Why did I write this?  I was tired at looking at home lists and then mapping out their location on Google maps.  It was extremely time consuming and most of the properties were out of my area of interest anyway. Before moving out west several months ago I went as far as creating my own Google map to pinpoint apartments of interest in Tempe, Arizona.

I’m the type of person that likes to take charge and play a large role in my own personal decision making.  Yes, I hire realtors and/or leasing agents for their expertise but I probably spend more time searching for a home than they do! Why?  Because that’s what nerds do…

I decided that before I look for my next home that I would research 10 real estate websites in search of the “BEST MAP.”  I simply Googled, “homes for sale” thinking that many internet goers might start their housing search the same way.  Below is a list of ten dot coms (in no particular order) that were within the first five pages of the search.  Please keep in mind that these reviews are solely based on the map and not the overall website.

http://www.realtor.com

Realtor.com offers a very visually appealing but smaller map interface.  It has several useful features including Points of Interests (POIs), individual market prices for all residential properties, and sold home properties.  A very unique feature to this map is its “heatmap” layers.  The “heatmap” shows the listing prices, estimated values, and median income of different areas.  I found this layer to be extremely helpful because I could more quickly identify the “hot” real estate areas.  Unfortunately, the “heatmap” would not turn off after I activated one of its layers.

The map also doesn’t bombard you with thousands of icons.  You must zoom into an area with under 300 homes currently for sale before the “home for sale” icon will display.  If you are unfamiliar with an area, this could become frustrating because you may have to zoom to several different areas before finding the right fit for you.  The icons representing a “home for sale” are also small and overlap making it difficult to hover or click on your desired icon when several icons are close together.  Furthermore, the icon does not contain a price until you hover your mouse over it.  You must click on the icon to see a picture of the property and to receive a link to its own page.  The base map contains Bing street and satellite aerial viewing.  However, you must be on a specific property page before you can utilize the “birds eye view” tool that Bing offers.  Overall, this map can be used as an extremely useful and time saving tool when comparing multiple homes.  The biggest loss for this map was with the simplicity and lack of a more “user friendly” icon.  An upgraded icon could make this map the best in its class.

6.5 out of 10

http://www.zillow.com

Zillow.com’s Bing map contains a neighborhood regions layer that you can view in either aerial or street view.  This is very useful for people that have heard of certain areas but don’t know where those areas are located geographically.   As you click on a neighborhood region all of the homes for sale, were recently sold, or the owner might sell (if the price is right) populate in that area (you have a choice to turn those layers on or off).  You can also turn the neighborhood regions layer off and simply search without it.  It is surprisingly fast! 

Searching without the layer on will provide you with every home for sale in that area and with so many icons the map is overwhelming.  However, the icons are extremely useful because unlike the icons on realtor.com these contain home prices without having to hover over the icon.  Even when the icons overlap, they are easy to distinguish and Zillow has made it easy to reach overlapping icons.  Condominiums are represented by a “tower” icon instead of a “house” icon.  The icons are also color coded depending on if the property was recently sold, is up for sale, or the owner is willing to sell if offered the “right price.”  This is a great tool to use when looking at area stats. 

The icon and pop-up windows for individual properties really set this map apart from the others.  The pop up window appears after clicking on a specific property.  It contains basic information and pictures of the property.  If you would like a Google street view of the property, click, “views” and the pop up window will expand without sending you to the properties individual page. It will also expand if it has more than one picture attached. This is a wonderful design idea because you are no longer directed away from the map.  I think the map developer had a great understanding for the time saving and usefulness the icons could bring to a map.  Zillow’s only flaw is that it gives you no POI data on its main map page.  When you click on an individual property you can see all “zestimate” (estimated home values) around the property as well as POIs.  You can also see a bird’s eye view of the property.  It’s a shame that this functionality is not incorporated into the search map page.  I also question the legitimacy of the “zestimate”.  Updating the “zestimates” and incorporating the functionality of the individual property map with the search map would place this map into a category above everyone else.

8 out of 10

http://www.homes.com

Finally a Bing map with bird’s eye view!  It also contains street and aerial views.  Unfortunately, the icons that populate in this search map are simply numbers that match the 9 listings on the page.  The listings will only update on the map when you go to the next 9 views in the list.  Do they really expect me to scroll through their list of 100s to 1000s of homes by 9 properties at a time?  This makes the map seem more like an afterthought rather than a useful search tool.  As you hover over an icon a very small and simple pop up window appears. 

In the individual property page, the site offers you a Google street view and Bing map views.  The Google street view is what you would expect.  However, the Bing map for the individual property contains other property highlights, points of interests and school data.  It also allows you to expand the map.  Unfortunately, all these functions are only available after you want to “view more details” for a specific home.  The POIs and property information is only available for a small area around the particular property you are viewing.  This map is a terrible search map.  However, its functionality once a property is found makes it worth using.  If you have a very specific search, which I wouldn’t recommend, then you could use this map to your advantage.

4 out of 10

http://www.trulia.com

Trulia contains a list with a small map in the right column of the site. Thankfully, the map allows you to increase the maps size.  “Bammmmmmmmmm!” It would have been “BAM!” But the map is extremely slow.  One of the slowest I found.  However, the Google map interface is huge (once the map is expanded)!  Properties are listed in groups of 50 and as you zoom closer and wait what seems like forever, the results of those 50 properties will not update within the viewing area unless you click on the “Search within map” function.  Shouldn’t that be standard already? My question is this, why did Trulia decide that 50 properties is the proper number for searches?  You must click “Next 50” if the area contains more than 50 homes for sale.  No doubt, this tool will give you anxiety.  How do you know if you have seen every property available?  Do you have to memorize icon locations for each 50 to make sure you are reaching all available home sales?  I found myself clicking “Next 50” over and over. 

The icons that represent each “home for sale” are large and contain no data so searching becomes more difficult.  However, Trulia has made it easy to reach overlapping icons. They also contain a gorgeous pop up window, probably the most appealing window available.  The window contains a standard template that you will see in most sites and as you click on the properties individual page you are directed away from the original map.  The individual property page contains another Google map with POIs.  Overall I found this map more frustrating than anything else.  The show “Next 50” function and slowness made me want to quickly leave the site and go back to another real estate search map.

3 out of 10

http://www.realestate.yahoo.com

This site contains one of the most useless map viewing platforms yet.   Yahoo has placed a small and ugly Navteq map in the right column of their page.  It maps the 10 properties that are featured on each page list.  It also contains simple layers for nearby schools, restaurants, shopping, and hospitals.  As I hovered over an icon, a pop up window appeared with individual property information and an unlinked URL. Many individual property pop-up windows are unfinished. The zoom in button sent me to the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.  Thank you yahoo.  I think your terrible map just gave all the other maps a bonus point.  There isn’t anything good to say about this map.  It is pretty much useless.  If you are only viewing properties in a very small and familiar neighborhood, then this map is okay to use because you pretty much don’t need it. 

1.5 out of 10

http://www.century21.com

I was very excited when I first saw the Century 21 Bing map.  The map allows you to pinpoint a property using a “pen” tool or create an area to search using a “circle” tool.  I found the circle tool to be a lot of fun and pretty useful for quick searches.  It even contains an “eraser” feature for areas that you no longer are seeking.  And for those of you who don’t have common sense there is a tutorial!  So after I created a circular area, adjusted its size and moved it to a location on the map I hit the “Search” button and found that the homes do not populate on the map but in a list!  What a tease! They don’t even show an icon!  This was the biggest bummer of them all.  Such cool search features that end up redirecting you to another list!  So what if I chose an area, I still don’t know the exact property location. 

This map is less user friendly and appealing than I was hoping.  Plus, I would rather have a polygon tool than a circular tool.  This map would be difficult for people to use that are unfamiliar with the territory because it does not contain POI layers.  Century 21 has the right idea in its unique functionality but didn’t pull the trigger when it comes to making it a universally affective map.  Get a map layer for the homes for sale!  Everyone else is doing it! Even yahoo and AOL have placed “Homes for sale” icons in their maps!  I don’t really know how to rate this one because properties aren’t actually represented on the map.  I have to give it something for its creative search features.

2 out of 10

http://www.homefinder.com

Homefinder does not have an interactive map! The website uses a list of properties and shows you the property on a small Google map on the left column after “Property Details” about a specific property is selected. You will not be able to search for properties on a map on this site.

0.5 out of 10

http://www.realestate.com

Realestate.com only shows a Bing map of the area after a specific property is chosen from a list.  The map contains a “bird’s eye view” but no additional features, layers, or unique tools/functionality.  I’ll give it a point for the “birds eye view” of the property.

1 out of 10

http://www.remax.com

The medium sized base map layer is a Google map that contains clickable icons for each zip code.  Once you have chosen a zip code and the map is zoomed in, the “homes for sale” icons appear.  You can also use the “Select area” function to select “homes for sale” in a particular area within the zip code.  The “Select area” function is more effective than the circular search selection tool at Century 21 because most areas within a city are geographically rectangular. This functionality allows you to focus in on a particular area very quickly.

An interesting design function to note is that it contains a column to indicate housing information for particular homes.  It takes the place of the pop-up window.  I personally like the column, because pop-up windows cover other available properties on the map.  My only suggestion is to make the map larger.  The column, once activated, makes the map interface much smaller.

The icons could use a little TLC.  They are not only ugly but are difficult to get to when close properties make the icons overlap.  They also do not give any additional information about a particular house until they are clicked. Hovering over an icon will not select it.  After selecting “view details” on a particular property icon, you must log in to see additional maps, really?  You can’t give that to us?  Although this map does not contain POIs it is one of my favorite maps.  It is easy to use and understand and contains a lot of helpful information (for people like my girlfriend who looks at a map like she’s trying to solve the world’s hardest calculus problem).  This is easily one of the most user friendly maps available but could use a larger interface and more icon functionality.

8 out of 10

http://www.homesandland.com

The website does not show a map until you choose a particular property.  Once a property is chosen the Google map can show an array of nearby POIs.  Overall, the site is useless when trying to search for multiple properties or properties in unfamiliar locations.

1 out of 10

http://www.houselocator.com

You really need to define your search before using this map.  Typing in a city will populate every home for sale in the metropolitan area.  Depending on your computer and connection capabilities this map could take a long time to load…and I’m running out of patience already.

You can enlarge the Bing map and make it one of the largest real estate search maps available.  This is the first Bing map I have run across that contains a working 3D view.  It also contains a smaller map on the bottom right corner that shows you a more zoomed out view of the properties location.  I like this feature because it allows you to more easily compare your location with the rest of the geographic area instead of just a neighborhood.  The “home for sale” icons do not contain any specific information like price.  Once you hover over an icon a small window appears that contains a picture of the property, its address, and its price.   With the exception of the 3D viewing capabilities, this map is as standard as they come.  There is nothing special about it and it does not contain POIs.  The slowness of such a simple system is surprising.

5.5 out of 10

http://www.homeseekers.com

This had no properties available when I searched.  Can I give negative numbers on its ranking?

0 out of 10

http://www.redfin.com

Redfin’s entire site is a map!  Finally, someone who seems to understand… Oh wait, nevermind.  Where’s the functionality?  If you build a site with so much emphasis placed on an interactive map why wouldn’t you make it totally kick ass?  Redfin stands apart from other sites because it has made its map the standardized viewing resource.  All of the other sites are dominated by listings. The site utilizes a very large Google map and contains a large side bar with specific property information.  Unfortunately, the map does not contain a street view or Bing map views.  I am totally bored with this map.

The map breaks down areas and includes the number of homes that are for sale in each represented area.  As you zoom in the “home for sale” icons appear but no additional information is under the icon.  The map is very basic and does not contain any other unique layers, POIs, or additional features.  Redfin is not available in all areas so only” represented” areas are available to view.  Redfin, you look like the ugly, dorky, middle child whose older sister is the captain of the high school cheerleading team and whose younger brother is an overgrown star athlete.

4 out of 10

http://www.realestate.aol.com

Exactly like Yahoo’s real estate map.  I can’t decide which one is uglier and more useless.

1 out of 10

What is my conclusion?

The perfect real estate search map has not been created because maps are living breathing things.  Remember, only your wife is perfect…just in case she didn’t remind you of that already today.  However, Zillow, Realtor, and ReMax have made great strides in their maps.  I was amazed to find so many real estate sites that have yet to understand the importance and usefulness of a map.  I can understand a site like AOL Real Estate not seeing the demand for a map from their visitors.  I mean who under 45 still uses AOL anyway?  Those that use AOL will hunt and peck the keyboard to type in exactly what their realtor tells them about a specific property and place all their faith in the realtor to find them the house of their dreams.

Over the next five years, I believe that you will see a huge shift in the way real estate search websites function.  Search results are currently dominated by viewing available properties in a list.  Maps on these sites are used in accordance with the list or as a “backup” function for searches.  Over time, the functionality of maps on these sites will make them more user friendly and the rolls of the map and list search will flip flop.  You will go to a real estate site and the default search option will be map based instead of list based.    

What does the ultimate map contain?

We need a map that contains as much public information available.  Zillow tries but has proven to contain very inaccurate data.  People shopping for a home need to see the home from both a “street view” and “birds eye view.”  This will give you several different angles of the property and its surroundings.  Icons should be small but show specific information like price before you hover over it.  Icons should also be different for different types of housing (i.e.  A condominium is represented as a tower).  I believe that a sidebar is a better option as well because you can view additional property information without covering the middle of the map with a pop-up window.  Many of these sites are already making it easy to reach overlapping icons and others need to do the same.  Some of these maps are working too hard and take too long to load.  It would be wonderful to have a tool where you can draw a polygon over an area so you are not confined to a circle or rectangle.  I enjoyed the maps with POIs and School information and would like to see those layers on the main search map.  It would be great to easily save interesting locations on the map and have them represented by a different colored icon.

Why do I broaden my search scope when I know specifically what I need?

I broaden my search scope to get a better understanding of the real estate climate of the area. Even with more refined searches you can’t grasp all that a list can give to you because you are held back by input factors and you can’t visually see the geographic relationships among homes…And what is the most important thing about the price of a home?  LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION…

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