Comments on: Consumers are Looking for More than Listings, they are Looking for a Place to Live. Does Your Website Help them Accomplish that Goal?

By: Why Aren’t More Real Estate Websites Using Outside.in for Hyperlocal Content? | GeekEstate Blog

Wed, 10 Feb 2010 00:38:33 +0000

[...] school information, demographics, crime stats, local business information, etc. — this is all information of interest to buyers as part of the process of finding a place to live. I covered some available sources for local data quite some time ago, but one to add to that list [...]

By: Crime Statistics in Iowa City: Iowa City Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Map | Iowa City Homes for Sale

Wed, 06 Jan 2010 17:18:24 +0000

[...] I read a really good blog post written by Drew Meyers. He listed the top 15 things consumers are looking for when they search for somewhere to live. As he [...]

By: wine club

wine club — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 22:54:07 +0000

My understanding is that Realtors can present the information to clients, but should not be suggesting an area based on neighborhood demographics.

I know a few companies that have the crime stats as a link on the site and I think that covers everyone's bases so to speak.

It's tough because crime rates are a legit reason to live somewhere, or not live somewhere.

By: kathytorline

kathytorline — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 19:23:19 +0000

Interesting question about what buyer's are looking for when purchasing a home. One thing I didn't see on the list from Zillow was the schools — which is the question I get asked over and over again.

I give all types of resouces to people looking for info on schools, crime stats, etc. I don't direct them to a neighborhood; but I can certainly give them resources so they can do their own research.

By: wine club

wine club — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 14:54:07 +0000

By: kathytorline

kathytorline — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 11:23:19 +0000

I give all types of resouces to people looking for info on schools, crime stats, etc. I don't direct them to a neighborhood; but I can certainly give them resources so they can do their own research.

By: SacramentoBill

SacramentoBill — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 16:29:07 +0000

Hi Drew,

Big topic. I imagine this would be a good product offering for a company like Zillow for Realtors. Some form of business “incubator” for satisfying a long term home buyer's need for discovery, while allowing agents to make a living in the here and now.

By: revealrealestate

revealrealestate — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 14:06:34 +0000

Great list Drew – In our work in the second home market in Central America we add a little twist to the lifestyle/travel information and collect the following: 1) driving time from the international airport 2) whether the roads are paved / unpaved 3) distance from golf course, dive spot or surf break.

By: Matt Dollinger

Matt Dollinger — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 20:12:29 +0000

Mike, Jim and Drew,

Where I totally understand (although I think they're a little over the top with some elements) the fair housing laws and how they pertain to brokerage vs. Zillow (or other non licensed search platforms) I think that the huge workaround is the following:

"Do you provide them with the resources to search for this on their own?"

It's funny when I see that this is a topic at Inman NYC because it is exactly what we designed (and had Terabitz Implement) for our website www.atproperties.com. We used outside.in, education.com, yelp.com and others and had Tbitz put them into their existing platform.

But showing the consumers WHERE to get the crime stats, etc. for neighborhoods is NOT against fair housing. I would only suggest that if you have them search for stats on where they are GOING to live, that you have them search THEIR CURRENT area as well (as they will oftentimes be shocked).

By: Jim Duncan

Jim Duncan — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 19:25:32 +0000

Mike -

Would you mind citing the part of the fair housing law and NAR CoE that specifically address our inability to post/discuss crime statistics? I'd like to be able to point that to my clients.

Thanks!