Edina Realty Releases Enhanced Mobile Property Search Apps

Edina, Minn. – May 30, 2013 – Edina Realty has launched a free new property search application for iPad, iPhone and Android users with unique branding for each of its 2,100 agents. Every Edina Realty REALTOR® now has their own branded app and can invite clients via e-mail, text, or QR code to download the mobile app directly.

The branded app helps agents maintain strong relationships by facilitating greater sharing between REALTORS® and their clients, who can call, e-mail or text a question and request a property showing from within the all new agent-branded apps. Clients not yet associated with a REALTOR can download an Edina Realty app with no agent affiliation.

The new agent-branded mobile app enables iPad, iPhone and Android users to see larger color photos and complete listing details on virtually every home and property for sale in the Twin Cities metro area as well as greater Minnesota and western Wisconsin. They can also search for foreclosures, short sales and recently sold homes.

A GPS locator enables users to find homes near them in real-time using Home Scan, Edina Realty’s augmented reality tool that pulls in listing information to the camera’s live feed. An intuitive map search also lets users search homes for sale by city, zip, MLS number, or even the style of home.

Users can find open houses near them and get driving directions to check out listings in person. They can then save their favorite properties for sale and either visit them later in the app or via their MyEdinaRealty account on edinarealty.com. Sharing favorite homes for sale with friends and family via e-mail or social networks can also easily be done from the apps.

“Mobile Internet usage is quickly becoming the norm and is expected to bypass desktop Internet usage within a year or two,” said Bob Peltier, president and CEO of Edina Realty Home Services. “Our agents and customers can be confident that we’re not just keeping up with the latest mobile apps; we’re leading the marketplace with the latest and greatest mobile property search tools.”

According to comScore’s 2013 Mobile Future in Focus, the U.S. smartphone market finally surpassed 50 percent market penetration in 2012 and now enters the “late majority” stage of the technology adoption curve. The number of smartphone subscribers has increased 29 percent from a year ago and 99 percent from two years ago. Additionally, Smartphones have surpassed 125 million U.S. consumers and tablets are now owned by more than 50 million.

Visits to Edina Realty’s mobile apps have been skyrocketing. In 2012, 23 percent of all visits to Edina Realty were made via its mobile apps and mobile website, m.edinarealty.com. In April 2013, there were over 580,000 mobile app visits, an increase of 300 percent over the previous year.

Overall engagements with Edina Realty across its website, m.edinarealty.com and mobile apps are up more than 57 percent year over year and are at the highest level in three years. Over 2.3 million people visited Edina Realty’s website and mobile apps in April.

Over 380,000 visitors to edinarealty.com are now registered with myEdinaRealty accounts, where they can save favorite properties and create alerts; in April, there were 4,712 new registered users – a year-over-year increase of 38 percent. MyEdinaRealty account users are offered a seamless experience, as they can access their saved properties from edinarealty.com, m.edinarealty.com and the Edina Realty mobile apps.

To download the free new mobile property search app, visit http://app.edinarealty.com/ or search for Edina Realty in the Apple iTunes store or the Google Play store.

For more information on Edina Realty, its mobile apps or the current state of the housing market, contact Edina Realty Customer Care at 952-928-5563 or visit www.edinarealty.com.

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Edina Realty, a subsidiary of HomeServices of America, is one of the nation's largest real estate companies with approximately 55 real estate offices and 2,100 REALTORS® throughout Minnesota and western Wisconsin. Edina Realty's family of companies includes Edina Realty, Edina Realty Title, and Edina Realty Mortgage. Edina Realty handled more than 32,660 transactions and $6.9 billion in sales volume in 2012. For more information, visit www.edinarealty.com, m.edinarealty.com, or find us on Facebook: facebook.com/EdinaRealty; and Twitter: twitter.com/Edina_Realty.