Google has been gradually improving real estate search on Maps. It doesn’t have the features and is generally not a substitute for sites like Trulia and Zillow but it’s getting better.
From the LatLong Blog:
First of all, we’ve made it easier to find real estate listings. Now, you can simply select “Real Estate” from the ‘More’ button on the top right of any Google Map to discover listings. From there, it’s a simple matter to refine your search using the left hand panel – price, bedrooms, bathrooms, and so on. Of course, you can still pan the map to search for the perfect neighborhood and it’ll automatically update with more listings.
We’ve also added the ability to search for rental listings in the US. You can now find places for rent in New York or one bedrooms in San Francisco for rent simply by turning on the Real Estate layer via the ‘More’ button and selecting some refinements.
At issue: how comprehensive is the data that Google is showing? However, the functionality and features here are quite useful. For example, the ability to add listings to My Maps and then automatically access them on your Android 2.0 phone and build turn by turn directions to open houses is pretty compelling.
Screenwerk 
October 30, 2009 at 12:04 am
Great find. Thank you as usual Greg!
I am excited about what they are doing here. What about offering the ability to claim the listing for agents and compete with Zillow and other verticals? Be the #1 in all types of search: Music Search, Info Search, YP Search, Local Search, Book Search, Video Search, Financial Search, News Search……. but of course you get the idea.
Also, I noticed on Google Voice that they are not asking what type of phone as a means of determining Smart Phone Usage Research. Or do you believe it is not worth gathering or they can determine via Text Message Verification? I really don’t know the type of data you are able to recover via SMS.
Thanks again Greg!
Cheers,
Mike Stewart
October 30, 2009 at 4:18 am
Not sure re their ultimate ambition here. Certainly there’s an ad opportunity with agents.
October 30, 2009 at 3:31 pm
This move by Google may end up being a big blow to online real estate sites that charge agents for listing. This is free on Google, they have the eyeballs and offer a rich search experience (transit times, street view) beyond just the listing. Not sure what this means for the partnerships Google has with online real estate sites who use the Google API and the ad revenues they generate- this move by Google could threaten these relationships?
October 31, 2009 at 2:55 am
[…] First of all, we’ve made it easier to find real estate listings. Now, you can simply select “Real Estate” from the ‘More’ button on the top right of any Google Map to discover listings. From there, it’s a simple matter to refine your searchSource: Screenwerk RSS Feed […]
October 31, 2009 at 2:55 pm
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