Real estate rebate system and method
First Claim
1. A system for a host to selectively provide rebate coupons to potential buyers of real property, said system comprising:
- a host system;
at least one remote communications facility;
data storage means within said host system for maintaining databases containing a plurality of data records of differing types and chronologies;
computer processing means within said host for selecting data records and transmitting said selected data records to said at least one remote communications facility according to selection criteria provided by said at least one remote communications facility;
communications network means associated with said host system, said communications network means being controlled by said computer processing means to exchange data between said host computer system and said at least one remote communications facility;
computer input-output means at said at least one remote communications facility to enable at least one of;
a. for potential buyers to obtain one of i) specification of selection criteria for said data records and display of selected data records meeting said selection criteria and receipt of a rebate coupon for at least one property corresponding to said selected data records, and ii) registration of at least one pre-printed rebate coupons clipped from a print medium from said host using a request code printed on said at least one pre-printed rebate coupon and receipt of an approval code that the buyer prints on said at least one pre-printed rebate coupon;
b. for sellers to sign up properties for inclusion as listing inventory data records in said databases, c. for sellers to agree to one of i) acceptance of said rebate coupons and said at least one pre-printed rebate coupon as a substitute for an agent in the field, and ii) acceptance of said rebate coupons and said at least one pre-printed rebate coupon if an agent in the field visits the seller within a certain time period after the buyer presents said rebate coupons and said at least one pre-printed rebate coupon, and d. for sellers to fund a commission to said host for the sale of a property corresponding to one of said rebate coupons and said at least one pre-printed rebate coupon.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus are provided for a communications network accessible hosted system that generates real estate commission revenues and processes self-service rebate coupons for principals in a real estate purchase transaction without a licensed real estate agent being physically present. Home sellers can list their properties with a host of the present invention at no upfront cost. The host allows homebuyers to research properties that meet their selection criteria. In a preferred embodiment, the present invention provides network access to hosted databases and matching services based on homebuyer needs, including ranked listing inventory, and generates custom coupons or registers pre-printed coupons for selected properties. The coupons are accepted by the seller and certify the host as the referring party. If a sale results, the host earns a commission from the home seller, while the homebuyer earns a rebate from the host.
54 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A system for a host to selectively provide rebate coupons to potential buyers of real property, said system comprising:
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a host system;
at least one remote communications facility;
data storage means within said host system for maintaining databases containing a plurality of data records of differing types and chronologies;
computer processing means within said host for selecting data records and transmitting said selected data records to said at least one remote communications facility according to selection criteria provided by said at least one remote communications facility;
communications network means associated with said host system, said communications network means being controlled by said computer processing means to exchange data between said host computer system and said at least one remote communications facility;
computer input-output means at said at least one remote communications facility to enable at least one of;
a. for potential buyers to obtain one of i) specification of selection criteria for said data records and display of selected data records meeting said selection criteria and receipt of a rebate coupon for at least one property corresponding to said selected data records, and ii) registration of at least one pre-printed rebate coupons clipped from a print medium from said host using a request code printed on said at least one pre-printed rebate coupon and receipt of an approval code that the buyer prints on said at least one pre-printed rebate coupon;
b. for sellers to sign up properties for inclusion as listing inventory data records in said databases, c. for sellers to agree to one of i) acceptance of said rebate coupons and said at least one pre-printed rebate coupon as a substitute for an agent in the field, and ii) acceptance of said rebate coupons and said at least one pre-printed rebate coupon if an agent in the field visits the seller within a certain time period after the buyer presents said rebate coupons and said at least one pre-printed rebate coupon, and d. for sellers to fund a commission to said host for the sale of a property corresponding to one of said rebate coupons and said at least one pre-printed rebate coupon. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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17. A method of automatically generating and issuing real estate buyer rebate coupons to potential buyers through a communications network comprising:
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a host system for signing up sellers to pay a commission to one of (i) the host for each buyer delivered to the builder, and (ii) other seller through the host'"'"'s systems that eventually purchases a home from that builder or other seller;
obtaining a listing inventory of property to be sold with a buyer rebate funded by the host;
maintaining databases at the host which contain data records of different types and chronologies;
providing by the host system to remotely accessing users access via the communications network to specify selection criteria;
searching by the host system said maintained databases based on said selection criteria; and
delivering results of the searching step to the remotely accessing users;
providing by the host the ability to select properties to tour from the delivered results; and
processing rebate coupons by the host for properties selected to tour.
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Specification