Did you know that you can see all the available listings on the market almost as soon as realtors? That is right! The internet has provided significant transparency for buyers and sellers. There are websites available to the public that are FREE for home buyers/sellers to peruse. When looking for a home it is a good idea to educate yourself on the inventory and the market even before finding a Real Estate Agent.
Below are a list of websites I feel are helpful to view MLS listings, educate yourself on the market, and information on the process of buying or selling a home:
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✦www.zillow.com - Shows comparable sales and prices. Note, they are often off in their calculations, but nonetheless, the site is interesting, insightful, and the listings are updated multiple times a day.
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✦www.myhousingguide.com - Great website for all MLS listings in SF and the East Bay. Be sure to save searches so you will automatically be notified the day a new property matching your criteria gets posted on the MLS.
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✦www.homebuying.about.com - Great website to understand and learn more about home buying and selling! Tons of information. For example, lets say you wanted to find more information on how a Foreclosure or Short Sell might affect your taxes.
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✦www.greatschools.net - By far the best school research and comparison website out there. This is very important for the re-sale value of any home you purchase. For example, here are the Lafayette high school comparisons. Other notable websites are www.schooldigger.com or http://parents.berkeley.edu/. If you are looking for a home in Oakland, check out the interactive map at http://mapstacker.ousd.k12.ca.us/MapStacker.htm.
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✦www.walkscore.com - If you want to find out how walkable a property is, check out walkscore.com. Shows the closest amenities to a particular address. MyHousingGuide.com has also integrated WalkScore’s mapping function into the website. What’s the walkability of your house?
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✦On The Block – Fun Bay Area blog from a local perspective
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✦Open Houses: When searching for Open Houses, check out www.SFGate.com, www.craigslist.com or your local newspaper online. These do not cover all open houses but are a quick and easy resource.
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✦If you want to look at the crime rate around a particular address or area of Oakland, check out these websites; http://oakland.crimespotting.org/, http://gismaps.oaklandnet.com/crimewatch/, and http://www.spotcrime.com/ca/oakland.
What are some of your favorite online resources for Bay Area real estate?
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