The Houston Association of Realtors is offering an iPhone application that doubles as a consumer property-search portal and a members-only portable multiple listing service.
At more than 25,000 members, HAR is the second-largest local Realtor association in the country. The app, launched Oct. 18, allows members "to quickly and conveniently tap into the same MLS real estate information on the go that’s available to them through a desktop Internet connection," the association said in an announcement today.
The app earned a ranking of No. 145 in the Apple App Store’s Lifestyle category in late October, as reported by app-tracking site TopAppCharts.com.
After logging into the app, members can view their leads and listings, their brokerage’s listing inventory, complete listing details, tax information, listing-price changes, and showing instructions (if applicable). HAR announced plans to add sold property data in 2011.
"Mobile access to MLS data enhances the services Realtors can deliver to real estate consumers who increasingly expect speedier response time and comprehensive, updated property sales information as they embark on the homebuying and selling process," HAR Chairwoman Margie Dorrance said in a statement.
Both consumers and Realtors can search through listings of more than 50,000 homes for sale or lease in the Greater Houston area; find open houses; filter searches by proximity, price, square footage and other features; save searches and listings; see results in list or map mode; and view property descriptions, videos, agent information, search history and up to 16 posted photos per listing. Listings are updated every 15 minutes, the association said.
HAR.com’s My Home Finder feature is also available on the iPhone. My Home Finder enables consumers to track properties of interest and receive notifications when a property’s listing price has been changed or the listing information has been updated in some other way. More than 200,000 consumers have registered on My Home Finder at HAR.com, the association reported.
The association announced plans to launch Android and iPad app versions of the app in 2011.
