Wow, if only I had this service when I was searching for homes this spring. The Rob Levy Team has an amazing tool that allows buyers to search for homes by selecting neighborhoods on a map. It is so simple and useful and far exceeds other neighborhood searches. The difference between this neighborhood search and the numerous sites other agents offer is this: You can visually see on the Portland area map all the homes listed in the section you selected. Simply draw a box (you may have to draw more than one to narrow in your search to a street level view) over the map in the area you are interested in. If it is a broad section you will see little dots (more than 100 homes in the area you selected,) and as you zoom in on your selection, the homes are represented by little home icons. As you hover your mouse/cursor over the home icons a second information box pops up with basic details and pictures of the house your mouse/cursor is hovering over. You may then opt to click on the pop-up box for more details about the home or continue to peruse the map for additional listings. Most real estate websites offer maps that allow you to click on the neighborhood and add it to your search list, but they do not actually show the homes listed in relation to each other or their location on the map.

The best way to understand this Map-Based Property search is to try it out at http://allportlandlistings.com . An email address is necessary to log-in to the site, but once you are there it is easy to use. The website also has features that allow you to maximize your search by naming price range, number of bedrooms and additional categories. Once you find a home of interest and you click on the details box if will take you to an in-depth page with photos, features and public school information. There will also be options to register and save the search, make an appointment to view the property, or sign up to receive emails of listings as they come on the market. This Map-Based Property search is the best tool for buyers searching for properties in specific locations!