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9 Essential Apps for the Empowered Home Buyer

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Nick Cunningham
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You've got that all-important pre-approval letter from your mortgage advisor—it's time to start searching for your new home. No matter what you need to make buying a home easier, you can bet somebody has an app for that!

To help you, consider these 9 apps to help you find the perfect house, save money, and even plan your move.

Apps to Power Up Your Home Buying

Preparing to buy a home can be a lot of work. Luckily, technology is on your side, and help is just a simple app download away.

Home Buyer's Checklist

Apps for Home Searches

Ready to start looking for a house? Here are a few apps that make it easy to cover a lot of ground with just a few swipes:

  1. Realtor.com: It's worth downloading the Realtor.com app because it displays all of the homes offered by professionals who are members of the largest American association of licensed realtors. The app's functions include driving directions, notifications of new listings, and price changes. The app can even deliver information about any listing after you take a photo of a for-sale sign in the yard.
  2. Zillow-Trulia Apps: The same parent company now owns these two popular real estate websites. Zillow and Trulia list many of the same homes you'll find on Realtor.com but also include listings that don't use a professional realtor.
  3. Homesnap App: If you plan to drive around looking for homes for sale, you might want to add the Homesnap app to your phone. Users say that this app is fun because you can take pictures of homes, and the app will deliver detailed information about the location. You can also use the app to send mobile communications to your realtor and other parties.

Money-Saving Apps for Home Buyers

Purchasing a new home gives you plenty of reasons to organize your financial life. Consider using these apps to help you budget and save money:

  1. Mint: The handy Mint app can help you create a budget, remind you to pay bills on time, and even help you set aside savings for down payments and emergencies. You can also use Mint to keep track of your credit score.
  2. Acorns: Intimidated by the idea of saving for a down payment? Even setting aside small amounts can add up over time. You can link your debit card to the Acorns app, and it will automatically round up purchases setting the spare change aside in your savings. Some partner companies will even rebate a percentage of the price to your app savings. 
  3. Flip: Planning to move before your rental lease has ended? If so, you may want to use the Flip app to find someone to sublet your apartment. Besides helping you connect with people who want to rent your current residence, this handy app also checks credits and can even loop your landlord into the conversation.

Use These Apps to Plan Your Move Like a Pro

No matter how excited you may be about buying a new home, you're probably dreading the task of moving. Solid planning can take some of the pain out of the process, and these apps can help:

  1. Letgo: While you're waiting to close on your new home, take some time to get rid of excess, and declutter your life. You can also reduce the cost and effort of moving if you're transporting fewer items. Earn a few extra dollars by selling unwanted furniture, clothes, and appliances you can live without. You can use the Letgo app on your phone or computer.
  2. Moved: If you're struggling to plan your move, consider using the Moved app. It offers a free concierge service with a personal assistant to help you with every detail, from ordering packing supplies to hiring movers. The company can provide live help for free because they earn money from referral fees, but you aren't obligated to accept any service quotes that they offer.
  3. Bellhops: If you only need a few items moved, try out the Bellhops app. Users describe this service as a sort of Uber for moving. As with the popular ride-sharing app, you set up a payment method instead of using cash. You can also schedule moves as soon as the next day.

Are These All of the Home-Buying Apps You Can Find?

There are hundreds of apps out there designed to help you navigate every phase of your home-buying process. Many only serve certain geographic areas or customers of the companies that produce them. If you happen to live in the right cities or patronize these businesses, you may benefit from downloading these apps too. 

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