This week’s edition for Tech Trends highlights four new tools designed to help current and prospective property owners.
Keeping the Title Safe. Iris Powered by Generali, a provider of a proprietary identity and cyber protection platform, has unveiled Total Title Protection, a package that combines key products and services to help protect homebuyers against home title theft, scams, cyberattacks, and identity fraud.
Among the package’s offerings are home title monitoring and alerts, caller identification monitoring and alerts, and up to $2 million in reimbursement for home title identification theft expenses. The package also features the company’s tools and services including high-risk transaction monitoring and alerts, the ScamAssist scam detection tool, personal cyber protection, 24/7 resolution assistance, and a monthly risk report.
“As providers of industry-leading identity protection, we are constantly looking out for new fraud trends or changes to the identity theft landscape,” said Paige Schaffer, CEO of Iris. “While these real estate-related scams & identity theft issues aren’t new, we launched Total Title Protection in response to the worrying increase of this type of fraud, which the FBI reported cost consumers more than $145 million in 2023 alone. A package that protects against scams, proactively monitors for any changes or filings made to a customer’s title, and even provides expert resolution in case of fraud or cyberattacks is unlike any other product out there. This solution gives real estate professionals, lenders, insurance carriers, and builders an edge over their competition by providing their clients protection well beyond the closing date.”
On the Street Where You Want to Live. Realtor.com is now offering a set of new map-based search features that allow users to answer traditional homebuying questions.
The new features offer a zoom and pan experience that shows real-time visualizations of property data and neighborhood insights all in one map. When applied, each layer illustrates search parameters through color shading that represents aggregated data including market trends for a specific area. The shading adjusts to the property level as the user zooms in, and gets broader as they zoom out, adapting to highlight different data at each zoom level. Users can apply different map layers and access Realtor.com econometric data to find the best home options based on what they’re looking for.
“Do you remember when you bought your first smartphone and how it completely changed how you use a phone? Dynamic map layers are going to change how people search for homes online,” said Mausam Bhatt, chief product and technology officer at Realtor.com. “They are an entirely new pathway to home discovery that allows buyers to answer their most pressing questions with a look at a map. They present data in an interactive way that is easy to use, easy to understand, and easy to make the most informed decisions with – so users can confidently choose the place they call home.”
User-Friendly Financial Management. The property management software provider Rentec Direct has introduced new full accounting features designed to simplify financial management for landlords and property managers.
According to the company, the updates include enhanced tools for managing assets, liabilities, and equity, providing clients with a comprehensive accounting system that removes the need for third-party platforms like popular accounting software programs. The new features will be immediately available to all Rentec Direct clients without additional costs.
“The new full accounting functionality allows property managers and landlords to handle all their financial needs within Rentec Direct, streamlining operations and eliminating the need for multiple platforms,” says Nathan Miller, founder and president of Rentec Direct.
Saving Money on Bills. Ownwell, a property cost-saving platform, has introduced Bill Reduction, a new offering designed to help homeowners save on essential monthly bills, including internet and phone services.
According to the company, homeowners using Bill Reduction can create an account and upload a digital copy of their bills. The company then works to secure lower rates from service providers on behalf of homeowners while also providing ongoing monitoring and identifying future opportunities for savings. The company claimed Bill Reduction has successfully secured savings for 78% of property owners since its rollout earlier this year, with an average annual savings of $238.
“At a time when Americans are faced with rising costs on everyday goods, record high home prices and economic uncertainty, household budgets are being squeezed like never before,” said Colton Pace, CEO of Ownwell. “Bill Reduction offers homeowners a straightforward way to lower their expenses on essential services. We’re committed to helping homeowners pay consistently low prices for the services they rely on.”
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