SAY GOODBYE TO YOUR REAL ESTATE AGENT… With the rise of online platforms, the world of real estate investing has moved into a virtual revolution: everything you used to need an agent for can be done from your own laptop. In fact, things real estate agents couldn’t offer are found online and given to you nearly instantly. Not only are online platforms convenient and more affordable for you as an investor, but they’re essential real estate investment resources. Below, 7 online platforms that have transformed the face of real estate investing:
1. HouseME
Setting a rental rate can be a difficult decision for property owners to make. Based on the property value, updates, and neighborhood, a landlord or property manager guesses what the market rent is and advertises it. But a given rental unit may be worth $850 to one person and $1,000 to another who would gladly pay more to live two blocks from their office.
Related: How to Know How Much Rent to Charge for Your Investment Property
To resolve this, HouseME has launched a rental listing and management service that gives landlords the option to allow potential tenants to bid on the rental rate. The landlord sets a reserve rent, and renters are all pre-screened when they sign up for the service ensuring a fair and risk-free result. Less desirable rental units will receive fewer and lower bids while high-demand rental units will generate higher bids. The resulting rent will be the true market rent, rather than a landlord’s hunch or best guess. It also ensures that the renter who moves in is the one most enthusiastic about living there.
This can be done on your own and from your laptop rather than needing to consult a real estate agent about property value of neighborhood averages, making HouseME one of many great real estate investment resources.
2. Rentometer
Rentometer is an online platform that makes it easy to quickly compare rental rates of properties anywhere in the U.S. Using proprietary technology and data, Rentometer provides a thorough rental rate comparison analysis in just seconds for any property in the country.
One of the many great real estate investment resources, renters, landlords, and investors use Rentometer to help them answer common yet critical questions about a rental housing decision. Not only can potential tenants understand the rental rate range of an area, but investors and property managers can understand whether to invest and if so, how much to charge for rent. Without having to go to a real estate agent, you can understand what properties around you are setting their rental rates at and charge accordingly.
3. Opendoor
While useful to those looking to sell a home to be able to move to another one, Opendoor is also useful to investors who can use the platform to find and purchase properties for sale. The company evaluates a property, gives a cash offer, inspects the property, and handles the sale from there on. They make for a headache-free and seamless selling process.
For those looking to buy a property, the process is just as easy and is one of many real estate investment resources. You can view properties in a certain area, finance the property, and buy when you’re ready. With a team of experts willing to handle the difficult aspects of buying or selling a property, the need for a real estate agent is minimized and even made unnecessary.
Related: Buying and Selling an Investment Property: Do’s and Dont’s
4. Matterport
Matterport has created the option for sellers to capture their properties virtually so potential buyers can see them in high resolution from anywhere in the world.
Typically, buying real estate sight-unseen is considered too risky for most buyers to consider. Now, with high-resolution, interactive 3-D virtual reality, buyers will feel like they’re walking through the property in person. The virtual property tours are not fixed either—they’re mapped to show interested buyers the the natural light at different times of day and even different times of the year. Virtual reality software will let them superimpose various pieces of furniture in the space.
Prospective buyers will be able to virtually walk through dozens of homes in an afternoon from the comfort of their own laptop, with these virtual tours available through their online broker. Virtual reality makes it much easier to confidently buy property anywhere in the United States or even anywhere in the world, making it one of the essential real estate investment resources.
5. Mashvisor
We deliver real estate investment analytics on one platform so that you can make informed investment decisions.
Mashvisor has built interactive property and neighborhood insights that include analysis of Traditional and Airbnb pricing, occupancy rates, seasonality trends, revenue potential, cost assumptions, cash flow calculation, and financial and purchase investment analysis. Our focus is delivering informative real estate analytics so that investors can make informed decisions in their investment. Property and neighborhood investment analysis reports are instantly available in easy-to-read visualizations. Never again analyze investments using spreadsheets.
Related: How to Buy a Rental Property Using Mashvisor
We analyses and presents the data quickly, reducing a research process that usually takes three months to just 15 minutes. Using the quickly-delivered data, you know exactly the potential income of all traditional and Airbnb properties in the area and maximize returns by finding where are the highest performing neighborhoods. You can instantly edit cost assumptions to fine-tune your analysis on every property profile.
Looking for properties making informed investment decisions can all be done from your laptop. Mashvisor is includes off of your critical real estate investment resources.
6. HotPads
HotPads features homes for sale, apartments for rent, and provides information about neighborhoods. With a great number of verified properties, the online platform provides accurate and up-to-date rental properties. The website offers the option of finding properties such as room for rent, income restricted, student housing, senior housing, etc.
Searches can be tailored fit your needs and to receive real-time notifications. Hotpads features a well-stocked inventory to search through. Renters and buyers have the option to filter to find places that accommodate personal preferences or needs.
7. SparkRental
In today’s market, high-risk rental applicants are quickly turned away. Landlord avoid potentially bad tenants and typically have other and lower-risk applicant to choose from. This means that for a renter with a bed credit score, finding a quality property to rent is extremely difficult.
SparkRental.com is an online platform dedicated to guaranteeing rent to be paid to a landlord. The system is designed to to deduct tenants’ rent directly from their paycheck to alleviate the responsibility from renters. With a guaranteed rent each month, it’s a win-win for both landlords and tenants. Landlords know they’ll get their rent on time every month and tenants can be accepted for higher quality housing despite their credit score.
Not only is it one the essential real estate investment resources, SparkRental is great for renters. They have the option of having their on-time rent payments are reported to credit bureaus to help them rebuild their credit.
This system virtually eliminates the need to go to a real estate agent in desperate need of finding a property with your credit score.