Systems and methods for providing a real estate and rental marketplace

• US 8,620,827 B1
• Filed: 01/17/2013
• Issued: 12/31/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United Services Automobile Association
• Original Assignee: United Services Automobile Association
• Inventors: Watkins, Christopher John III
• Primary Examiner(s): Sittner, Matthew T
• Application Number:
  US13/744,062
• Time in Patent Office: 348 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 705/313
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/02 Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance credit or loans G06Q40/03
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/03 Credit; Loans; Processing thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/16 Real estate

Abstract

An environment provided by a financial entity in which buyers and sellers may be brought together to initiate and complete a transaction for the purchase of a property for sale or rental. The environment enables sellers to list items together with relevant information that buyers may need to understand the item. Buyers may apply for financing, insurance or other related services to receive approval to purchase properties. A mechanism by which the seller and buyer may communicate enables a negotiation process, scheduling and other processes associated with the sale or rental. After an agreement is reached between the buyer and seller, components associated with the environment, such property and casualty and banking may complete the necessary paperwork, etc. to close the deal.

Claims

1. A method for providing a real estate marketplace, the method comprising:

providing a computer having a processor and memory;

receiving financial information about a buyer;

determining, using the processor, whether the buyer is pre-qualified for a mortgage based at least in part the buyer'"'"'s financial information;

determining, using the processor, whether the buyer is pre-qualified for homeowner'"'"'s insurance up to a selected amount based at least in part the buyer'"'"'s financial information;

thereafter, receiving buyer preference criteria;

determining, using the processor, a listing of homes for sale for which the buyer is pre-qualified for the mortgage and for the homeowner'"'"'s insurance up to the selected amount and that matches the buyer preference criteria; and

providing the matched listing of homes to the buyer.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a selection of a home from the matched listing of homes from the buyer; and

providing a transaction portal through which a negotiation process is transacted between the buyer and a seller of the selected home.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the transaction portal is used to arrange an inspection visit, an appraisal, and a closing schedule to complete a transaction between the buyer and the seller without assistance of a realtor.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising providing a contract of an agreement of sale suitable for a geographic jurisdiction in which the selected home is located through the transaction portal.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

providing an electronically signed offer from the buyer to the seller through the transaction portal; and

receiving an electronic counter-offer or an electronically signed acceptance of the offer from the seller to the buyer through the transaction portal.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a listing of rental properties if the buyer is not pre-qualified for the mortgage, the selected amount for the homeowner'"'"'s insurance, or both.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an indication from the buyer that the buyer wants to rent;

presenting rental options to the buyer; and

receiving, from the buyer, rental property preference criteria.

8. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising a plurality of computer-readable instructions tangibly embodied on the computer-readable storage medium, which, when executed by a data processor, provide a real estate marketplace, the plurality of instructions comprising:

instructions that cause the data processor to receive financial information about a buyer;

instructions that cause the data processor to determine whether the buyer is pre-qualified for a mortgage based at least in part the buyer'"'"'s financial information;

instructions that cause the data processor to determine whether the buyer is pre-qualified for homeowner'"'"'s insurance up to a selected amount based at least in part the buyer'"'"'s financial information;

instructions that cause the data processor to thereafter receive buyer preference criteria;

instructions that cause the data processor to determine a listing of homes for sale for which the buyer is pre-qualified for the mortgage and for the homeowner'"'"'s insurance up to the selected amount and that matches the buyer preference criteria; and

instructions that cause the data processor to provide the matched listing of homes to the buyer.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 wherein the plurality of instructions further comprise:

instructions that cause the data processor to receive a selection of a home from the matched listing of homes from the buyer; and

instructions that cause the data processor to provide a transaction portal through which a negotiation process is transacted between the buyer and a seller of the selected home.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9 wherein the transaction portal is used to arrange an inspection visit, an appraisal, and a closing schedule to complete a transaction between the buyer and the seller without assistance of a realtor.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 9 wherein the plurality of instructions further comprise instructions that cause the data processor to provide a contract of an agreement of sale suitable for a geographic jurisdiction in which the selected home is located through the transaction portal.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 11 wherein the plurality of instructions further comprise:

instructions that cause the data processor to provide an electronically signed offer from the buyer to the seller through the transaction portal; and

instructions that cause the data processor to receive an electronic counter-offer or an electronically signed acceptance of the offer from the seller to the buyer through the transaction portal.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 wherein the plurality of instructions further comprise instructions that cause the data processor to provide a listing of rental properties if the buyer is not pre-qualified for the mortgage, the selected amount for the homeowner'"'"'s insurance, or both.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8 wherein the plurality of instructions further comprise:

instructions that cause the data processor to receive an indication from the buyer that the buyer wants to rent;

instructions that cause the data processor to present rental options to the buyer; and

instructions that cause the data processor to receive, from the buyer, rental property preference criteria.

15. A system for providing a real estate marketplace, the system comprising:

a memory; and

a processor disposed in communication with the memory and configured to issue processing instructions stored in the memory to;

receive financial information about a buyer;

determine whether the buyer is pre-qualified for a mortgage based at least in part the buyer'"'"'s financial information;

determine whether the buyer is pre-qualified for homeowner'"'"'s insurance up to a selected amount based at least in part the buyer'"'"'s financial information;

thereafter receive buyer preference criteria;

determine a listing of homes for sale for which the buyer is pre-qualified for the mortgage and for the homeowner'"'"'s insurance up to the selected amount and that matches the buyer preference criteria; and

provide the matched listing of homes to the buyer.

16. The system of claim 15, the processor further configured to issue instructions to:

receive a selection of a home from the matched listing of homes from the buyer; and

provide a transaction portal through which a negotiation process is transacted between the buyer and a seller.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the transaction portal is used to arrange an inspection visit, an appraisal, and a closing schedule to complete a transaction between the buyer and the seller without assistance of a realtor.

18. The system of claim 16, the processor further configured to issue instructions to provide a contract of an agreement of sale suitable for a geographic jurisdiction in which the selected home is located through the transaction portal.

19. The system of claim 18, the processor further configured to issue instructions to:

provide an electronically signed offer from the buyer to the seller through the transaction portal; and

receive an electronic counter-offer or an electronically signed acceptance of the offer from the seller to the buyer through the transaction portal.

20. The system of claim 15, the processor further configured to provide a listing of rental properties if the buyer is not pre-qualified for the mortgage, the selected amount for the homeowner'"'"'s insurance, or both.