Like any industry, technology in the real estate profession advances at a breakneck speed and can leave you wondering where to start. Out of all the apps available, which ones will actually make a significant impact in your real estate ventures? I’ve made it easy on you by providing a list of some of the best real estate apps to help you get some extra insight when buying or selling your home.
Here’s Our Top Picks for the Best Real Estate Apps in 2018
Realtor.ca
Without a doubt Realtor.ca has one of the best real estate apps you can download to your phone or your tablet. While it cannot compare to having an actual real estate agent, it can easily supply up-to-date listing information about properties available in your preferred neighbourhoods. You can star your favourites or create routes of all the open houses you want to see in a day, and it is arguably a lot simpler to use than the actual website!
Magic Plan
Sometimes when you view a property it is unfurnished and is described as a blank slate. For those of us who might not find it easy to imagine what an empty space’s potential could be, Magic Plan uses your phone’s camera to render floor plans and design the space to your liking. For extra visuals, you can use it in combination with FloorPlanner which will turn your floor plan into a 3D visualisation.
Walk Score
This app is easily one of the best real estate apps out there and is a must-have when paired with Realtor.ca or its rival Zoocasa. While the aforementioned apps will help you find listings, Walk Score helps you learn about the neighbourhood those listings are located in. It will provide a score based on the ease of access for walkability, public transit and cycling routes. You can also learn about nearby amenities and discover the distance to your essential go-to shops and services. An alternative version of this app is called Around Me.
School Locator
If you are moving and have children of school age, this app is a must for you. Simply type in an address and you can immediately find out which public and/or Catholic school catchments that property is in, for both the elementary and intermediate levels of your child’s schooling. More importantly, it will also show the school’s rating based on the Fraser Institute’s report so you can learn how the school has been reviewed over the past five years.
Canadian Mortgage App
Here is an app that will make sure your dream home can become a reality with the budget you have. This is a simple app that can help you maximize your buying power by calculating all your home ownership costs. This site thoroughly understands closing costs, land transfer tax and maximum loan amounts, as well as any rebates or tax credits that may be available to you. This is an especially useful tool for first time home buyers.
Buying and/or selling your home can be a long process, but it does not have to be a difficult one. Using some of the best real estate apps can quell anxieties and allow you to feel well informed and comfortable in this next big chapter in your life. I hope you try some of these out and enjoy them! If you need more in person advice feel free to reach out to me.
