Method and system for providing real estate information using a computer network, such as the internet

• US RE46,319 E1
• Filed: 06/07/2013
• Issued: 02/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Client Insight Technologies, LLC
• Original Assignee: Listingbook LLC (Elm Street Technology LLC)
• Inventors: Andrews, Peter, Milman, Robert N., Milman, Joan
• Primary Examiner(s): Saadat, Cameron
• Application Number:
  US13/912,987
• Time in Patent Office: 1,355 Days
• Field of Search: 705/313
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G04B 47/061 calculating scales for indicating relationship between quantity and time indicating or recording of quantity-time ratios G01D; meters for measuring average speed, measuring speed by chronograph G01P; slide rules and calculating wheels G06G
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 21/025 for measuring physiological data
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 21/04 using radio waves radio-controlled time-pieces G04R
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/16 Real estate

Abstract

The present invention provides methods and systems for providing real-estate information using a computer network, such as the Internet. A buyer information web page showing relevant buyer list information in an easy-to-read, summary format is created and displayed to a real estate agent. Buyer information provided includes summaries of various aspects of information needed by a real estate agent to effectively represent and assist a buyer. Examples of information provided include a potential buyer name, a new activity summary summarizing newly-listed properties and other activity meeting the buyer'"'"'s profile, a new views summary summarizing any views of detailed property information by the buyer using an online property data search and information system provided by the agent, and a new tags summary summarizing any properties that the buyer or the agent finds of particular interest. Moreover, a comparative market analysis (CMA) list web page showing relevant CMA information in an easy-to-read, summary format is also created and displayed to the real estate agent.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of providing client-accessed real estate information to a real estate professional associated with a first client and a second client, and for providing professional-accessed real estate information to the first client and the second client, the method comprising:

connecting to a database of real estate information;

providing the professional with access to the real estate information;

storing a first account for the first client and a second account for the second client, the first account and the second account being authorized by the professional;

providing the first client with access to the first account and providing the second client with access to the second account;

providing the first client, when accessing the first account, with access to the real estate information;

providing the second client, when accessing the second account, with access to the real estate information;

monitoring actions of the professional while the professional is accessing the real estate information;

monitoring actions of the first client while the first client is accessing the first account;

monitoring actions of the second client while the second client is accessing the second account;

generating and storing professional-accessed real estate information for the first client and the second client in response to the actions of the professional as the professional reviews the real estate information;

generating and storing first client-accessed real estate information in response to the actions of the first client;

generating and storing second client-accessed real estate information in response to the actions of the second client;

providing at least some of the first client-accessed real estate information and at least some of the second client-accessed real estate information to the professional, thereby providing the professional with knowledge of the actions of the first client and the actions of the second client; and

providing at least some of the professional-accessed real estate information for the first client to the first client and at least some of the professional-accessed real estate information for the second client to the second client, thereby providing the first client and the second client with knowledge of the actions of the real estate professional,

wherein the professional-accessed real estate information for the first client includes information related to at least one for-sale property from the database of real estate information.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving information identifying a property of interest;

retrieving real estate information from the database for properties comparable to the identified property; and

providing information about the properties comparable to the identified property.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the professional provides the information identifying the property of interest.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the first client provides the information identifying the property of interest, and the information about the comparable properties is provided to the first client.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the first client is a seller, and further comprising:

accessing the database to determine if pre-defined events have occurred for the comparable properties since the seller last viewed the comparable properties; and

providing updated information to the seller about the comparable properties for which a pre-defined event has occurred.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the pre-defined events include at least one of a sale or a change in price.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving information from the first client identifying a property;

retrieving real estate information from the database for properties comparable to the identified property;

generating a value assessment for the identified property based on the comparable properties; and

providing the first client with the value assessment.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the actions of the professional include entering a message for transmission to the first client, and wherein the professional-accessed real estate information reviewable by the first client includes the message.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the message is integrated into the first account so that when the first client is accessing the account, the first client is provided with a page reflecting the presence of the message entered by the professional.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising storing messages between the first client and the professional.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing the professional with a summary of appointments that have been carried out for a property.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising providing the professional with comments related to one or more of the appointments, the comments being provided by a showing agent.

13. A computer executable program stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium which, when executed on a processor, perform a computer-implemented method of providing client-accessed real estate information to a real estate professional associated with a first client and a second client, and for providing professional-accessed real estate information to the first client and the second client, the method comprising:

connecting to a database of real estate information;

providing the professional with access to the real estate information;

storing a first account for the first client and a second account for the second client, the first account and the second account being authorized by the professional;

providing the first client with access to the first account and providing the second client with access to the second account;

providing the first client, when accessing the first account, with access to the real estate information;

providing the second client, when accessing the second account, with access to the real estate information;

monitoring actions of the professional while the professional is accessing the real estate information;

monitoring actions of the first client while the first client is accessing the first account;

monitoring actions of the second client while the second client is accessing the second account;

generating and storing professional-accessed real estate information for the first client and the second client in response to the actions of the professional as the professional reviews the real estate information;

generating and storing first client-accessed real estate information in response to the actions of the first client;

generating and storing second client-accessed real estate information in response to the actions of the second client;

providing at least some of the first client-accessed real estate information and at least some of the second client-accessed real estate information to the professional, thereby providing the professional with knowledge of the actions of the first client and the actions of the second client; and

providing at least some of the professional-accessed real estate information for the first client to the first client and at least some of the professional-accessed real estate information for the second client to the second client, thereby providing the first client and the second client with knowledge of the actions of the real estate professional,

wherein the professional-accessed real estate information for the first client includes information related to at least one for-sale property from the database of real estate information.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, the method further comprising:

receiving information identifying a property of interest;

retrieving real estate information from the database for properties comparable to the identified property; and

providing information about the properties comparable to the identified property.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein the professional provides the information identifying the property of interest.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein the first client provides the information identifying the property of interest, and the information about the comparable properties is provided to the first client.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the first client is a seller, and the method further comprising:

accessing the database to determine if pre-defined events have occurred for the comparable properties since the seller last viewed the comparable properties; and

providing updated information to the seller about the comparable properties for which a pre-defined event has occurred.

18. The computer-readable medium according to claim 17, wherein the pre-defined events include at least one of a sale or a change in price.

19. The computer-readable medium according to claim 13, the method further comprising:

receiving information from the first client identifying a property;

retrieving real estate information from the database for properties comparable to the identified property;

generating a value assessment for the identified property based on the comparable properties; and

providing the first client with the value assessment.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 13 wherein the actions of the professional include entering a message for transmission to the first client, and wherein the professional-accessed real estate information reviewable by the first client includes the message.

21. The computer-readable medium of claim 20, wherein the message is integrated into the first account so that when the first client is accessing the account, the first client is provided with a page reflecting the presence of the message entered by the professional.

22. The computer-readable medium of claim 20, the method further comprising storing messages between the first client and the professional.

23. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the monitored actions of the first client include tagging of selected properties and wherein the first client-accessed real estate information provided to the professional includes for each tagging, an identification of properties tagged.

24. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the monitored actions of the professional include tagging properties for the first client to thereby identify particular tagged properties to the first client and wherein the professional-accessed real estate information for the first client includes the identification of properties tagged by the professional.

25. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the monitored actions of the first client include viewing of properties, and wherein the first client-accessed real estate information provided to the professional includes identification of properties viewed by the first client.

26. The computer-readable medium of claim 13 wherein the first client is a buyer and the second client is a buyer or a seller, the method further comprising generating a buyer list of potential properties and property characteristics in response to a request by the professional and wherein the professional-accessed real estate information reviewable by the buyer includes the buyer list.

27. The computer-readable medium of claim 26, the method further comprising automatically updating the buyer list by comparing buyer criteria for the buyer with the properties in the database of real estate information, in response to an action of the professional or the buyer.

28. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, the method further comprising enabling the first client to initiate an independent search of the real estate information according to criteria selected by the first client and review results of the independent search.

29. The computer-readable medium of claim 28, the method further comprising monitoring the first client'"'"'s actions to initiate and review an independent search and storing at least portions of the results of the independent search as the first client-accessed real estate information for the first client.

30. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, the method further comprising providing the professional with a summary of appointments that have been carried out for a property.

31. The computer-readable medium of claim 30, the method further comprising providing the professional with comments related to one or more of the appointments, the comments being provided by a showing agent.

32. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, the method further comprising generating an area sales report identifying sales in an area associated with a specific property and enabling the professional and the first client to review the area sales report.

33. A system for providing client-accessed real estate information to a real estate professional associated with a first client and a second client, and for providing professional-accessed real estate information to the first client and the second client, the system comprising:

a server;

a communications circuit for connecting the server to the internet;

a component for connecting to a database of real estate information;

a component for providing the professional with access to the real estate information;

a component for storing a first account for the first client and a second account for the second client, the first account and the second account being authorized by the professional;

a component for providing the first client with access to the first account and providing the second client with access to the second account;

a component for providing the first client, when accessing the first account, with access to the real estate information;

a component for providing the second client, when accessing the second account, with access to the real estate information;

a component for monitoring actions of the professional while the professional is accessing the real estate information;

a component for monitoring actions of the first client while the first client is accessing the first account;

a component for monitoring actions of the second client while the second client is accessing the second account;

a component for generating and storing professional-accessed real estate information for the first client and the second client in response to the actions of the professional as the professional reviews the real estate information;

a component for generating and storing first client-accessed real estate information in response to the actions of the first client;

a component for generating and storing second client-accessed real estate information in response to the actions of the second client;

a component for providing at least some of the first client-accessed real estate information and at least some of the second client-accessed real estate information to the professional, thereby providing the professional with knowledge of the actions of the first client and the actions of the second client; and

a component for providing at least some of the professional-accessed real estate information for the first client to the first client and at least some of the professional-accessed real estate information for the second client to the second client, thereby providing the first client and the second client with knowledge of the actions of the real estate professional,

wherein the professional-accessed real estate information for the first client includes information related to at least one for-sale property from the database of real estate information.

34. The system of claim 33, further comprising:

a component for receiving information identifying a property of interest;

a component for retrieving real estate information from the database for properties comparable to the identified property; and

a component for providing information about the properties comparable to the identified property.

35. The system of claim 34, further comprising a component for receiving, from the professional, the information identifying the property of interest.

36. The system of claim 34, further comprising:

a component for receiving, from the first client, the information identifying the property of interest; and

a component for providing, to the first client, the information about the comparable properties.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein the first client is a seller, and further comprising:

a component for accessing the database to determine if pre-defined events have occurred for the comparable properties since the seller last viewed the comparable properties; and

a component for providing updated information to the seller about the comparable properties for which a pre-defined event has occurred.

38. The system according to claim 37, wherein the pre-defined events include at least one of a sale or a change in price.

39. The system according to claim 33, further comprising:

a component for receiving information from the first client identifying a property;

a component for retrieving real estate information from the database for properties comparable to the identified property;

a component for generating a value assessment for the identified property based on the comparable properties; and

a component for providing the first client with the value assessment.

40. The system of claim 33 wherein the actions of the professional include entering a message for transmission to the first client, and wherein the professional-accessed real estate information reviewable by the first client includes the message.

41. The system of claim 40, wherein the message is integrated into the first account, and further comprising:

a component for providing the first client with a page reflecting the presence of the message entered by the professional.

42. The system of claim 40, further comprising a component for storing messages between the first client and the professional.

43. The system of claim 33, wherein the monitored actions of the first client include tagging of selected properties and wherein the first client-accessed real estate information provided to the professional includes for each tagging, an identification of properties tagged.

44. The system of claim 33, wherein the monitored actions of the professional include tagging properties for the first client to thereby identify particular tagged properties to the first client and wherein the professional-accessed real estate information for the first client includes the identification of properties tagged by the professional.

45. The system of claim 33, wherein the monitored actions of the first client include viewing of properties, and wherein the first client-accessed real estate information provided to the professional includes identification of properties viewed by the first client.

46. The system of claim 33 wherein the first client is a buyer and the second client is a buyer or a seller, the system further comprising a component for generating a buyer list of potential properties and property characteristics in response to a request by the professional and wherein the professional-accessed real estate information reviewable by the buyer includes the buyer list.

47. The system of claim 46, further comprising a component for automatically updating the buyer list by comparing buyer criteria for the buyer with the properties in the database of real estate information, in response to an action of the professional or the buyer.

48. The system of claim 33, further comprising a component for enabling the first client to initiate an independent search of the real estate information according to criteria selected by the first client and review results of the independent search.

49. The system of claim 48, further comprising a component for monitoring the first client'"'"'s actions to initiate and review an independent search and storing at least portions of the results of the independent search as the first client-accessed real estate information for the first client.

50. The system of claim 33, further comprising a component for providing the professional with a summary of appointments that have been carried out for a property.

51. The system of claim 50, further comprising a component for providing the professional with comments related to one or more of the appointments, the comments being provided by a showing agent.

52. The system of claim 33, further comprising a component for generating an area sales report identifying sales in an area associated with a specific property and enabling the professional and the first client to review the area sales report.

53. A method comprising:

providing a real estate client account and a real estate agent account with access to a computer database of real estate information, said database of real estate information comprising a plurality of real estate property listings;

creating a profile associated with said client account, said profile comprising client account search criteria, said client search criteria comprising at least one of location information, price range, minimum number of bedrooms or minimum number of bathrooms;

building a first dynamic webpage by (i) accessing said computer database of real estate information, (ii) identifying a first subset of real estate property listings based, at least in part, on said client account search criteria, (iii) accessing a server, (iv) retrieving a first pre-stored webpage format from the server, and (v) combining the first subset of real estate property listings with the first pre-stored format, said first dynamic webpage comprising at least a portion of said first subset of real estate property listings;

providing said real estate client account with access to said first dynamic webpage;

receiving tagging information from said client account, the tagging information comprising a tag of at least one property in said first subset of real estate property listings;

storing the tagging information in a tags database;

building a second dynamic webpage, by (i) accessing the tags database, (ii) identifying the tagging information, (iii) creating summary information based at least in part on the tagging information;

(iv) accessing the server, (v) retrieving a second pre-stored webpage format from the server, and (vi) combining the summary information with the second pre-stored format, said second dynamic webpage comprising an identification of the client account and summary information including a hyperlink;

providing the real estate agent account with access to said second dynamic webpage;

receiving hyperlink activation information from the agent account;

building a third dynamic webpage in response to receiving the hyperlink activation information, by (i) accessing the computer database of real estate information, (ii) identifying information relating to at least one property associated with the tagging information, (iii) accessing the server, (iv) retrieving a third pre-stored webpage format from the server; and

(v) combining the information relating to at least one property associated with the tagging information with the third pre-stored format, said third dynamic webpage comprising an identification of the client account and the information relating to at least one property associated with tagging information;

providing the real estate agent account with access to said third dynamic webpage;

receiving search criteria from the agent account;

building a fourth dynamic webpage by (i) accessing said computer database of real estate information, (ii) identifying information relating to a second subset of real estate property listings based, at least in part, on said agent account search criteria, (iii) accessing the server, (iv) retrieving a fourth pre-stored webpage format from the server, and (v) combining information relating to at least a portion of the second subset of real estate property listings with the fourth pre-stored format, said fourth dynamic webpage comprising at least a portion of said second subset of real estate property listings; and

providing said real estate client account with access to said fourth dynamic webpage.

54. The method of claim 53 further comprising (i) receiving viewing information from the agent account;

(ii) comparing a first date the tagging information was received with a second date the viewing information was received; and

(iii) identifying updated tagging information comprising tagging information received after the viewing information, wherein the summary information associated with the tagging information displayed on the second dynamic webpage comprises, at least in part, said updated tagging information.