Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Hacks & How-to's

Buying or selling your home? Bookmark these 7 websites

Kim Renta
By

Selling your home or looking to buy? Making a move is exciting, but it can also be a very stressful time. From evaluating neighborhoods, calculating mortgages, researching market trends, and finding the perfect real estate agent, the process of buying or selling a home can be overwhelming. 

Luckily, there are websites and apps that can help make the process a lot less painful. Many of the websites for selling homes have the ability to offer information and recommendations for every aspect of the buying or selling process. These seven websites will make your next house-hunting or selling adventure so much easier – guaranteed!

Related Videos

For selling and buying

Obviously, the most important part of moving is buying a new home and selling the one in which you live. Whether you’re starting for scratch or just love looking at real estate in your favorite neighborhoods (we do it too!), these are our favorite sites to do just that.

Related

Zillow

With more than 110 million homes in their database, Zillow is the top online source for real estate. In addition to listings of properties, both on and off the market, Zillow offers insight on calculating mortgages, design galleries for decorating inspiration, and ways to connect with real estate agents in your area. In addition to the website, Zillow also has an app that gives users instant access across multiple platforms to their saved properties and thousands of search results.

Realtor.com

One of the original online real estate tools, Realtor.com is sponsored by the National Association of Realtors and allows users to connect directly with over a million local real estate agents in their pursuit to find the perfect home—or their perfect listing agent! In addition to the database of available homes, users can use the site to keep tabs on their home valuation and equity and search for mortgage rates and brokers.

Trulia

In addition to listings of available homes, you’ll find on other house selling websites, Trulia also provides detailed data on the communities you are considering purchasing in, including school districts, crime rates, real estate market trends, demographic breakdowns, walkability scores, commuting estimates, and more. If you are relocating to a new area and want to familiarize yourself with a neighborhood before purchasing, Trulia is your best option. They also have an easy-to-navigate app for instant access to real estate updates when you’re away from your laptop. 

Homes

Looking to buy or rent a property? This is the website for you. With over 4 million listings, this website offers ‘how to’ section guides for first-time or experienced home buyers, sellers, and renters, as well as home-financing tips, mortgage calculators, and regular blog articles on decorating, renovating, best places to live, and more!

DIY home search tools

Not everyone can find their perfect home or neighborhoods through realtors or big-name sites. And, even if you find the perfect home, your job isn’t over — you have to check out the neighborhood and make sure your home’s sale price is the best you can get. Luckily, there are websites for that too!

ForSaleByOwner.com

If you’ve decided not to use the services of a professional real estate agent when selling your home, this website will help guide you through the process step-by-step. The tagline of ‘All You Need to Know to Sell Like a Pro” is more than just a catchy phrase; this site truly will help even real estate novices with everything from pricing, listing, marketing, and evaluating comparable home values in your area.

Looking to buy direct from a homeowner? Buyers can browse listings, get market information on a specific area, compare home values, and the site can also connect you directly to a local agent with standard commission-based fees.

RealtyTrac.com

A one-stop-shop for home buyers, investors, and other real estate professionals looking for access to the largest selection of foreclosures, foreclosed homes for sale, MLS listings, auctions, and bank-owned homes. RealtyTrac provides extensive property and neighborhood data, which helps you ensure you’re making sound decisions on purchasing a home or investment property. The site also helps you connect with local real estate brokers, search home values, check prices on comparable homes in the area, and more. 

NeighborhoodScout.com

With NeighborhoodScout, you won’t need to trust hunches, rumors, or stereotypes when searching for the right neighborhood for your upcoming move anywhere in the United States. You’ll get one comprehensive report covering 600+ data elements in six reporting categories: crime, demographics, housing, school performance, and real estate trend and forecast analytics. Prices range from $29.99 for a one-time report or monthly subscriptions starting at $39.99. 

Before you list your home or start the search for your next real estate investment, be sure to access the handy one-stop real estate websites designed to make your process easier from start to finish. Whether you opt to list or buy your home on your own, or you are searching for a mortgage broker, home renovator, or the perfect real estate agent, these digital sites have done the legwork for you, so you’ll have less stress and better results. 

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
It’s official: The housing market is taking a hit (finally)
The housing market is not a seller's market anymore
Red house with for sale sign in the front yard

One thing has been true for a couple of years now: If you’re interested in the housing market, you have to know it’s a seller’s market. With skyrocketing housing prices, increased demand, and buyers seeking any way they can to look more attractive to sellers, finding your dream home (or any home at all) has been nearly impossible.

Well, it looks like all of that is over.

Read more
Gas dryers vs. electric dryers: Everything you need to know before you buy
Pros and cons of gas dryers vs. electric dryers
Woman loading dryer in the utility in the room

If you own a home or condo, odds are you have a washer and dryer, but have you ever thought about the pros and cons of gas dryers vs. electric dryers? When you're in the market for a new dryer, you may feel forced to get the type of dryer your house is set up for. If you're building a house or have both hookups in your home, then you can choose which type you’d like.
Regardless of your current dryer situation, the differences between the two types is helpful to know. Which is cheaper to run? Which is easier to troubleshoot or work on yourself if repairs are necessary? Which one dries clothes faster? Here are the big differences between gas dryers vs. electric dryers so you can understand your system better or pick a new one that you prefer.

Similarities of gas dryers vs. electric dryers
Both electric and gas dryers have an inner coil that is heated and use a fan to move the heat around your wet clothes. All dryers have an internal drum that rotates, and in turn, tumbles the clothes around. All dryers also require an electrical outlet because electricity runs the tumbler and fan regardless of the heat source. These are the similarities that all dryers share. Now, let's examine the major differences.

Read more
The big exception to Costco price adjustments (and how to get around it)
This is what you need to know about Costco price adjustments and price matching
costco receipts questions answered white receipt

Have you ever bought a fairly expensive item, only to see it marked down a few days later? Or go shopping in a different store and see your new purchase being advertised at a lower price? It’s an obnoxious feeling, knowing you’ve spent money you didn’t have to — luckily, that’s where price match and price adjustment policies come in. But when it comes to shopping at Costco, there’s one pretty big price adjustment exception you need to know about.

Can you get a Costco price adjustment?
 In general, yes. While there are exceptions, most items are eligible for a price adjustment at Costco if the item goes on sale within 30 days of purchase (and there are no applicable promotional item limits).

Read more