Realtor.com announced Monday that it’s enhanced its iOS app with a new filter that allows consumers to search for homes by both rush hour and offpeak commute times.
The implementation of the new feature was based on feedback from consumers who use the platform. An estimated 85 percent of more than 600 users surveyed indicated that they would compromise lot size, square footage and style of home among other features if it meant a shorter commute. Approximately 40 percent of respondents said they are looking to reduce their commute time by up to 45 minutes.
“At realtor.com, we go beyond helping consumers search for listings by providing them with the tools and information to make decisions about which homes are right for them,” Chung Meng Cheong, the chief product officer of realtor.com, said in a statement.
“Our commute time filter is different than others in the marketplace because it gives buyers the ability to toggle between rush hour and off-peak commute times,” Cheong added. “With a more holistic view of their drive to and from work, they’re able to make more informed decisions about where to live.”
As Cheong alluded to, realtor.com isn’t the first listing portal to have this feature. In September 2018, HomeSnap added a commute-time search feature, and Redfin and Zillow both have a feature that will show you the commute time on its website, between the home and your work.
But realtor.com, on a quick glance, does appear to be the first to add commute-time as a search filter, by both off-peak and rush hour traffic parameters.
Right now, the feature is only available on realtor.com’s iOS app. Through the app, users filter listings to match their preferred commute time, which is offered in 10-minute increments up to 60 minutes or more. After entering the maximum desired commute time, all homes that match that time will populate the website.
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