This document summarizes the best mobile apps for each stage of the homebuying process in 2017. It identifies 5 key stages: Dreaming, Financial Readiness, Home Shopping, Moving, and Designing Your New Home. For each stage, the document provides details on the top 3 apps, including screenshots and descriptions of their key features and benefits. It was compiled by Cultural Outreach to help real estate agents and others in the industry stay up-to-date on emerging mobile technologies relevant to home buyers.

1. 2017 Real Estate Mobile App Briefing
An in-depth review of the best apps for every
stage of the homebuying process for 2017
www.homebuyingapps.com

2. Apps for every stage of
the homebuying process
1
DREAM PREPARE SHOP MOVE DESIGN
1 2 3 4 5
www.homebuyingapps.com

3. Best apps for buyers, agents, and lenders, how they work, top pros and cons, and
“hacks” for buyers such as the best way to get an accurate home valuation
What’s Inside
Top-Ranking Apps How to Use Best Features Shareable Tips
2

4. Our Approach & Methodology
1

5. Compiled by Cultural Outreach
3
www.culturaloutreach.net
Contact Founder, Kristin Messerli
Twitter: @KristinMesserli
kristin@culturaloutreach.net

6. Download Full Report:
Visit www.homebuyingapps.com to download & purchase
customization

7. 1-on-1 interviews with
lenders, agents and C-level
real estate executives
Market research
Industry-leading studies
Surveying of app users
Interviews &
Surveys
3

8. App testing (iPhone & Android):
usability
interface
Need fulfillment
performance
installation
Testing… the
fun part
4

9. The Opportunity for Agents
1

10. Demonstrate you have up-to-date
expertise

11. Become known as the “go-to” resource and
boost credibility

12. Stay educated on the behavior & culture of your
consumers

13. The Top Apps for Every Stage
1

14. STAGE 1: Dream-Building
Thinking about what you want in a
home, neighborhood, and city
Quick Tip: Today’s borrowers
value ”lifestyle” in their home
search

15. Best app for finding neighborhoods
that are the most walkable, bikable,
or have easy access to public transit
1. Walk Score
11

16. Screenshots
13

17. Quickly learn about the “lifestyle
features” of prospective neighborhoods
by browsing local businesses, bars,
banks, restaurants and more
2. Around Me
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18. 2. Around Me
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Grocery stores
Gas stations
Restaurants, bars
Banks, ATM’s
Hospitals
Coffee Shops
Pharmacies
More…

19. STAGE 2:
Financial-Readiness
Preparing a budget and figuring
out how much “home”
you can afford

20. Learn your credit score and receive
tips to improve your credit
1. Credit Karma
19

21. Simple and quick way to access credit
score
View and dispute collection items
directly within the app
Easily learn about your credit profile,
and what each area means
1. Credit Karma
20

22. Screenshots
21

23. To help you create a budget and gain
a better idea of your personal
financial obligations
2. Mint.com
24

24. All personal accounts in one place
Track spending
Create budgets
Get “at-a-glance” info on how
you’re spending $
Email alerts for bills, low balances,
late fees, overspending
2. Mint.com
25

25. Web app homebuyer “savings goal” feature
26
Goal-trackerAffordability calculator

26. “The first and only app that helps
homebuyers work with a mortgage
professional to achieve absolute financial
transparency about mortgage options and
refinance scenarios...you and your
mortgage professional can review all the
options on your iPhone or iPad together–-
anytime and anywhere.”
3. Mortgage Coach

27. Personalization & Improved Communication

28. Transparency & Empowerment

29. Spanish-language version now available!
60% of the growth in
homeownership since 2010 came
from Hispanic homebuyers
(NAHREP)

30. STAGE 3: Home Shopping
Shopping, sharing, & comparing
until you find the “one”

31. PART 1: Best MLS Apps
The go-to (most popular) apps to assist you in finding homes on the market which fit your specific needs
28

32. Side Note! Don’t just say “no” – Explain why!
(And I’ll tell you why your buyers say yes)

33. 29
#1

34. #1 Redfin
32
As a real estate brokerage site, Redfin is
powered by the local MLS:
Over 99% of agent-listed homes:
about 20% more than Zillow/Trulia
High accuracy and speed of listings

35. #1 Redfin
31
Simple, intuitive interface
makes it easy to schedule
and organize open houses,
and add photos/notes within
the app

36. #1 Redfin
30
Includes extensive property
and community info, and
allows users to search based
on schools, neighborhoods,
or school districts

37. PART 2: Top apps for sharing &
comparing listings

38. Privately discuss listings with buyer
Receive info from “snap” of house
Keep notes/photos
Easily collaborate with others
Developed for Realtors: up-to-date listings
1. Homesnap
46

39. Screenshots
47

40. Remember your favorite homes
through photos, videos, and notes,
and make it easier to share and
compare with others
2. My Nest
48

41. 2. My Nest
49
Create a profile page for each home
Pin on map
Add photos/descriptions
Share with others

42. 2. My Nest
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Access professional mortgage advice

43. 2. My Nest
49
Add rooms
Add photos and audio notes

44. Screenshots
50

45. Collaboration tool for agents. Agents can create “to-do lists” for buyers,
create/share documents, start/track conversations, and manage the tasks and
progress of their closings.
Bonus: Dot Loop (For Realtors)

46. STAGE 4: Moving
Staying organized and
productive before
(and after) moving

47. Easily manage, search, and
categorize your moving boxes by
creating a “visual inventory” of your
stuff with photos, tags, and notes
1. Sortly
52

48. Simplifies inventory of moving boxes
through folders, photos, searchable tags
Organize by room, box, or item type
Easy collaboration with others
Schedule reminders like expiration dates
1. Sortly
53

49. Screenshots
54

50. Buy furniture you know will fit in
your new space by quickly drawing
accurate floor plans and adding
furniture or objects
2. MagicPlan
55

51. Screenshots
57

52. On-demand delivery service for
pretty much anything you need,
including meals and moving
day champagne
3. Postmates
58

53. Get local delivery, on-demand
from any restaurant or store
Available 24/7, 365 days a year
3. Postmates
59

54. Screenshots
60

55. An improved on-the-go
Craigslist, this app lets you easily
buy and sell household items
locally before or after you move
4. OfferUp
61

56. Screenshots
62

57. Find the most highly-rated
movers in your area.
Pro Tip! Movers often have
coupons or special offers on
Yelp
5. Yelp
63

58. STAGE 5:
Designing Your New Home
Discover, collect, buy, and
budget for “DIY” projects and
home design ideas

59. Discover, collect and share
unique home design ideas with
“boards” and “ideabooks”
1. Pinterest & Houzz
65

60. Find top-rated house cleaners,
handymen, landscapers, electricians
& plumbers in your neighborhood
2. Porch
69

61. Convenient and easy
Safe: all vendors have received
background checks
Payment handled directly in app
Fast: process takes less than a minute
2. Porch
70

62. Screenshots
71

63. Collect design ideas, get the info you
need to make your project happen,
and virtually paint your walls to test
out different colors
3. Zillow Digs
73

64. Order affordable new decor or
household items and they’ll arrive in
2 days (or 2 hours!)
4. Amazon Prime
76

65. Download free, comprehensive report and handout at homebuyingapps.com

66. 2017 Real Estate Mobile App Briefing
www.homebuyingapps.com

67. Which apps are
we missing?

68. Download Lunch-and-Learn Bundle:
Visit www.culturaloutreach.net/mc to Download
Powerpoint, Report, & Handout

69. Find additional resources at culturaloutreach.net/mc

70. NEW! Social MAP
Social media
content, post
scheduling, and
analytics
www.culturaloutreach.net/social

71. NEW! Social MAP
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al
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kristin@culturaloutreach.net
www.culturaloutreach.net/social

72. www.culturalouteach.net/mc
kristin@culturaloutreach.net
@kristinmesserli