So you’ve heard that you need a real estate API as a real estate investor.
It’s true: there is an abundance of property data available across the internet. And if you aren’t taking advantage of it, you are missing out on an opportunity to make better investment decisions.
But how can you access this data?
That’s where a real estate API comes into play.
What Is an API in Real Estate?
What does API stand for? Application Programming Interface.
What does that mean?
APIs connect pieces of software together. They ‘glue’ together any required information components around a system and are often ‘released’ to third-party programmers who will want to connect application elements and services together. (Bridgwater)
In other words, a real estate API will act as a messenger between two websites or pieces of software. They will take your request, access information from the desired software, and deliver you the appropriate information response.
Essentially, they get you the data you need.
Pretty simple, right?
Why Should Real Estate Investors Use APIs?
If you’re reading this article, you might have read that you’ll get the best results from your investment by using a real estate API.
But why?
What will a real estate API do for you?
Sure, you can get some free information online, and maybe you have a connection in real estate or your network to find good investment properties for sale. All of these strategies can work for investors, but they are time-consuming. And, they might not represent all that is out there.
By using a real estate API, you are giving yourself access not only to aggregated real estate data from dozens of public sources but also AI-powered investment analytics. The best part? These all come to you in one place. No need for extensive research, complicated spreadsheets, or manual comparisons. As you can imagine, this saves you quite a bit of time.
And, a truly excellent real estate data API will come with built-in real estate data analytics. Again, this feature will save you hours of conducting CMAs (comparative market analysis) and longhand calculations.
Related: Comparative Market Analysis: Real Estate Investing
The question: where can you find a real estate data API like this?
The Best Real Estate API
The best real estate API you can find is Mashvisor.
Our real estate investment tools act as an all-in-one platform to cover all of your investing needs.
Related: How to Become a Real Estate Investor Using Mashvisor
Mashvisor API Sources
Mashvisor’s real estate listing API aggregates property data from dozens of public sources and then augments it with proprietary AI-powered investment analytics, meaning you gain access to industry-leading real estate data without having to consult numerous sources. This has the potential to save you lots of time, whether you are looking to invest in an Airbnb rental or a traditional rental.
Mashvisor Features
Still not sure how to use Mashvisor’s API to get the most value for your real estate investment decisions? Schedule a demo right now to learn more.
However, you might find it more useful to access the data through our easy-to-use software. Here are some examples of how you can do that:
Property Finder
Mashvisor’s property finder tool uses predictive analytics and machine-learning algorithms which allows you to search for investment property given a set of criteria you select.
Filters include:
- Location
- Miles
- Budget
- Rental strategy
- Number of bedrooms
- Number of bathrooms
Mashvisor’s Property Finder
This real estate listing API tool will not only serve you a list of the investment properties most closely in line with your criteria, but it will also use information from your account and activity to determine the best matches for you.
You will have access to the very best listings, all within one simple search. Additionally, each one of our listings comes with automatically generated rental comps, so you can say good-bye to real estate investment analysis spreadsheets.
Mashboard
The property finder gives you property data, but what about homeowner data?
Ever wonder who owns a home, and wish that you could contact them directly? Mashboard allows you to find homeowners and access information about their property. You will also have access to the homeowner’s contact information. Mashboard allows you to search for homeowners by address, location, property type, year built, and sales date.
Rental Property Calculator
As I mentioned earlier, the very best real estate API companies will offer investment property analysis software in addition to a real estate API.
Mashvisor’s rental property calculator provides investors with the expected rental income a property can produce. The four main metrics our tool calculates are:
- Cap rate
- Cash on cash return
- Cash flow
- Occupancy rate
Mashvisor’s Rental Property Calculator
With these numbers automatically determined, real estate investors can free up hours that would have otherwise been spent on lengthy computations.
See also: Airbnb Profit Calculator: The Ultimate Real Estate Investment Tool
Mashmeter
Mashmeter is a metric specific to Mashvisor’s platform, which is produced by our real estate investment software.
This metric is a determination of the potential profitability of a particular neighborhood in terms of a percentage. Mashmeter is a quick reference for investors trying to gauge the investment opportunity in a certain location.
Mashvisor Property Marketplace
As if the property finder tool weren’t helpful enough, Mashvisor has found a way to speed up property searches for investors even further. That is, if you’re specifically interested in off-market and foreclosure properties. Using the Mashvisor Property Marketplace, you can set a few filters like location, budget, cap rate, and more and instantly get a list of bank-owned, short sales, pre-foreclosures, and foreclosures.
The Takeaway:
If you are looking for a real estate API, look no further than Mashvisor’s investor platform.
From high-quality property listings and rental comps to investment property analysis tools, we have you covered. Each aspect of our platform is designed to ensure you make the best possible investment moves easily and quickly.
Sign up for Mashvisor now and get 15% off.