Google Real Estate Search – New Trend Away from MLS Based IDX

By Benn Rosales on January 6, 2010

No IDX Required says it all.

RealShout has launched its plug and play Real Estate Search Wordpress plugin that actually says it quite clearly, “no idx required!” And although RealShout, a division of Go Smart Solutions did its best to get the word out via press releases and a few choice emails and blog comments, it got very little real press.

Remember that MLS punking?

The plugin itself is one of a few new WordPress plugins that capitalize on Google’s Real Estate Search as of late that signals a potential shift away from costly MLS dues, and forced relationships with Associations that some agents want no part of, as well as what it costs to get IDX service providers into new markets.

On the surface the idea of utilizing Google Real Estate Search seems innocuous enough in that the major complaint is that data may not be as up to date as it should be, but I’m not so sure that’s a bad thing. Agents have an opportunity to do what they do best which is verify property availability and schedule showings based on those conversations.  It essentially works in tandem with what Agents do every single day.

Circumventing Absurdity

Also, there are many markets in the country that do not allow agent IDX at all, and this type of solution absolutely circumvents that absurdity all the way around lending new and marvelous opportunities to expose listings in ways they couldn’t before further supplementing the listing agents portfolio offering, including indexing in Google the listings themselves.

The big picture is so beautiful

Let’s face it, just as Google was once new, its search functionality improved, I suspect that so will Google’s Real Estate Search, and as Agents utilize this type of solution more and more it will only get smarter in turn working with Google’s Nexus One and Android operating system.

Back to the plugin

RealShout’s Real Estate WordPress Plugin is customizable through and through and they offer further customization for independent agents and brokers as well as supplemental lead capture systems (AG nor I have any affiliation).  The plugin itself is free, offers detailed search criteria, photos, Google maps, save and contact agent tabs, as well as neighborhood places with area info and more and I see no reason that a plugin such as this couldn’t be used on ghost sites, idle domains, or even in tandem with your current idx search- give it a shot, let us know what you think!

Lori Cain is a residential Realtor with Chinowth & Cohen Realtors serving the greater Tulsa Oklahoma area, including midtown Tulsa, Owasso, Broken Arrow, Bixby, Sand Springs and Jenks. Please visit Lori’s web site, LoriCain.com or call 918-852-5036.