Self-service home buying

• US 8,688,594 B2
• Filed: 03/23/2011
• Issued: 04/01/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bank of America Corp.
• Original Assignee: Bank of America Corp.
• Inventors: Thomas, Susan Smith, Johnson, Shane Anthony, Phillips, Johnny David, Curry, Lisa D., Hanson, Carrie Anne, Ferrara, Todd Michael, Toner, Michael P., Dearth, Lauren Leigh, Cravitz, Philip Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): FADOK, MARK A
• Application Number:
  US13/069,796
• Publication Number:
  US 20120246024A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,105 Days
• Field of Search: 705/26.1, 705/311, 705/314
• US Class Current: 705/314
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/16 Real estate

Abstract

According to some embodiments, a system comprises an interface and one or more processors. The interface receives a search request indicating that a buyer requests to search for properties to evaluate. The one or more processors determine one or more buyer preferences that describe preferred characteristics for the properties according to the buyer. The one or more processors also determine whether an available property located proximate to a device associated with the buyer satisfies at least a threshold amount of the buyer preferences. If the available property satisfies at least a threshold amount of buyer preferences, the interface communicates a notification recommending that the buyer evaluate the available property.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

an interface operable to;

receive a search request indicating that a buyer requests to search for properties to evaluate; and

one or more processors operable to;

determine one or more buyer preferences, the buyer preferences describing preferred characteristics for the properties according to the buyer;

determine that a device associated with the buyer is located proximate to an available property; and

determine whether the available property satisfies at least a threshold amount of the buyer preferences; and

the interface further operable to communicate a notification recommending that the buyer evaluate the available property if the home satisfies at least the threshold amount of the buyer preferences; and

the one or more processors further operable to facilitate access to the available property by communicating an access code to a controller, the access code operable to cause the controller to unlock the available property for a self-service tour without a user input at the controller, the access code communicated in response to determining that the buyer potentially qualifies for a loan sufficient to purchase the available property, wherein the controller is distinct from the device associated with the buyer and the access code is not communicated to the device associated with the buyer.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein:

one of the buyer preferences comprises a price range;

the interface further operable to receive a loan request;

the one or more processors further operable to;

determine buyer data associated with the buyer; and

generate a potential loan amount according to the buyer data; and

the interface further operable to communicate the potential loan amount to facilitate determining the price range.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the interface further operable to communicate a customized letter to facilitate the access to the available property for the self-service tour, the customized letter indicating that a financial institution pre-qualifies the buyer for a loan sufficient to meet a price associated with the available property located proximate to the buyer.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the interface further operable to receive feedback describing the buyer'"'"'s evaluation of the available property;

the one or more processors further operable to;

generate updated buyer preferences according to the feedback; and

determine that a second available property satisfies at least a threshold amount of the updated buyer preferences; and

the interface further operable to communicate a second notification recommending that the buyer evaluate the second available property.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the interface further operable to receive a valuation request for valuation data describing the available property;

the one or more processors further operable to;

determine valuation data from a first information source and a second information source; and

aggregate the valuation data provided by the first information source with the valuation data provided by the second information source; and

the interface further operable to communicate the aggregated valuation data.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the interface further operable to receive a request for offer assistance;

the one or more processors further operable to;

determine a potential offer amount based on one or more factors, at least one of the factors comprising a potential loan amount or a customized rate quote; and

the one or more processors further operable to communicate the potential offer amount.

7. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising logic, the logic, when executed by a processor, operable to:

receive a search request indicating that a buyer requests to search for properties to evaluate;

determine one or more buyer preferences, the buyer preferences describing preferred characteristics for the properties according to the buyer;

determine that a device associated with the buyer is located proximate to an available property;

determine whether the available property satisfies at least a threshold amount of the buyer preferences;

if the home satisfies at least the threshold amount of the buyer preferences, communicate a notification recommending that the buyer evaluate the available property; and

facilitate access to the available property by communicating an access code to a controller, the access code operable to cause the controller to unlock the available property for a self-service tour without a user input at the controller, the access code communicated in response to determining that the buyer potentially qualifies for a loan sufficient to purchase the available property, wherein the controller is distinct from the device associated with the buyer and the access code is not communicated to the device associated with the buyer.

8. The logic of claim 7, wherein one of the buyer preferences comprises a price range and the logic further operable to:

receive a loan request;

determine buyer data associated with the buyer;

generate a potential loan amount according to the buyer data; and

communicate the potential loan amount to facilitate determining the price range.

9. The logic of claim 7, further operable to communicate a customized letter to facilitate the access to the available property for the self-service tour, the customized letter indicating that a financial institution pre-qualifies the buyer for a loan sufficient to meet a price associated with the available property located proximate to the buyer.

10. The logic of claim 7, further operable to:

receive feedback describing the buyer'"'"'s evaluation of the available property;

generate updated buyer preferences according to the feedback;

determine that a second available property satisfies at least a threshold amount of the updated buyer preferences; and

communicate a second notification recommending that the buyer evaluate the second available property.

11. The logic of claim 7, further operable to:

receive a valuation request for valuation data describing the available property;

determine valuation data from a first information source and a second information source;

aggregate the valuation data provided by the first information source with the valuation data provided by the second information source; and

communicate the aggregated valuation data.

12. The logic of claim 7, further operable to facilitate determination of an offer amount by:

receiving a request for offer assistance;

determining a potential offer amount based on one or more factors, at least one of the factors comprising a potential loan amount or a customized rate quote; and

communicating the potential offer amount.

13. The logic of claim 7, further operable to:

approve the buyer for a self-service tour of the available property; and

provide the buyer with self-service access to the available property.

14. A method, comprising:

receiving a search request indicating that a buyer requests to search for properties to evaluate;

determining, by a processor, one or more buyer preferences, the buyer preferences describing preferred characteristics for the properties according to the buyer;

determining that a device associated with the buyer is located proximate to an available property;

determining whether the available property satisfies at least a threshold amount of the buyer preferences;

if the home satisfies at least the threshold amount of the buyer preferences, communicating a notification recommending that the buyer evaluate the available property; and

facilitating access to the available property by communicating an access code to a controller, the access code operable to cause the controller to unlock the available property for a self-service tour without a user input at the controller, the access code communicated in response to determining that the buyer potentially qualifies for a loan sufficient to purchase the available property, wherein the controller is distinct from the device associated with the buyer and the access code is not communicated to the device associated with the buyer.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein one of the buyer preferences comprises a price range, the price range determined by:

receiving a loan request;

determining buyer data associated with the buyer;

generating a potential loan amount according to the buyer data; and

communicating the potential loan amount to facilitate determining the price range.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising communicating a customized letter to facilitate the access to the available property for the self-service tour, the customized letter indicating that a financial institution pre-qualifies the buyer for a loan sufficient to meet a price associated with the available property located proximate to the buyer.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

receiving feedback describing the buyer'"'"'s evaluation of the available property;

generating updated buyer preferences according to the feedback;

determining that a second available property satisfies at least a threshold amount of the updated buyer preferences; and

communicating a second notification recommending that the buyer evaluate the second available property.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

receiving a valuation request for valuation data describing the available property;

determining valuation data from a first information source and a second information source;

aggregating the valuation data provided by the first information source with the valuation data provided by the second information source; and

communicating the aggregated valuation data.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising facilitating determination of an offer amount by:

receiving a request for offer assistance;

determining a potential offer amount based on one or more factors, at least one of the factors comprising a potential loan amount or a customized rate quote; and

communicating the potential offer amount.

20. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

approving the buyer for a self-service tour of the available property; and

providing the buyer with self-service access to the available property.