Branden Schroeder's Blog: Interesting Technology & Websites

Although Zillow clearly dominates the market of providing free, instantaneous real estate valuation estimates, it is not the only source.  A variety of websites now offer similar online valuation calculators that provide results simply by having a user enter a residential address. 

There has been and will continue to be significant debate about the accuracy of results from these online algorithm-based valuation calculators.  While many of the criticisms leveled against Zillow and similar websites  have some merit (i.e., some online estimates do not reflect true market values), it is not the intent here to rehash the reasons for these shortcomings.  And so, with the broad caveat of ‘user beware’, here is a list of some sources of free online home… Read Full Post

If you are thinking about a remodeling project or are perhaps just considering ways to lower your electric bill by making small home improvements, all the available options now being discussed in the media may seem a bit overwhelming.  As “green” issues have become recently in vogue many people are holding themselves out to be experts and the array of recommendations and sources of information have grown considerably. 

To help remodelers, whether homeowners or contractors, make decisions that will actually make a proven difference in terms of energy efficiency and natural resource conservation, the Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing (PATH) recently issued a “Top 10” List for Remodeling.  PATH, which is a joint venture between various… Read Full Post

Sometime in the next few weeks yet another website, www.RealUmbrella.com, will be launched with the goal to fundamentally change how residential real estate transactions are handled.  “Stand by for The Real Estate Market shake up!”, claims the home page of RealUmbrella.com, under the motto “Be Your Own Agent” as it ambitiously touts itself as “The For Sale By Owner of the future - today.”  

At its core, the plan of the business model is to allow buyers, sellers and any other supporting parties to the transaction (lender, title company, etc.) to complete the entire sale online -- from listing to closing.  And all this completely without the assistance of real estate brokers/agents. 

According to the RealUmbrella.com website: 

“With Virtual… Read Full Post