In July 2009, Google unveiled a Maps project designed to help users find details of local properties. This included information on location, cost, images, and descriptions of rental and purchase properties across the U.S., UK, Japan, New Zealand, and Australia. However, this feature is now being discontinued, with its retirement announced at the end of January.
According to Google’s LatLong blog, several reasons contributed to this decision, but the core issue lies in the fact that other platforms perform this function more effectively. While Google provided a competent service, upcoming changes to Google’s API would pose significant challenges, making it not worthwhile to maintain this feature. Moreover, it experienced low usage compared to dedicated real estate search sites.
Google’s staff believe that Google Maps and other resources will remain crucial in real estate searches for many users. However, these tools will likely be integrated by real estate companies instead of Google itself. The use of Google Maps in web utilities or mobile app solutions could be a successful strategy for marketing real estate, and Google highlights successful implementations of its products by various real estate companies to support this assertion.
The real estate search feature will be shut down on February 10th. Nonetheless, the Maps team suggests that this closure may not be permanent. “We recognize there might be better, more effective ways to help people find local real estate information,” the statement reads. “We’ll continue to explore this area.”
