Buying a house? These APPS will help you. By Laurel Grandle, Knoxville, TN REALTORGeneral Real EstateUpdated on Mar 2, 2012 View more like this | Visit KNOXVILLE, TN | Contact EXIT Realty Knoxville |
Buying a house? These APPS will help you. By Laurel Grandle, Knoxville, TN REALTOR
There must be a million mobile apps available for download to your Android, IPhone, SmartPhone, etc. It’s an overwhelming task to sort out the truly useful ones from those that are silly, fluffy or simply entertaining.
I’m here to help! I’ve done some homework for you! Here is a short list of mobile apps I think you’ll find useful for saving time, making smart decisions and staying organized while you’re house hunting.
1. CamScanner
What it does: Puts a document scanner in your pocket. Enables you to use your phone’s camera to take a picture of a document, email it to anyone in PDF format.
Why it’s useful: Many real estate agents now use digital document signature software which lets you to sign with a click and, more importantly, without faxing documents back and forth. However, some mortgage lenders will only accept a copy or scan of your ‘wet ink’ signature.
Throughout your transaction, you might find yourself needing to scan and email your contract documents with your original signature, a copy of your deposit check, new payroll check stubs as you receive them, your driver’s license, a gift letter or any of a number of other documents to your agent or mortgage company. Having the ability to scan documents and checks and email them right from your phone can save you a lot of time and hassle - not to mention gas and cash.
Works with: iOS
Price: Free
2. Dictionary of Real Estate Terms
What it does: Translates real estate jargon and acronyms into plain English, putting a decoder at your fingertips for easy reference any time you need it during the transaction. The Dictionary includes over 3,000 real estate terms, charts and graphs. You can save your searches and email terms to others. Your phone does not have to be connected to the Internet to use the Dictionary, which can be useful if you need to look up a term on an inspection or appraisal report while you’re in a home or office where you don’t have a great connection.
Why it’s useful: Home buying will expose you to terms you have never heard before. You need to know what the terms used in your inspection, disclosure, contract and loan documents mean; sometimes looking them up is the best way to do that.
Works with: iOS and Android
Price: $1.99 (iOS) and 99 cents (Android)
3. House Hunter
What it does: Helps you organize your house-hunting notes and priorities so you can more easily remember and compare the homes you’ve seen. The app also helps you evaluate the homes you’ve seen by providing a scorecard that weighs features against what you’ve identified as requirements and priorities. It includes a mortgage calculator, photo storage, and a feature that allows you to share your notes with your agent, among other bells and whistles.
Why it’s useful: After you see about five houses, they can all blend together. This app helps you keep it all straight, while also keeping you mindful of what your original priorities were and how the homes you see measure up against them.
Works with: iOS
Price: $3.99
4. SpringPad
What it does: Helps you keep track of any and every thing you want to remember in a digital notebook you can access from anywhere, on any device. You can:
scan barcodes from the FOR SALE signs of homes you like, giving you instant information about the property, save ideas, property addresses, online clippings from design and news sites, photos from decor magazines and to-do lists from your mortgage broker;
categorize all these things - and more - by house hunt, mortgage and escrow, moving and decorating;
set reminders, share notes with your agent or get an email alert when an item you want goes on sale.
All without a single scrap of paper!
Why it’s useful: Empowers you to organize the hundreds of elements of your home hunting and buying adventure into a single spot and access it wherever you are - without carrying a bulky, messy binder or folder around.
Works with: iOS and Android
Price: Free
5. ColorSnap
What it does: Allows you to take a picture with your phone’s camera from anything in the world that inspires you, then discover the corresponding Sherwin-Williams paint color.
Why it’s useful: If you see a wall color you love in a home you, well, don’t like too much otherwise, you can capture the color and replicate that once you do find your dream home. Same goes for if you come across any other item in a color you love and would like to incorporate into your design scheme.
Works with: iOS and Android
Price: Free
6. Karl’s Mortgage Calculator
What it does: Calculates mortgage payments using the principal loan amount, interest and term (and can solve for any of these if you input the other three variables). This app also gives you a more precise idea of what your total monthly expenses will be on a given home by factoring in line items other calculators leave out, like mortgage insurance, homeowners association dues, property taxes and homeowners’ insurance. You can also see what kind of savings you might be able to achieve - and how early you can pay your mortgage off - by running scenarios that add in extra loan payments.
Why it’s useful: Having this mortgage calculator handy during your house-hunting adventures will enable you to quickly calculate how a given increase in your offer price will change your monthly payment.
Works with: Android
Price: Free
iOS alternative: Mortgage Calculator Pro (99 cents)
7. Trulia Real Estate App
What it does Uses your phone’s GPS function to show nearby listings and their details if you happen to find yourself in a neighborhood you love, or in front of a home with a for sale sign - but no flyers! The Trulia app also finds the banks, restaurants and gas stations near any given listing, and can even create instant maps showing neighborhood differences in prices.
Why it’s useful: You may find that you like a particular neighborhood, but not the individual home you came to see. Or you might visit a friend and fall in love with their street, but have no idea what homes in the area go for. Having an easy-to-use mobile app that helps you discover more nearby homes for sale, wherever you are, is actually quite indispensable. It eliminates the need to scrawl down numbers on scraps of paper or squint to see the faded numbers on the curb then wait until you’re in front of the computer to try to match an online listing to a real-world house.
Works with: iOS and Android
Price: Free
Thinking about moving? Call me today! 865 389 2551. I can assist you with every aspect of your move.
Please visit: http://www.LaurelGrandle.com. You can begin the search for your perfect home right there!
Laurel Grandle sells homes throughout the Knoxville, TN Area, including Karns, Farragut, Halls, Powell, Loudon County, Knox County.
Laurel specializes in Lake Front Properties, Luxury Homes, Historic Homes, New Construction and she is an expert at matching buyers with the right house, regardless of the area or price range. She has over 25 years of experience and has helped thousands of clients with their real estate needs.
Here is what some of her clients have said about her recently, “Laurel has an unlimited amount of patience. My family has very specific needs and she understood them and worked with us until we found the perfect home at the right price. I don’t think anyone else would have done that for us and we’ll always be thankful we found her and worked with her. She’s wonderful!” Margo
“Laurel has accommodated us on many occasions very quickly, as our schedules change all the time. She was always understanding of the time and date changes and she helped us find a great house.” Williams
“Thank you! It's wonderful having you as our agent and we both think you're a terrific person. Bob was right when he said we'd love you.” Joe
“Laurel really knows the area and the market. She didn’t waste any time…she showed us what we ask for in the location we wanted and made the whole move a very good experience for our family”. Robert
“Before we wrote an offer, Laurel did a detailed market analysis for us and discussed it with us so we understood what a fair price would be. She went over the entire contract in detail and clarified everything for us. We purchased with confidence and we’d never use anyone else IF we ever decide to sell!” Anne
Exit Realty Knoxville (each office independently owned and operated) is your number one resource for all real estate needs, including listing, sales, referrals; our EXIT agents are committed to serving you—put us to work for you: 865 690 4300.
direct: 865 389 2551
There must be a million mobile apps available for download to your Android, IPhone, SmartPhone, etc. It’s an overwhelming task to sort out the truly useful ones from those that are silly, fluffy or simply entertaining.
I’m here to help! I’ve done some homework for you! Here is a short list of mobile apps I think you’ll find useful for saving time, making smart decisions and staying organized while you’re house hunting.
1. CamScanner
What it does: Puts a document scanner in your pocket. Enables you to use your phone’s camera to take a picture of a document, email it to anyone in PDF format.
Why it’s useful: Many real estate agents now use digital document signature software which lets you to sign with a click and, more importantly, without faxing documents back and forth. However, some mortgage lenders will only accept a copy or scan of your ‘wet ink’ signature.
Throughout your transaction, you might find yourself needing to scan and email your contract documents with your original signature, a copy of your deposit check, new payroll check stubs as you receive them, your driver’s license, a gift letter or any of a number of other documents to your agent or mortgage company. Having the ability to scan documents and checks and email them right from your phone can save you a lot of time and hassle - not to mention gas and cash.
Works with: iOS
Price: Free
2. Dictionary of Real Estate Terms
What it does: Translates real estate jargon and acronyms into plain English, putting a decoder at your fingertips for easy reference any time you need it during the transaction. The Dictionary includes over 3,000 real estate terms, charts and graphs. You can save your searches and email terms to others. Your phone does not have to be connected to the Internet to use the Dictionary, which can be useful if you need to look up a term on an inspection or appraisal report while you’re in a home or office where you don’t have a great connection.
Why it’s useful: Home buying will expose you to terms you have never heard before. You need to know what the terms used in your inspection, disclosure, contract and loan documents mean; sometimes looking them up is the best way to do that.
Works with: iOS and Android
Price: $1.99 (iOS) and 99 cents (Android)
3. House Hunter
What it does: Helps you organize your house-hunting notes and priorities so you can more easily remember and compare the homes you’ve seen. The app also helps you evaluate the homes you’ve seen by providing a scorecard that weighs features against what you’ve identified as requirements and priorities. It includes a mortgage calculator, photo storage, and a feature that allows you to share your notes with your agent, among other bells and whistles.
Why it’s useful: After you see about five houses, they can all blend together. This app helps you keep it all straight, while also keeping you mindful of what your original priorities were and how the homes you see measure up against them.
Works with: iOS
Price: $3.99
4. SpringPad
What it does: Helps you keep track of any and every thing you want to remember in a digital notebook you can access from anywhere, on any device. You can:
scan barcodes from the FOR SALE signs of homes you like, giving you instant information about the property, save ideas, property addresses, online clippings from design and news sites, photos from decor magazines and to-do lists from your mortgage broker;
categorize all these things - and more - by house hunt, mortgage and escrow, moving and decorating;
set reminders, share notes with your agent or get an email alert when an item you want goes on sale.
All without a single scrap of paper!
Why it’s useful: Empowers you to organize the hundreds of elements of your home hunting and buying adventure into a single spot and access it wherever you are - without carrying a bulky, messy binder or folder around.
Works with: iOS and Android
Price: Free
5. ColorSnap
What it does: Allows you to take a picture with your phone’s camera from anything in the world that inspires you, then discover the corresponding Sherwin-Williams paint color.
Why it’s useful: If you see a wall color you love in a home you, well, don’t like too much otherwise, you can capture the color and replicate that once you do find your dream home. Same goes for if you come across any other item in a color you love and would like to incorporate into your design scheme.
Works with: iOS and Android
Price: Free
6. Karl’s Mortgage Calculator
What it does: Calculates mortgage payments using the principal loan amount, interest and term (and can solve for any of these if you input the other three variables). This app also gives you a more precise idea of what your total monthly expenses will be on a given home by factoring in line items other calculators leave out, like mortgage insurance, homeowners association dues, property taxes and homeowners’ insurance. You can also see what kind of savings you might be able to achieve - and how early you can pay your mortgage off - by running scenarios that add in extra loan payments.
Why it’s useful: Having this mortgage calculator handy during your house-hunting adventures will enable you to quickly calculate how a given increase in your offer price will change your monthly payment.
Works with: Android
Price: Free
iOS alternative: Mortgage Calculator Pro (99 cents)
7. Trulia Real Estate App
What it does Uses your phone’s GPS function to show nearby listings and their details if you happen to find yourself in a neighborhood you love, or in front of a home with a for sale sign - but no flyers! The Trulia app also finds the banks, restaurants and gas stations near any given listing, and can even create instant maps showing neighborhood differences in prices.
Why it’s useful: You may find that you like a particular neighborhood, but not the individual home you came to see. Or you might visit a friend and fall in love with their street, but have no idea what homes in the area go for. Having an easy-to-use mobile app that helps you discover more nearby homes for sale, wherever you are, is actually quite indispensable. It eliminates the need to scrawl down numbers on scraps of paper or squint to see the faded numbers on the curb then wait until you’re in front of the computer to try to match an online listing to a real-world house.
Works with: iOS and Android
Price: Free
Thinking about moving? Call me today! 865 389 2551. I can assist you with every aspect of your move.
Please visit: http://www.LaurelGrandle.com. You can begin the search for your perfect home right there!
Laurel Grandle sells homes throughout the Knoxville, TN Area, including Karns, Farragut, Halls, Powell, Loudon County, Knox County.
Laurel specializes in Lake Front Properties, Luxury Homes, Historic Homes, New Construction and she is an expert at matching buyers with the right house, regardless of the area or price range. She has over 25 years of experience and has helped thousands of clients with their real estate needs.
Here is what some of her clients have said about her recently, “Laurel has an unlimited amount of patience. My family has very specific needs and she understood them and worked with us until we found the perfect home at the right price. I don’t think anyone else would have done that for us and we’ll always be thankful we found her and worked with her. She’s wonderful!” Margo
“Laurel has accommodated us on many occasions very quickly, as our schedules change all the time. She was always understanding of the time and date changes and she helped us find a great house.” Williams
“Thank you! It's wonderful having you as our agent and we both think you're a terrific person. Bob was right when he said we'd love you.” Joe
“Laurel really knows the area and the market. She didn’t waste any time…she showed us what we ask for in the location we wanted and made the whole move a very good experience for our family”. Robert
“Before we wrote an offer, Laurel did a detailed market analysis for us and discussed it with us so we understood what a fair price would be. She went over the entire contract in detail and clarified everything for us. We purchased with confidence and we’d never use anyone else IF we ever decide to sell!” Anne
Exit Realty Knoxville (each office independently owned and operated) is your number one resource for all real estate needs, including listing, sales, referrals; our EXIT agents are committed to serving you—put us to work for you: 865 690 4300.
direct: 865 389 2551
