Buying a house is a big goal in anyone's life, but the process involved can be quite stressful and exhausting for you and the realtor. Whether you're a first-time buyer or someone who's flipping houses, purchasing a home is a big deal and shouldn't be taken lightly. However, a lot of apps out there can help simplify things just a bit, so we've rounded up some of the best apps to assist you on the next chapter in your life!
Credit Karma
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Before you even begin to start looking at homes, you'll want to make sure you have a good credit score in your name. The Credit Karma app lets you check your credit reports for free from TransUnion and Equifax. You'll get your score, and it notifies you when your score goes up or down each time it's updated. Credit Karma also lets you check all of your accounts from credit cards, real estate, auto loans, student loans, and more.
Banks may see slight differences in your credit than what Credit Karma sees, but it's only within a few points of each other, so Credit Karma is still very accurate.
Mortgage by Zillow
Again, another step before you look into homes for sale is to know what you can actually afford. The Mortgage by Zillow app can help. It has a mortgage calculator that helps you figure out what you can pay each month, and then shows you what you can afford based on that information. The app also helps you find a local lender in the area, and you can compare custom loan quotes. And if you're thinking about refinancing for a better rate, Zillow Mortgage does that too.
Zillow
The Zillow app lets you find your dream home by searching around you for what's available, or you can type in an address or pick out a custom area on the map. Zillow shows you beautiful photos of each property and gives you vital details about the home. You can get other important information like schools and nearby amenities. There's also a built-in mortgage calculator if you want to simplify things, and support for push notifications lets you stay on top of the housing market.
Realtor.com
If you are looking for the most listings anywhere, then the Realtor.com app has you covered. The app features a robust filtering system, so you can truly be selective about what you're looking for in a home. It also offers 3D home tours so you can take a look at what it's like before ever stepping foot inside. Realtor.com provides real-time listings, and you can view Open House times and get directions there, without leaving the app. If you're in a neighborhood and see a house for sale, the Sign Snap feature lets you take a photo and get it's listing information right away. Realtor.com is a trusted name in the real estate industry, and this app is a must.
Redfin Real Estate
Redfin is another excellent option for your home-buying toolbox. It provides the most accurate home data that gets refreshed every 15-30 minutes, so it's always up-to-date. It has a large database of home listings thanks to the MLS (Multiple Listing Services), and you can search for your dream area or just what's nearby. You can schedule home tours directly within the Redfin app, which is convenient. You also get insights from realtors, which are notes left by realtors about what a home is like right after they tour the home. Refin even tells you what homes are likely to sell quickly, so you gain a competitive edge against other shoppers.
Homesnap
Homesnap lets you snap a photo of any home you come across, and then get information on that home, right at your fingertips. Even if a home isn't for sale, you can get home value estimates, interior images, bed and bath info, and more. If you want to search by what's available, just use some filters or even draw your own custom area on the map. There are 3D tours of homes in Homesnap, and you can connect and chat to an agent right away for a house you're interested in. There's Siri integration too.
Trulia
With Trulia, you can focus on finding the perfect home and neighborhood. The app showcases crowdsourced insights from people already living around there, so it's genuine experienced information. You can take virtual tours of both the house and neighborhood too, and neighborhood overlays tell you about crime rates, schools, price trends, amenities, and much more. There are notifications so you can stay informed of any changes in the area you like, and you can book viewings when there are open houses.
What are your favorite apps for buying homes?
There are quite a few options out there, but these are some of the best options that you should be checking out. And not just one, but a few or all of them! After all, you never know if one place shows up only in one app, and you end up loving it. Don't limit yourself and make sure to check all available options before picking a house, after all, this is a big deal!
What are your favorite apps for home buying? Let us know in the comments.
