some interesting facts found:

  • In March 2010, Nielsen Wire reported males use smartphone slightly more than females (53% versus 47%)
  • In July 2011, Mobility Feeds reported a study conducted by the Women at NBCUniversal Entertainment & Digital Networks and Integrated Media (NBCU) that showed the reverse to be true this year with women owning 54% and men, 46%.  
  • As of April 2011, the Apple iPhone reigns supreme, overall, over other smartphones with consumers who plan to purchase (33%), second Android at 26% and Blackberry coming in at 13% according to Nielsen Wire
  • Popular free app for smartphones:  Google+.  Get it here for your smartphone and Opera Mini

 

*Source:  Smartphone Survey Report, NAR. 

 

Have you used any of the above apps?  How have they worked for you?  Do you have other favorite apps?  Leave a comment and let me know your favorites.


best apps for realtors

Graph showing global smartphone market share for Q4 2010. Data sourced from Canalys.com.  



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Show All Comments Sort:
Howard Weiss
Fathom Realty - Arlington, TX
Arlington & DFW, TX

Ilan, I'm a stats guy and I love all the numbers you put into this post.  Compared to so many blogs I can definitely appreciate the time you must have put into your post.  Thanks for sharing and good luck!

Aug 08, 2011 03:03 AM
Ilan Bracha
Keller Williams NYC - Manhattan, NY
KW NYC/The Bracha Group, Manhattan

John, so glad you liked it and hope it provided some useful info for you.

 

Greg--thank you for the kind comment and best of luck to you as well!

Aug 08, 2011 03:10 AM
Leslie Prest
Leslie Prest, Prest Realty, Sales and Rentals in Payson, AZ - Payson, AZ
Owner, Assoc. Broker, Prest Realty, Payson,

I love my smartphone (a Droid) but I don't erally use any of those apps, even though I have a couple on my phone. We can access our local MLS, so I use that. And since we handle rentals also, I have our rental page bookmarked.

Aug 08, 2011 08:06 AM
Ilan Bracha
Keller Williams NYC - Manhattan, NY
KW NYC/The Bracha Group, Manhattan

Hi Leslie--thanks for your input.  Some (apps) are fun and others useful, but I can certainly understand your point of sticking with the tried and true methods as well.

Aug 08, 2011 10:16 AM
Karin Lundeen
Keller Williams Realty - Denver Southlands - Centennial, CO
Realtor Centennial Homes For Sale

Hi Ilan ~ Only 56% of Realtors use a smart phone?  I can't imagine not having one!  I'm going to look into a few of these apps.  Thanks!

Aug 08, 2011 11:22 PM
Gabe Sanders
Real Estate of Florida specializing in Martin County Residential Homes, Condos and Land Sales - Stuart, FL
Stuart Florida Real Estate

Thanks for the list Ilan.  I know most, but not all of these.  Will have to check out the ones I didn't know about.

Aug 09, 2011 12:18 AM
Ilan Bracha
Keller Williams NYC - Manhattan, NY
KW NYC/The Bracha Group, Manhattan

Karin, found that a bit surprising as well, but those were 2010 numbers.  I'm betting that's going to be up this year.  Glad you found the info useful and thanks!

 

Gabe, hope that some will work for you.  Haven't tried them all myself, but they sound as if they could be useful.  Thanks for the comment.

Aug 09, 2011 12:36 AM
Mirela Monte
Buyers' Choice Realty - North Myrtle Beach, SC
Myrtle Beach Real Estate

Thank you!

Now Featured on The Optimist Group.

 

Aug 09, 2011 05:46 AM
Ilan Bracha
Keller Williams NYC - Manhattan, NY
KW NYC/The Bracha Group, Manhattan

Mirela, Thanks so much.  I'm honored and so glad you found the post informative--thank you!

Aug 09, 2011 07:31 AM
Steve Warrene
Your Town Realty - Lower Burrell, PA
Pittsburgh Realtor North and East Pgh.

I had a Blackberry and liked it but alot of people were telling me to get a Droid so I just went out and got one.  Its great, it has the "ekey" app which means I can stop carrying the lockbox key around and having to charge it everyday.
Technology is great.

Aug 21, 2011 11:04 AM
Ilan Bracha
Keller Williams NYC - Manhattan, NY
KW NYC/The Bracha Group, Manhattan

Hi Steve, thanks for comment and thanks for sharing info about your app!

Aug 23, 2011 12:54 AM
Deborah Laemmerhirt - REALTOR® Brookfield,Newtown,Roxbury,Bridgewater,Washington,Sherman
Keller Williams Luxury Homes International - Brookfield, CT
Luxury Homes,WaterFront,Equestrian,NewConstruction

I love my smart phone - a Droid X.  I moved from my blackberry about a year ago and really find the apps a great advantage.  The most recent one I downloaded was not on the Market Place but well worth it.  It was Swype.  It's the best for text messaging...easy to use and get use to...

Sep 10, 2011 05:30 PM
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400
HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 - Pikesville, MD
Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome

It is time for me to turn my Palm Pre in and get another phone. I do use my fore email, checking AR and texting. Enjoying my new iPad a great deal.

Margaret

Sep 19, 2011 04:28 PM
Ilan Bracha
Keller Williams NYC - Manhattan, NY
KW NYC/The Bracha Group, Manhattan

Deborah--thanks for the tip and info on the app!

Margaret--iPad is certainly a great new tech gizmo for work and play.

Sep 20, 2011 01:14 AM