Google is Discontinuing Real Estate Listings on its Maps Search

Really savvy Google Maps users and people in Real Estate may have been familiar with Google's Real Estate Search feature. But it seems most real estate shoppers prefer alternate methods. Most Realtors have searchable IDX feeds or databases which provide far more information than Google's pop-up blurbs.

Some business analysts suspect Google is letting its Maps Real Estate search go quietly (like Google Wave did) because they have their eye on acquiring a larger, more successful company. Others reject the idea as impractical. No real estate listings service has the global reach that Google needs, and purchasing or growing enough separate companies to adequately service all of Google's users would take years. They would be reinventing the wheel, in contrast with their usually forward thinking marketing strategies.

Google has cited the growing popularity and sophistication of numerous other online sources as well as very low usage rates for its own real estate search as the reasons why they are retiring the service. It makes sense. People searching for real estate know that they are searching for real estate; they seek local, specialized sources for this information.

Indeed, the nature of real estate marketing seems a poor fit for a global, online, jack-of-all-trades corporation. Buyers and sellers alike want to deal with experts: professional Realtors. Most buyers will need to walk through a property a few times before making an offer. Buyers want to know what sort of neighborhood their property will be in, the layout of the property, the condition of the landscaping, and other things that cannot be conveyed by a pin on a satellite photo.

If you aren't getting everything you want out of your IDX feed, give us a call. As a local website design, marketing, and hosting provider, we know what you need to succeed in Maui's real estate market. All of our Real Estate clients' sites incorporate our customizable IDX interface, tailored to their market niche. Switching to our IDX can help improve your Google rank and help your clients easily navigate your real estate website.