Web Reviews: Financial Site Offers Real Estate Resources

Bankrate.com

www.bankrate.com

What the Site Offers: Bankrate.com is the flagship Web site of Florida-based Bankrate Inc. The financial services site is divided into channels covering small business, real estate, mortgage, insurance, and credit information. Real estate professionals can use many of these resources either for their own knowledge or to pass along to customers.

The site advertises itself as the nation's leading aggregator of 100 financial products, including mortgages, credit cards, new and used automobile loans, money market accounts, certificates of deposit, checking and ATM fees, home equity loans, and online banking fees. The company surveys approximately 4,800 financial institutions in all 50 states to provide current rates for mortgages, new and used auto loans, credit cards, and more.

Bankrate.com features straightforward navigation. However, it covers so much information—with categories within categories—that the unwary surfer could easily get lost.

Valuable Site Features for Real Estate Professionals

• Editorial Alert. Want to keep up with the latest information without checking the site daily? This feature lets you indicate your interests, either by category— including small business, money markets, and mortgages, among others—or by keyword or phrase. Bankrate.com then sends you notification by e-mail when it posts content meeting your criteria. Another alert, Mortgage Alerts, notifies you when rates drop below whatever target point you specify.
• Foreclosure Search. This free tool from ForeclosuresUS.com provides listings of foreclosed properties nationwide. You can select your region from an interactive map and then browse listings by state to find local foreclosure investment opportunities for you or your clients.
• Tax Forms. This section provides you with easy access to tax forms for individuals, businesses, and deductions from the Internal Revenue Service. The page also links to popular IRS publications, including such real estate-related topics as home sales and relocation.
• Free Content Program. The site offers a number of tools or articles that you can add directly to your Web site for free. You must first register and log into the site before you can access the necessary code to add these features to your site, but the registration and use of the materials are free. Included in the tools and information you can add to your site are rate tickers, mortgage rate charts, and mortgage headline news.

Valuable Site Features for Your Customers

• Mortgage Home Page. This page, a comprehensive overview of mortgage news, rates, and trends, includes overnight averages for mortgage rates, analysis of current trends, and explanations of popular mortgage products.
• Financing. Homeowners can use this page to learn strategies for saving for a downpayment, and how trading up could affect their taxes, insurance bills, and utility costs. The page also offers additional mortgage calculators.
• State Taxes Roundup. Relocating customers can tap into this resource to find tax information for their potential new home, including the average taxpayer burden and the types of taxes state governments levy.
• Buying. Homebuyers can find advice on when it’s cheaper to move than remodel, what tax breaks exist for homeowners, and the pros and cons of purchasing new and existing homes. Other tools make understanding mortgages easier, such as a mortgage process checklist and a glossary of mortgage terms.
• Selling. This section offers homeowners tips on maintaining an unoccupied property, ways to boost curb appeal, and other advice. Other resources include a timeline for selling a home and residential price trends in major metropolitan areas.
• Improving. Whether your customers are looking to buy a fixer-upper or just want information on what improvements will boost their property’s value, this section can help. It contains a room-by-room remodeling guide, articles describing how to hire a contractor, and features on remodeling projects that encourage birds to visit.
• Moving. Moving can be one of life’s most stressful experiences. This section makes things a bit easier, addressing everything from finding a reliable mover to special considerations when relocating with children, pets, or seniors.