Modern, user-friendly interface<\/div><\/td>
Lacks more detailed analytics for investors<\/div><\/td><\/tr>
Great for viewing long- and short-term trends<\/div><\/td>
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Trulia – Best App for User Polling Data <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nAll the facts and figures in the world won\u2019t help you learn what it\u2019s really like living in a particular neighborhood. Trulia solves this problem by incorporating user polls into its platform alongside standard data like median sale prices and time-on-market stats.<\/p>\n\n\n
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I am a big fan of Trulia\u2019s \u201cWhat Locals Say\u201d section. It gives me a sense of what a neighborhood is actually like, which is helpful for assessing properties in areas I haven\u2019t visited myself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is a great option for investors and end-users alike to get a good sense of an area before diving into property-specific research.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Trulia\u2019s filters also include options for single-family homes, condos, apartments, multi-family homes, land, and mobile homes, making it far more versatile than Rocket homes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In my opinion, Trulia is best used as a first pass, so you\u2019ll need to use other platforms to get the full picture.<\/p>\n\n\n\nPros<\/strong><\/div><\/th>Cons<\/strong><\/div><\/th><\/tr><\/thead>Outstanding local insight from user polls<\/div><\/td>
Data isn\u2019t detailed enough to use on its own<\/div><\/td><\/tr>
Caters to more than just single-family homes<\/div><\/td>
Geared more toward end-users than investors<\/div><\/td><\/tr>
Sleek UI that I prefer to other similar apps<\/div><\/td>
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Zillow – Best App to Look for Houses<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nZillow became a household name on the back of its sheer volume of property listings. People fell in love with Zillow\u2019s map feature and value estimator, which is how it became the most downloaded real estate mobile app.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I know what you\u2019re thinking: don\u2019t most house-finding apps have a map? That\u2019s true, but that\u2019s only because they\u2019re following in Zillow\u2019s footsteps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Zillow\u2019s now-iconic map, with its filters and draggable boundaries, makes it still one of the best apps for home buying, even among the sea of imitators.<\/p>\n\n\n
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Zillow\u2019s data isn\u2019t always the most up-to-date, since it really aims to draw buyer attention and sell leads to real estate agents. This is one pretty major downside of Zillow: you\u2019ll need to verify information using other sites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You also shouldn\u2019t take its Zestimates too seriously, but its massive database gives you access to more listings than other top real estate apps. Enough said.<\/p>\n\n\n\nPros<\/strong><\/div><\/th>Cons<\/strong><\/div><\/th><\/tr><\/thead>Extensive listings database<\/div><\/td>
Data is sometimes out-of-date<\/div><\/td><\/tr>
Zestimates can be helpful<\/div><\/td>
Zestimates aren\u2019t always accurate<\/div><\/td><\/tr>
Convenient, full-featured mobile app<\/div><\/td>
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Redfin – Best for Low Commissions <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nIf you\u2019re looking for the lowest commissions you can find to save a little money on your purchase, check out Redfin. Redfin\u2019s biggest draw is that it offers lower commissions than the competition by using in-house certified agents that accept lower payments in exchange for leads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Redfin charges a 1.5% listing fee and drops that rate to 1% if you buy through the company. Redfin also doesn\u2019t charge for services like photos and digital marketing, which can help lower your upfront costs, leaving you room for a more competitive down payment.<\/p>\n\n\n
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Another reason to use Redfin is its real-time updates, which means Redfin\u2019s data is much less likely to be out-of-date than, say, the information on Zillow.<\/p>\n\n\n\nPros<\/strong><\/div><\/th>Cons<\/strong><\/div><\/th><\/tr><\/thead>Low 1.5% listing fee<\/div><\/td>
The Redfin database is notably lacking compared to Zillow<\/div><\/td><\/tr>
All the bells and whistles of a modern real estate app<\/div><\/td>
If you want to buy through Redfin, you have to use their in-house agents<\/div><\/td><\/tr>
Data updates extremely quickly<\/div><\/td>
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Homesnap – Best Features <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nAre you ready for me to blow your mind? Homesnap\u2019s app lets you take a picture of a home and instantly see property details. How cool is that?!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Homesnap is the only company that offers this feature \u2014 as far as I know \u2014 and it\u2019s a total game-changer. It makes it so easy to pull up info that you\u2019ll find yourself doing market research whenever you come across a property for sale in your day-to-day life.<\/p>\n\n\n
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Homesnap is more than just a novelty. The data it pulls is accurate and up-to-date, although mostly geared toward people looking to purchase or rent a primary residence.<\/p>\n\n\n\nPros<\/strong><\/div><\/th>Cons<\/strong><\/div><\/th><\/tr><\/thead>Cutting-edge tech makes home research a breeze<\/div><\/td>
The listing database is not as extensive as some of its competition<\/div><\/td><\/tr>
Reliable, up-to-date data from MLS<\/div><\/td>
Some users complain that the app is not very user-friendly<\/div><\/td><\/tr>
In-app messaging makes communication between buyers and agents easy<\/div><\/td>
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Loopnet – Best for Commercial Real Estate <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nNot interested in residential home-buying apps? Let\u2019s segue from the \u200b\u200bbest apps for home buying and into commercial real estate for a moment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Loopnet is a real estate app that\u2019s mainly focused on commercial real estate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Obviously, Loopnet is not one of the best house-hunting apps if you\u2019re looking to buy a residential property. But it should be at the top of your list if you\u2019re looking to invest in office space, a retail location, or an industrial property.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One of the best parts of using Loopnet is that it has a more extensive suite of tools aimed at investors, like tools for estimating cap rates and cash flow. This is helpful for the experienced real estate investor, but the steep learning curve can intimidate some people.<\/p>\n\n\n\nPros<\/strong><\/div><\/th>Cons<\/strong><\/div><\/th><\/tr><\/thead>Best option for commercial properties<\/div><\/td>
Steeper learning curve<\/div><\/td><\/tr>
Unmatched tools for real estate investors<\/div><\/td>
Not great for residential properties<\/div><\/td><\/tr>
Expansive database of office, retail, and industrial properties<\/div><\/td>
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Top Real Estate Apps for Crowdfunded Real Estate<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nI know firsthand what a hassle managing an investment property can be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you\u2019re not the kind of person who wants to deal with managing a property, don\u2019t worry! There are other ways to invest in real estate that give you plenty of upside with none of the headaches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One of the best ways to get into real estate is through a crowdfunded real estate app. These apps work sort of like investing in the stock market, allowing you to purchase a small share of a property to receive a piece of the rental income.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Let\u2019s take a quick look at three of my favorite crowdfunded real estate apps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div><\/th>
Arrived Homes<\/strong><\/div><\/th>Fundrise<\/strong><\/div><\/th>RealtyMogul<\/strong><\/div><\/th><\/tr><\/thead>Rating<\/strong><\/div><\/td>\u2b50\u2b50\u2b50\u2b50\u2b50<\/div><\/td>
\u2b50\u2b50\u2b50\u2b50\u2b50<\/div><\/td>
\u2b50\u2b50\u2b50\u2b50<\/div><\/td><\/tr>
Types of investments<\/strong><\/div><\/td>Single-Family homes<\/div><\/td>
REITs<\/div><\/td>
Commercial (direct and funds)<\/div><\/td><\/tr>
Minimum investment<\/strong><\/div><\/td>$100<\/div><\/td>
$10<\/div><\/td>
$5,000<\/div><\/td><\/tr>
Fees<\/strong><\/div><\/td>