Looking to Buy? There’s an App for That.

Finding the home of your dreams while fun can prove to be a daunting task. Between going to showings and searching through endless photos online, home shopping can be exhausting and overwhelming. Why torture yourself with unproductive online browsing when you can get valuable information about the local housing market from the comfort of your smartphone?

So take a deep breath, grab your phone and introduce yourself to some of the most helpful real estate apps for homebuyers. You won’t know how you lived without them for so long.

1. Real Estate by Zillow

This top-rated real estate app is essential for any homebuyer looking for the most basic information about properties in their area. At the click of a button, you have access to millions of homes for sale across the entire U.S. along with detailed property info. One of the best features of this app is its ability to help you gauge what neighborhoods would suit you best thanks to its map of nearby schools. It even connects you with reliable lenders for mortgage pre-approval and custom mortgage quotes. Don’t forget to save your searches so you can easily access your favorite finds at any time.

Coolest feature: The app’s fun “draw” feature that lets you literally draw the area on a map of where you’d like to search for listings.

2. Realty Trac

For Android users who feel left out of the iPhone app-loop, Realty Trac is designed especially for you. This Android house-hunting app is great for buyers looking for specific information on properties and foreclosure listings. Buyers can even search for houses that have recently gone on or off the market. Easily share listings you’ve found on various social networks.

Coolest feature: This app is incredible at delivering the dirty details. We’re talking listing statuses, equity info, lender names and even bankruptcy status.

3. Realtor.com® Real Estate App

If you’re spending every weekend aimlessly looking for homes in your area, do yourself a favor and get this awesome real estate app by Realtor.com®. This app updates every 15 minutes giving you the latest most relevant housing market info available. Easily view high-quality listing pictures and video tours and save them to your phone along with any notes you may have. And thanks to its detailed filters, never again waste your time spending hours looking at properties just to learn they won’t allow your favorite four-legged housemates.

Coolest feature: This app is great for on-the-go shoppers, allowing you to switch from desktop to mobile without losing any of your saved searches and notes.

4. Dwellr

Dwellr is an app run by the U.S. Census Bureau, providing you with a new angle to the house-hunting game. Easily get helpful neighborhood information about its population, school systems, and other specific demographic information. This app is especially helpful to buyers who are relocating to a neighborhood they’re unfamiliar with.

Coolest feature: When planning to make a major move, Dwellr allows you to prioritize different factors like your commute and climate preferences to best match you with an appropriate neighborhood.

5. Homesnap

New and experienced homebuyers alike can’t stop talking about this easy-to-use house-hunting app. Homesnap is unique in that it brings both the house-hunting process and necessary communication together into one convenient app. Its new messaging feature allows you to send and receive important info with your real estate agent, spouse, and friends. It’s also easy to refer back to previous conversations and re-visit saved information.

Coolest feature: Ever accidentally drive by a property for sale but have no way to learn about its market info? Homesnap lets you take a picture of the home for sale and automatically connects you with relevant details and information.

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Like these apps? Here are a few more apps for your mortgage calculation, and apps for your virtual interior design.