Adding a new dimension to real estate

A new feature from Google is adding a new dimension to real estate.  Street View, from Google, is allowing people to view cities and towns in a new way.  By giving you an actual view from the street of a home, you can now see exactly what a neighborhood looks like.  With features like 360 viewing or zoom in and out, this new addition to Google is very impressive.

Unfortunately not all cities and towns are available on Street View, however the list is growing.  To tell if your City is available, check out Street View.  Looking at some of the pictures on Street View, it looks like a camera is mounted to the top of a car.  The car then drives around and captures the images. 

Applying this technology to real estate will add a new dimension to how people search for homes.  You will now be able to actually view an entire neighborhood without leaving your computer.  You can do some reconnaissance on your potential neighbors to see if they keep up with your house/yard.  Perhaps an engine hanging from a tree or cars on blocks would be good tips that a neighborhood is not right for you.  Between virtual tours of home and new tools like Street View potential home buyers can get a much better feel for the home of their dreams.

What do you think, will Street View be a true benefit to home buyers?