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Property Data API Can Make Your Brokerage More Data Literate

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A Property Data API is a necessity for any real estate firm that wants to compete in the 21st Century.

In case you haven’t noticed, we are living in the era of Big Data.

Multi-billion companies such as Google, Amazon, and Facebook have all become enormous entities in our lives because of data.

Google built a $136 billion behemoth with 97,000 employees based on their data gathering and analytic ability. “To Google” is an everyday part of our language.

Which begs the question?

How data literate are your agents?

How well are you incorporating data in your company’s offerings?

Are you providing all the data you can to your prospects and customers?

Research company Gartner says soon 80% of companies will have specific initiatives to overcome their employees’ data deficiencies by 2020.

Property Data API provides real estate market data

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Sample charts from a Property Data API.

Now, when it comes to data, there are several varieties.

There is internal data that is gathered from your website visitors such as lead generation conversion rates, clicks, time on page, etc.

Then there is external data about your marketplace.

This is where a Property Data API comes in.

As we all know, a real estate agent is basically an information agent.

One very important aspect of their job is to know their marketplace.

Now, previously, a savvy agent might be able to recite some recent home sale prices or information about local schools.

But in this era of big data, is that enough?

With a Property Data API, supplied by national data aggregators such as Home Junction, a brokerage can tap into an enormous database of hyper-local real estate information.

They can parse that information down to not just real estate data by zip code, but by neighborhood or subdivision.

Data on home prices, number of sales, square footage, age of the property, school statistics, age and income of local residents, crime ratings, etc.

That information can then for packaged into charts showing trend lines.

Or formatted to show rankings. For example, one property might be in the top 20% in a neighborhood for square footage but in the bottom 30% for price per square foot and the middle 50% percentile for age of the property.

A Property Data API can be used to provide home value estimates, based on recent sales, MLS listings, and other relevant data. (As we all know, homeowners love to see reports on the estimated value of their property. Which as you also know, creates a great lead generation opportunity for a formal CMA request).

The key is communicating the data

There’s more to data than just numbers.

This is where data literacy comes in.

First of all, one skill involves finding data. And that involves finding data that is trustworthy, accurate, relevant and timely.

Fortunately, there are data aggregators such as Home Junction that already fulfill this role.

With a Property Data API, a brokerage can add a feed that will supply them with a warehouse of hyper-local real estate market data. On the brokerage’s website, where they can promote their brand, capture leads and make the phones ring.

Then, it’s not only important to provide data to customers. It’s also important to be able to communicate about what those numbers mean.

Interpret the data for home buyers or potential sellers. Explain the trends to them. Write about the data on your blogs, you email updates or in your social media posts.

Present actionable insights. Point out the opportunities.

Perhaps the data is showing that historically for this particular neighborhood, this is a great time to make an offer on a property.

Or perhaps, this is not the best time to put that home up for sale.

This data can be extremely influential on the decision-making process of consumers. The more in-depth data you can show a prospect, the easier it will be for them to make a decision.

In addition, the more in-depth data (and analysis) you provide to clients, the more convinced they will be that this brokerage firm is truly the company with the most local knowledge.

That perception can go very far for referrals and repeat business.

One expert said that Data Literacy in the 21st century is what Basic Literacy was in the past century.

To advance themselves, as they moved from farm-based economies to an industrialized society, humans had to learn to read and write.

Now that we live in an information age, where a phone in your pocket gives you access to a gazillion bits of data, data literacy will be an essential skill.

Don’t be left behind.

Add tools such as a Property Data API from a national, experienced data aggregator and be sure your staff has the data literacy skills to present, analyze and interpret all that data for the benefit of your customers.

 

 

 

 

 

Tips On When To Post Real Estate Content And A Property Data API Tool For What To Post On Social Media

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Sample charts from a Property Data API.

There are two basic elements to a successful social media campaign and a Property Data API can be a big asset with one of them.

Facebook has 2 billion monthly users.  Instagram has 1 billion. Twitter has 326 million users every month. YouTube has 1.9 billion.

These are incredible numbers.

What’s even more incredible is that real estate brokers and agents have access to this enormous audience for FREE.

Okay, that’s the obvious point.

But naturally, there’s a catch.

Since these platforms are free, the competition is intense. Not only from other brokers and agents, but also just for people’s attention in general. With all those gazillion posts flying by their eyeballs every day, it’s is very difficult to catch people’s attention.

Best times to post social media

As we said, there are two very important and simple elements to every social media post.

They are:

What you post.

When you post it.

Now, what you post is a major task that really requires almost a degree in social media to succeed. But Home Junction has a suite of tools you can use to maximize your posts. We’ll get to that in a second.

But let’s start with the easy part.

If you are going to be fully active in social media, then you need to know the most optimal times to post your content.

There are two parts to this equation.

The standard part and the part that is specific to your company and your marketplace.

Here are some thoughts on what experts believe are some best times to post social media:

Facebook: one of the best times to post on Facebook is between 1 pm and 4 pm. That’s because many people will check their Facebook accounts during work, when things slow down in the afternoon.

The best days for Facebook posts are Thursday, Friday during the work week and Saturday and Sunday on weekends. Because Facebook is a place for friends and family, the highest level of engagement will be on weekends when people have the time to interact with followers and will share and like their content.

Instagram: Instagram is similar to Facebook, and in fact is owned by Facebook. But users interact differently and seek something different from this image-based platform.

Therefore, there are other times to post that are more optimal.

For Instagram post your content during lunch from 11 am to 1 pm. You can also do this again later at night from 7 pm to 9 pm.

The best days are surprisingly, Monday, Wednesday and Thursday. Sunday for some crazy reason, is the worst day.

Twitter: this platform is different as well. For one, the format has a limit of 280 characters (recently increased from 140).

The optimal times to post on Twitter are during lunch from 12 pm to 1 pm. Weekdays are the best for posts and to generate engagement. The  best day of the work week is Wednesday. Conversely, Twitter posts on weekends are not as effective.

LinkedIn: this platform as you know is mainly for business and professionals. Therefore, the best time for posts are between 10 am and 11 am after business people get through their email and compile their daily to-do lists.

Tuesday through Thursday are the best days. Most people are too busy on Monday. And, business people generally do not check out LinkedIn on weekends.

Pinterest: then there’s Pinterest, a whole different arrangement. This platform is very popular with moms. So, for them Saturday is an active day on Pinterest. Sundays are good too.

Interestingly, much different than other social media, some of the best times for this platform is between 8 pm and 11 pm. Understandly, that when moms get to take a break.

So now you have your suggested best times.

But as we know, all marketing campaigns are different because all target audiences are different.

So, the best advice for your own social media posts is to try these standards, but also try other times of the day. See which days and hours generate the most engagement in the form of shares, likes and impressions in general (you can find these analytics in the admin sections of each platform).

Property Data API provides content consumers want

Now the content part.

There’s a large volume of information out there about viral marketing and how to create posts that generate the most interest.

But when it comes to real estate, one of the best strategies you can deploy is the use of hyper-local real estate data.

It’s very easy to gather this data.

Just contact a national data aggregator such as Home Junction. We gather thousands of datasets for markets across the US.

That property data includes:

  • Recent home sales
  • Trends in home prices
  • School data
  • School attendance zones
  • Boundaries
  • Neighborhood demographics
  • Crime ratings

And much more.

The big advantage of data from Home Junction is that it is not just based on zip codes. But an agent can select hyper-local statistics for the specific neighborhoods and subdivisions they are farming.

This warehouse of micro-level data is powerful content.

Every homeowner is going to want to know the housing statistics for their neighborhood. Every active home buyer will want to track the movement of prices for the areas where they want to live.

And what’s great about this strategy, is that all of this interesting data will reside on the agent’s website, supplied by a simple Property Data API provided by Home Junction. An API is basically a few lines of code, applied to the pages you select.

That type of content is a strong hook to drive web traffic. Once prospects are on our website, it opens up all sorts of opportunities for email signups, contact form submissions and even phone calls.

The same strategy using hyper-local real estate market data can be applied to email campaigns and even regular advertising campaigns.

Social media is a fantastic (and free) tool for brokers and agents. But it takes smarts, a Property Data API to create enticing content and as we know, the right timing, to make it as effective as possible.

 

 

Property Data API Makes A Home Unique When There Are Plenty Of Homes For Sale

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A Property Data API can be a critical tool in high inventory markets when it comes to one of the most persuasive techniques available in an agent’s tool box.

That technique: scarcity.

Wait a minute, you might say. Now that the bloom is slightly off the rose in real estate markets, scarcity of homes for sale may not be a major issue.

According to the National Association of Realtors, their “Pending Home Sales Index,” a forward-looking indicator based on contract signings, decreased 1.0 percent to 101.9 in February, down from 102.9 in January. Year-over-year contract signings declined 4.9 percent. That’s the fourteenth straight month of annual decreases.

Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said, “In January, pending contracts were up close to 5 percent, so this month’s 1 percent drop is not a significant concern,” he said. “As a whole, these numbers indicate that a cyclical low in sales is in the past but activity is not matching the frenzied pace of last spring.”

Property Data API creates a unique picture for each home

So how could scarcity possibly be a factor at a time when inventories are increasing?

Because an agent can use a Property Data API to make a home appear super-unique in a marketplace.

They can do that with some of the information provided by a Property Data API ( snippets of software to provide a data feed) supplied by national data aggregators such as Home Junction:

Here are some examples:

School Attendance Zones – sure, there might be plenty of homes out there for sale. But how many of them are located in the same area as the best schools in the district? That immediately creates a sense of scarcity for parents.

Percentiles in the Market – sure there are plenty of homes for sale. But, an agent can dig down into their Property Data API for comparables to see how a home is positioned in a neighborhood.

For example, that home might be in the Top 10% in terms of square footage, or the lower 20% in terms of price per square foot.

Real Estate Sales and Pricing Trends – sure there might be plenty of homes for sale in a zip code. But with a Property Data API that feeds an agent data for specific neighborhoods, even subdivisions, an agent can show that home sales are still going up in one specific area, as well as prices, for XYZ neighborhood.

If a buyer wants to move there, they need to ignore the national market and grab this particular property in this particular neighborhood.

Market Comparisons – use a Property Data API to show buyers how one neighborhood compares to another. Perhaps there aren’t any homes for sale in Town A but if you look at the data for homes in Town B, they are very comparable in terms of pricing, number of owners versus renters and neighborhood demographics. All of a sudden, that sole property that is available in Town B is very desirable.

Neighborhood Amenities – sure, there might be a bunch of homes for sale in one 10 mile area. But, there are only a few homes for sales that are located near: A great food store such as Whole Foods. A park with a playground and hiking trails. Maybe a popular country club. If the property is near a train station, well, that’s practically a slam dunk right there.

An agent can use real estate mapping tools to illustrate all these amenities on a map alongside MLS listings. Maybe a property is not unique. Or, there are plenty of others in the same price range on the market.

However, that proximity to a great store, park, golf course, transportation hub, etc., will give that home instant, unique appeal. An agent needs the tools to show this properly.

Using all of these factors and others provided by hyper-local real estate market data, an agent can show that when a buyer takes a closer look at a property in relation to their needs and desires, there really aren’t that many homes that fit their criteria as they thought.

That’s when an agent has certainly done their job.

That’s also the picture sellers will love as you demonstrate how your Property Data API can market their home as a scarce offering in a crowded marketplace.

 

 

Property Data API Can Be Useful In Attracting Millennials To Your Real Estate Business

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A Property Data API is an important asset when it comes to addressing the Millennial generation.

By now, you are aware of all of the recent research suggesting that Millennials are about to make up the largest bloc of home buyers.

You also probably know that Millennials are a special generation: tech-savvy, innovative, progressive, and they do things a little differently than some of us are used to.

You need to adapt to their culture in order to catch the wave of this upcoming group of potential clients.

Here are our suggestions for attracting Millennials as a real estate agent.

Property Data API meets the research demands of Millennials

Millennials, or young adults currently in the 22-37 year age range, are more interested in research than any other age group.

They are savvy buyers, resistant to sales gimmicks, and will read up on the best ways to do things before they do them.

Millennials will read studies, journals, and blogs; watch YouTube videos, and Google local real estate options and trends before making a decision to take the next step forward.

As pioneers of the information age, they take research and knowledge seriously.

That’s a major reason why a Property Data API can set agents apart when working with this demographic.

They listen less and scan more. You need something for them to scan such as Recent Property Sales, Home Price Trends, School Data, Neighborhood Demographics, Boundaries, Crime Statistics, etc.

Millennials have a different outlook on real estate

Millennials are entering the real estate buying and selling markets prepared and backed up with plenty of research.

Here’s are a few reasons why.

For one, this is the generation that went through the housing debacle back in 2008. They saw the value of their parents’ homes take a nosedive. (And they are probably kicking themselves for not moving into a home sooner as home prices recovered).

Secondly, this big wave of the population all decided to buy at once. So much of the inventory in the starter home segment – $200,000, went fast.

Now many Millennials are now considering jumping past a starter home and into the next level.

They will need guidance from a professional.

You can help them see your value and have a fantastic experience by showing them what they cannot find on Google and YouTube.

Your local real estate data tools can show research that they haven’t seen yet, such as rising price trends in a certain neighborhood and how they compare to other neighborhoods.

Your experience also gives you a sharper insight into expected property value increases, and your guidance during stressful situations like home inspections or negotiating costs will be invaluable.

Ultimately, your skilled and educated presence along the way will provide what a search engine never could.

The back story: Millennials heavily utilize social media

Millennials are on social media not just for fun and entertainment, but also for work, information, and ultimately making their lives better.

Social media is now one of the best ways to ensure that your brand is put in front of the right people’s faces.

Additionally, almost all Millennials will ask their social media contacts where to find the best “everything” – including the best neighborhoods, best schools, and of course the best local real estate agent for their needs.

If you promote yourself on social media as the agent with not just hyper-local knowledge, but for Millennials, hyper-local data, then that person could be you.

You can utilize social media to the best advantage by building a story brand.

If your feed boasts an interesting and insightful niche (not just selling, but helpful info), you will gain more followers and start to get those coveted tags and mentions in those “looking for a Realtor” posts.

Showcasing beautiful home details on Instagram, using your local data to create colorful infographics on Facebook, and providing insight into who you are and why you do what you do are some key ways that you can build trust and a following that is mostly comprised of Millennial-aged buyers and sellers.

Don’t buy into any negative-sounding news articles about Millennials.

This age group is motivated, creative, sharp, and great to do business with if you can gain their trust by being authentic.

While they are the younger generation, they are now maturing, moving up into better-paying jobs, and thinking about starting families

And most importantly, they now realize the value of not paying those high rents any longer and instead investing that money into real estate – a home of their own.

Just like Millennials have embraced the latest technology, to address this group, agents need to embrace the latest technology as well. That includes tapping into the “Big Data” phenomenon.

A local agent on Main Street can now partner with a national data aggregator such as Home Junction and compete with the large real estate portals supported by Wall Street.

By embedding a Property Data API into their website (which basically means inserting a few lines of code), a broker or agent can tap into a well of hyper-local information.

They can disperse that data wherever they want on their website – next to listings, on a Community Page or even as a News Alert on their homepage.

That’s how an agent can become a true local resource in the 21st Century.

By providing an in-depth Property Data API on your website, creating an engaging brand story on social media, and painting a picture of the digital value you offer, you will be able to successfully build a reputation among young adults in your target market.

Property Data API Can Address The Renting Is Better Than Buying Mindset

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housing data apiA Property Data API is a powerful tool for clearing up misconceptions formed by information based on national markets and headlines.

Homes prices are going up, people are worrying about a correction and that is sending many people to the rental office.

There has been some buzz in the real estate world about a recent Freddie Mac survey, which showed that 78% of respondents believe that renting is a more affordable housing option than buying.

Additionally, in a 4% increase since the beginning of the year, 58% of renters who responded indicated that they have no plans to purchase a house.

While this information could certainly indicate a trend that is a bit disturbing to a real estate agent, there’s a little more to the situation than a headline can convey.

And as we know, markets differ. What’s taking place in Des Moines is not necessarily the same as Fort Lauderdale. And certainly no market is like San Francisco.

That’s why a Property Data API is a powerful tool to counter the rental mentality.

There are effective ways to use this tool to talk to clients about their options.

After the recession, we saw a huge increase in the demand for rental housing. Young people faced difficulties purchasing property due to low wages and tight credit. Families lost their houses due to foreclosure.

Rent prices soared in many areas throughout the country. For-sale home pricing dropped dramatically.

A large number of people, especially Millennials, lived through that time. Understandably, it might be making them skittish today as home prices shoot upward again.

Home purchase prices nationally are rising quicker than both wages and inflation. This trend, combined with higher mortgage rates, is currently making it a bit more expensive for individuals to purchase new homes and can be making many clients shy away from getting out of a rental situation.

But Freddie Mac president David Brickman has stated that while buying is difficult for many right now, even renting is pretty hard to afford these days.

Property Data API supplies facts about local markets

What’s a person to do?

First of all, it would be helpful for an agent to supply consumers with facts. The key here is local facts. Hyper-local facts.

And the key to local facts, is to have home sales data for individual markets, not only home sale values by zip code, but neighborhoods and subdivisions as well.

For example, a potential home buyer might be worried about buying a home in a certain area.

With your Property Data API, you can show that buyer a few local facts.

Perhaps home sales are rising. That’s an indication that other people are still buying in that neighborhood.

Social proof is a powerful persuader.

Showing rising home sales in a market is about the best testimonial you can get.  Better than word of mouth. Call it “Word of Wallet.” That data shows people are still plunking down money to purchase a home.

Conversely, if home sales are flat, then perhaps, the buyer can see that in this particular neighborhood, they can still find a decent home at a decent price.

Run a comparison on monthly mortgage payments compared to monthly rental payments and perhaps that consumer will be convinced they would rather own their home place instead.

Same goes for prices. With a Property Data API an agent can show trends in home prices.

If prices are going up, perhaps that’s an indication that a consumer better make a move sooner than later. If that trend continues, that home should be worth more in the future.

Again, if in that particular market prices are flat, then the home buyer can see there is still an opportunity to get into a home without paying an inflated price.

Each market will be different. Each market will have its own characteristics.

Show how amenities add value

With other data an agent can also point out other characteristics that support buying that particular home as a sound investment decision.

Use school data to show how great the schools are down the street.

Add a geo-coded plug-in to integrate listings with points of interest. Maybe a property is close to a park, which should give it a higher value, say 10% to 20%, than other properties.

Is a Whole Foods going up in the area? Also point that out with your Property Data API. That’s a sure sign that someone believes this is an up and coming area.

There are many programs in existence to help buyers, especially first-time buyers, find a path to home ownership. Not everyone is aware of things like FHA loans, USDA loans, and VA loans.

In addition to these programs offered by the federal government, potential buyers should also be encouraged to do some research into their local city or state programs for housing grants and first-time-buyer programs.

While home ownership does come with some extra work and potential costs compared to renting, point out how that owner will be in possession of a valuable asset which can make a difference in their future.

For example, adding upgrades and improvements can help owners sell later at a profit.

The best way that you can help potential buyers make this decision is to use your local real estate data tools to show property values and house prices in their markets, so they can make an informed decision based on local conditions.

And how they can use those monthly payments toward building owner’s equity rather than filling the landlord’s pockets.

Real estate agents should also take actions to get renters signing up for their online mailing lists. This is a great opportunity to provide them with local market data each week, or month, allowing a renter to jump on a property when they feel comfortable – either when prices stabilize or start to rise and a renter knows they must make a decision.

Buying a home is a scary proposition for many people. Certainly for first-time buyers. But also for veteran home owners as well.

But 2018 is not 2008. Lessons were learned. Safeguards put in place. People can no longer purchase a home with no down payment, no reported income and interest only loans.

A Property Data API, with real estate market data down to the neighborhood level, can present a clearer, rational picture for a specific area a person is considering…and overcome any sort of headline-grabbing hysteria presented on a national level.

 

 

 

 

Property Data API Might Not Make A Great Video, But It Does Make A Great Impression

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A Property Data API provides the real estate market data that helps with the rational side of a home buying decsion.

A Property Data API would probably not be as captivating a video as someone standing in the shower with their clothes on. But it could be.

What are we talking about?

The National Association of Realtors recently released several humorous video ads targeted at Millennial home buyers.

They are funny…and do grab your attention.

In one scene, a potential buyer stands in a shower fully clothed, enjoying the soothing effect of a rainfall shower head.

A real estate agent is in another room staring out the window.

The buyer in the shower yells out, “I really like this shower.”

The agent replies, “Nice isn’t it? Take your time.”

In another video, a young child stares up at the ceiling as her dad keeps switching the lamps on and off to light up a beautiful, modern kitchen.

One of the funniest scenes is a young couple lying on a wood floor with giant grins on their faces.

An agent walks in and says, “That’s real Brazilian walnut.”

“Yes, we know,” the couple smiles and laughs in glee.

Silly right?

But as a commercial, they work.

And the commercials make this point, “Get an agent who gets you.”

The idea is to persuade Millenials to use the services of a real estate agent to help them find homes that put smiles on their faces.

Obviously, you can’t spell out ALL the benefits of using a real estate agent in a 30-second commercial. Plus, you have to use much of that time for a visual message with a hook.

And, as you can see, these video ads are appealing to the emotional side of home buying – as buyers fall in love with a modern kitchens or wood floors.

Property Data API helps with rational part of buying equation

But what about showing a video addressing the rational side of purchasing a house? The rational side of helping a young couple with the biggest financial decision of their lives.

That’s where a Property Data API comes in.

Another video could show something like this:

The scene opens with an agent sitting at a table with prospective buyers.

She opens up a laptop or iPad to her website.

With a few clicks, she shows a couple the couple the property they are interested in.

Here comes the clincher.

The couple has already seen the property, expressed a strong interest and love the kitchen/backyard/den.

But perhaps they are gun-shy about committing. Or maybe they are too picky and found a few flaws they can’t overcome.

At this point, the agent can use their Property Data API to access a ton of local real estate market data.

That data can be tied into the MLS listing she pulled up on her website.

The camera can then zoom in on the web page showing Recent Home Sales in that neighborhood.

Then go to another page showing Home Prices Trends.

The charts can show that sales and prices are going up in that neighborhood. Other buyers are obviously finding that area a nice place to live.

Then, the agent can pull up a map showing the MLS listing and related amenities.

The agent starts with schools.

She pulls up a page showing detailed school data about the local elementary and middle schools. Great student/teacher ratios and other positive data about schools in the area.

The agent can also point out School Attendance Zones showing how that property fits in that zone and here are the schools their children will attend. The couple, who plan to start a family, glance at each other knowingly, acknowledging the value of that information.

It’s not just the home, but the neighborhood too

Next the agent asks them about their interests.

The woman likes to exercise.

On the map, the agent can show the relative distance of a great gym near the property.

The husband likes to golf.

The agent can point out that popular golf course two miles away from that property.

She can also show parks, restaurants, stores and other neighborhood amenities.

Because as we all know, people don’t just buy homes, they buy neighborhoods too. Why not use a Property Data API to illustrate neighborhood amenities as well? (Something they don’t do in the NAR videos).

Finally, the agent can use the Home Valuation Tool to show how that property is positioned in the market.

The valuation tool not only shows an estimated value of the home based on recent property sales and other data, but also shows comparison data.

For example, the tool might show that this particular property is in the upper 80% for square footage in that neighborhood, but the Price per Square Foot is actually in the lower 20%. Big house with a low price.

It’s hard to make numbers exciting on a commercial. One way to illustrate the impact of the data would be to keep cutting away to the couple and watch as the smiles glow on their faces.

Or perhaps they exchange looks at each other, as if to say, “Yep, this is the house to buy.”

When it comes to buying a house, there’s emotion. The NAR has that covered in those commercials.

And then there’s also hard data. Facts that help the brain rationalize decisions, especially when that decision involves a $450,000 purchase paid over three decades.

With a Property Data API from national aggregators such as Home Junction, you will have that rational part covered and can witness those smiling faces in person right now, and maybe some day on a video.

 

Real Estate Data API On Broker’s Site Creates Ultra-Valuable Resource For Investors In Rental Properties

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Real estate data API information on website.

A real estate data API can be a tremendous tool for brokers and agents who want to attract property investors.

In fact, it could literally be the perfect tool.

That’s mainly because of this one factor – analysis.

As brokers and agents know, when a couple looks to buy a home, emotion plays big part in the decision.

But when property investors look at a home, it’s all about the numbers.

  • Property details
  • Pricing
  • Expenses
  • Taxes
  • Maintenance and repair costs
  • Utilities
  • Insurance
  • Cash Flow/Rental income
  • Tenant Occupancy Rates
  • Return on investment
  • Etc.

Those are a few of the equations investors need to calculate during due diligence to see if it is worthwhile for them to commit to a property.

There’s another critical part of the equation – analyzing local real estate market data.

Brokers and agents who embed a real estate data API from data aggregators such as Home Junction will have an enormous advantage in attracting this category of buyer.

And as you know, some of these investors could be the type that will constantly buy or sell properties over a long period of time.

Real estate API is the doorway to a massive database

Savvy  investors need to dig deep into every detail about a property that they can. Adding multiple properties to a portfolio can be very risky.

They know the importance of combing through public records and gathering every piece of data that they can.

But if a broker has a real estate data API on their website (or a property API as they commonly referred to), they will already have layers upon layers of public real estate data available to display and analyze.

Data aggregators such as Home Junction can supply:

  • Property Details
  • Parcel Details
  • Recent Home Sales Data
  • Trends in Property Prices
  • Tax Assessments
  • Tax Valuations
  • Sales History
  • And much more.

Take boundaries. Boundaries are extremely important for tax assessmentsand for schools. Being located inside a municipal boundary can add an extra layer of taxes, which will affect the return on investment formulas for any property.

There’s more.

As we said, investors look hard at the overall picture of a piece of real estate and other factors that influence the value.

That includes:

  • School Data
  • School District Boundaries – as we said, boundaries have consequences. A highly-rated school definitely has an effect on home values and also occupancy rates.
  • School Attendance Zones – these are also hyper-critical. A property might be located in a great school district, but not located which the zone for a particularly high-rated school.
  • Neighborhood Demographics
  • Crime Statistics
  • Cost of Living Indices

With these feeds from a real estate data API, a broker can go even deeper and feature neighborhood data on their website.

Include a geo-spatial component where you can show the distance of a property compared to popular neighborhood amenities

We know for example, that being located near a park can be a major influence on the price of a house.

(And all of these factors, such as schools, parks and local businesses, can make a property more attractive for renters to keep those occupancy rates high).

Another big chore that investors are engaged in is the process of comparing different properties,

Again, this is where a real estate data API can be a real treasure. Investors can make true apples to apples comparisons with accurate property data that covers several neighborhoods, even different cities or counties.

Use a Property API to show market trends

Trends are also super-valuable.

A smart investor knows not to get excited by national trends in home values that they might read in the press.

As far as they are concerned all business is local – hyper-local.

While property prices might be skyrocketing in That Town Over There, property values might not be doing the same in This Town Here.

Investors will want to review real estate and home sales data by zip code. To be an even better resource, a broker should offer a real estate data API that provides property sales down to the neighborhood and subdivision levels.

There are also real estate market trend tools that can show how a home compares to other homes in the area for certain factors.

Those factors could be:

  • Square footage
  • Prices
  • Price per square foot

Perhaps Mrs. Ivana Invest finds a nice potential rental property that is in the lower 20% for prices per square foot. That’s a very significant piece of information to know. (And, a major shortcut for them because they don’t have to dig up all that data to figure the ratios themselves).

This is the era of big data. A broker or agent can literally add dozens upon dozens of different property layers to their website.

They don’t have to store all that data on their website. They don’t have to go out and update it. They don’t have to worry about pulling that data to display on their website.

A real estate data API does all that work for them.

All a broker or agent has to do is add a few pieces of code to their website. It’s that simple.

And by the way, all of this data makes the broker and their agents the true local resource with local knowledge when dealing with individual home buyers.

Why let prospects go to the mega-real estate portals for this data when a local broker can supply the same thing? (And keep all of those leads).

Want to be an super valuable resource for property investors? Get a real estate data API working for you right away to attract those buyers.

If you want to see a real estate data API on an actual real estate website visit www.roywheeler.com