What is realtor.com?
Realtor.com is an online real estate marketplace that connects home buyers, sellers, and renters with property listings across the United States. Operated by Move, Inc., a subsidiary of News Corp, it serves as one of the largest real estate listing platforms in the country.
The platform aggregates property data from multiple listing services (MLSs) and displays homes for sale, recently sold properties, and rental listings. It provides users with property details, photos, neighborhood information, and market insights.
How realtor.com was founded
Realtor.com was launched in 1996 by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) as one of the first national real estate websites. The platform was created to bring MLS listings online and make property information accessible to consumers through the internet.
In 2014, News Corp acquired Move, Inc., the company operating realtor.com, for approximately $950 million. This acquisition marked a shift in ownership away from NAR, though the platform retained its branding and continued to leverage MLS data partnerships.
What realtor.com offers and supports
Realtor.com provides multiple tools and features for real estate consumers and professionals. The platform offers property search functionality with filters for price, location, property type, and features. Users can access listing details updated directly from MLSs, typically with faster refresh rates than some competitor sites.
The site includes mortgage calculators, affordability tools, and connections to real estate agents. It also features market trend data, neighborhood demographics, school information, and commute estimates.
For real estate professionals, realtor.com offers advertising products and lead generation services. Agents and brokers can enhance their profiles and promote listings through paid placement options.
Use cases for realtor.com in real estate
Home buyers use realtor.com to search for properties based on specific criteria and view updated MLS data. The platform allows them to save searches, favorite listings, and contact listing agents directly through the site.
Sellers and their agents utilize the platform to gain visibility for listed properties. Listings posted to local MLSs typically appear on realtor.com, expanding their reach to a national audience.
Investors and market researchers access the site’s market trends and sold data to analyze property values and neighborhood dynamics. Renters can browse rental listings and connect with landlords or property managers.
Real-world applications of realtor.com
A first-time homebuyer in Denver might use realtor.com to set up search alerts for three-bedroom homes under $500,000 in specific neighborhoods. When new listings match their criteria, they receive notifications and can quickly view property details.
An agent listing a property in Austin would enter the listing into their local MLS. Within hours, the listing appears on realtor.com with photos, descriptions, and the agent’s contact information, reaching buyers searching the platform nationally.
A real estate investor researching markets might use realtor.com’s sold data and market trends to compare median prices and days on market across different ZIP codes before deciding where to purchase rental properties.
