Systems and methods for providing a real estate and rental marketplace

• US 7,991,703 B1
• Filed: 09/09/2008
• Issued: 08/02/2011
• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): Casler; Traci L
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sittner; Matthew
• Application Number:
  US12/206,814
• Time in Patent Office: 1,057 Days
• Field of Search: 705/1
• 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,

pre-qualifying the buyer for a mortgage;

pre-qualifying the buyer for homeowner'"'"'s insurance coverage;

thereafter, receiving buyer preference criteria;

querying, using the processor, an information store containing information regarding homes for sale in a selected location;

determining, based on pre-qualifying a buyer for the mortgage and for homeowner'"'"'s insurance coverage, a listing of homes for sale in the selected location for which the buyer is pre-qualified for a mortgage and pre-qualified for homeowner'"'"'s insurance coverage;

providing results to the buyer by merging information about the buyer and the listing of homes for sale in the selected location using the processor, the results including a total cost of ownership of the homes for sale based on information provided by both the buyer and seller of the homes for sale;

receiving an indication of a selected home from the buyer; and

providing a transaction portal wherein the buyer and a seller of the selected home negotiate a sale of the selected home.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing an analysis to the buyer of how much the buyer can afford based on the received financial information.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising advising the buyer to rent a property rather than buy a property.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a contract for a sale of the selected home to the buyer; and

communicating a signed offer on the selected home from the buyer to the seller using the transaction portal.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

providing the signed offer to the seller at the transaction portal; and

receiving a counter-offer or signed agreement using the transaction portal that is communicated to the buyer.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

arranging financing and insurance for the buyer based on the signed agreement being communicated to the seller; and

arranging a closing on the selected home.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

maintaining the buyer preferences in a database stored in the memory;

querying the information store on a periodic basis; and

presenting results of the periodic query to the buyer.

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

a processor;

a computer-readable medium coupled to the processor and storing a plurality of instructions, which, when executed, cause the processor to provide the real estate marketplace, the plurality of instructions comprising;

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

instructions that cause the processor to pre-qualify the buyer for a mortgage;

instructions that cause the processor to pre-qualify the buyer for homeowner'"'"'s insurance coverage;

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

instructions that cause the processor to query an information store containing information regarding homes for sale in a selected location;

instructions that cause the processor to determine, based on pre-qualifying a buyer for the mortgage and for homeowner'"'"'s insurance coverage, a listing of homes for sale in the selected location for which the buyer is pre-qualified for a mortgage and pre-qualified for homeowner'"'"'s insurance coverage;

instructions that cause the processor to provide results to the buyer by merging information about the buyer and the homes for sale in the selected location, the results including a total cost of ownership of the homes for sale based on information provided by both the buyer and seller of the homes for sale;

instructions that cause the processor to receive an indication of a selected home from the buyer; and

instructions that cause the processor to provide a transaction portal wherein the buyer and a seller of the selected home negotiate a sale of the selected home.

9. The system of claim 8, further comprising instructions that cause the processor to provide an analysis to the buyer of how much the buyer can afford based on the received financial information.

10. The system of claim 9, further comprising instructions that cause the processor to advise the buyer to rent a property rather than buy a property.

11. The system of claim 8, further comprising:

instructions that cause the processor to provide a contract for a sale of the selected home to the buyer; and

instructions that cause the processor to communicate a signed offer on the selected home from the buyer to the seller using the transaction portal.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

instructions that cause the processor to provide the signed offer to the seller at the transaction portal; and

instructions that cause the processor to receive a counter-offer or signed agreement using the transaction portal that is communicated to the buyer.

13. The system of claim 12, further comprising:

instructions that cause the processor to arrange financing and insurance for the buyer based on the signed agreement being communicated to the seller; and

instructions that cause the processor to arrange a closing on the selected home.

14. The system of claim 8, further comprising:

instructions that cause the processor to maintain the buyer preferences in a database;

instructions that cause the processor to query the information store on a periodic basis; and

instructions that cause the processor to present results of the periodic query to the buyer.