Online markerplace for real estate transactions

• US 20050288958A1
• Filed: 06/16/2005
• Published: 12/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Redfin Corporation
• Original Assignee: Redfin Corporation
• Inventors: Smith, Edward M., Dougherty, Adam Michael, Eraker, David, Eraker, Stephen
• Granted Patent: US 9,105,061 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/316
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0643 Graphical representation of items or shoppers
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/16 Real estate
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/167 Closing

Abstract

Under an embodiment of the invention, a web site system maintains a real estate web page. The web page has an aerial image map of a geographic region that can be navigated by a user. The web site system facilitates online collaboration for real estate transactions. When the user registers, the system creates a user account for real estate information. Real estate agents and/or other real estate service providers selected by the user are granted shared access to the user'"'"'s account by the web site system.

Claims

1. A method, embodied in a computer system, of facilitating real estate transactions, the method comprising:

maintaining a web site system that facilitates selection of a geographic region from a satellite image map;

via the web site system, receiving from a visitor a first selection, the first selection indicating at least one real estate data overlay having geospatial information corresponding to the selected geographic region;

via the web site system, displaying the satellite image map with the selected real estate data overlay;

via the web site system, receiving from the visitor a second selection, the second selection indicating a real estate property from the real estate data overlay;

via the web site system, receiving from the visitor a request to initiate a real estate transaction; and

storing information associated with the requested real estate transaction in a folder in memory in the web site system.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the real estate data overlays comprise tax parcel data.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the geospatial information comprises latitude and longitude.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising associating a real estate agent with the transaction, thereby permitting the agent to access the folder of information.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising associating a home inspector with the transaction, thereby permitting the home inspector to access the folder of information.

6. The method of claim 1 in which the real estate transaction is a purchase of the real estate property.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the information associated with the real estate transaction comprises multiple listing service information corresponding to the real estate property.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the visitor is a validated consumer.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the information associated with the real estate transaction comprises real estate agent comments about the real estate property.

10. A method, implemented in a web site system, of online collaboration for real estate transactions, the method comprising:

maintaining a real estate web page in a web site system, the real estate web page comprising an aerial image of a geographic region;

receiving at the web site system an account registration from a consumer;

creating an account in response to the account registration, the account stored in memory in the web site system;

receiving at the web site system a real estate agent selection, the selection specifying a real estate agent; and

providing the real estate agent with access to the consumer'"'"'s account;

wherein the account comprises an activity log.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the account further comprises a scheduling interface to schedule real estate related activities.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the account further comprises a watch list for tracking real estate market activity in the geographic region and an index for tracking property value trends in the geographic region.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein the account further comprises a showing tool to collect feedback from real estate property showings.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein the account further comprises a folder for real estate properties suggested to the consumer by the real estate agent.

15. The method of claim 10 wherein the account further comprises information identifying service providers associated with the real estate agent.

16. The method of claim 15, the method further comprising receiving at the web site system a service provider selection, the selection specifying a service provider associated with the real estate agent;

and

providing the service provider with access to the consumer'"'"'s account.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the account registration includes at least one selected from the consumer'"'"'s name, email address, phone number, and address.

18. A computer readable medium containing a program adapted to implement the method comprising:

maintaining a real estate web page in a web site system, the real estate web page comprising an aerial image of a geographic region;

receiving an account registration from a consumer;

creating an account in response to the account registration, the account stored in memory in the web site system;

receiving a real estate agent selection, the selection specifying a real estate agent; and

providing the real estate agent with access to the consumer'"'"'s account;

wherein the account comprises an activity log.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 18, wherein the method further comprises receiving a service provider selection, the selection specifying a service provider associated with the real estate agent;

and

providing the service provider with access to the consumer'"'"'s account.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 18, wherein the method further comprises providing an activity log associated with the account.