Home >> News >> Data >> Zillow Launches New Neighborhood Platform
Print This Post Print This Post

Zillow Launches New Neighborhood Platform

""Zillow"":www.zillow.com/ is making it easier for home shoppers to gain information about the homes they are interested in purchasing with the launch of its ""Neighborhood Advice"":www.zillow.com/.../zillow-launches-social-home-shopping-experienc... tool. The popular website will allow potential home buyers to learn more about the neighborhood they are targeting via social media outlet, ""Facebook"":www.facebook.com/.

[IMAGE]

When using Zillow, those looking at homes to purchase will now be prompted to activate Facebook's Connect program, and Zillow will enable them to view local venues where their friends live or ""check-in"" the most often. As they search for homes, Neighborhood Advice will direct the user toward friends that are connected to the region in question so that they may establish contact for tips and advice on real estate in the area.

Zillow's CEO, Spencer Rascoff, said of the new platform, ""When people are looking to rent or buy a new home, they always ask friends, family and co-workers questions about different neighborhoods. Neighborhood Advice takes this further and deeper by allowing shoppers to quickly and easily tap into their broader online social network as they shop for homes on Zillow.""

Extending his commentary, Rascoff added of the Neighborhood Advice user experience, ""Integrating social media tools and friend networks into the core Zillow home-shopping experience is yet another way we are giving our users access to previously hard-to-find, yet sought-after, information.""

In a company statement, Zillow provided a case study for review, noting by way of example, ""If a user is searching for homes in the San Francisco neighborhood of Noe Valley, Neighborhood Advice will identify friends who have shared that they live in Noe Valley, or who frequently ""check-in"" to places in Noe Valley. The home shopper can then send these friends a private direct message on Facebook to ask questions about the neighborhood.""├âÔÇÜ├é┬á

Neighborhood Advice will be available for buyers and renters via Zillow. The website is currently considered the leading online real estate information marketplace for information regarding homes listings and mortgages.

About Author: Abby Gregory

x

Check Also

Survey: Homeownership Remains Elusive for Baby Boomer Renters

A recent look into housing affordability by NeighborWorks America has found that three in five long-term baby boomer renters feel homeownership remains unattainable.