This one seemed like a no brainer. With all the cool Google mashups out there related to real estate it seems it was only a matter of 'when' not 'if' Google would enter the real estate listing game with the likes of Trulia, Windermere, and the meek Realtor.com. Only Windermere and Trulia use a Google map as their base map, and of the three listed Windermere provides the best and most frequent updates (every 30 minutes). However, Windermere is dependent on the MLS and makes the assumption that everyone wants/needs a realtor.
Google Real Estate, actually Google Base Housing, provides not only access to information on homes for sale, but like Zillow allows individuals to list their own properties along side the MLS data. The nice thing is that it comes packaged in the good 'ol Google Maps interface that we've all come to know and love.
Searching is pretty easy with the criteria clearly labeled, and pretty good response time depending upon your connection. Another plus is that it also seems to provide access to apartment listings. Which is a function that has been under-served here in Spokane. Apartmentfinder seems to have already signed on.
It'll likely take a little while for Google Real Estate to make inroads into the strange world of real estate information, but anything that enables the sharing of information rather than the hoarding of information in our opinion is a good thing.
Enjoy the house hunt.
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