Zillow API Fever Spreads
By: Zillow Team, Zillow.com | August 17, 2006
The announcement of our upcoming Open API launch just weeks ago has triggered a very healthy response. From brokers to mortgage lenders, from investment assistance providers to neighborhood guides, from FSBO aggregators to tax assessors, over 130 web sites have already been welcomed to the Zillow API Network.
A few notable launches so far…
- Auction Cloud - Cool Ebay / Zillow mashup that displays home value with Ebay property listings. Nice use of Ajax to keep everything on the same page!
- BiggerPockets – Smart integration of Zillow data with relevant ad content to boost revenue and enhance the user experience. This site also shows how Zillow home location data can be plotted using the Google Maps API.
- IDXCentral – This company builds interactive mapping web sites for real estate professionals. Check out a sample API integration to see how agents and brokers can effectively use Zillow data to complement a lead generation tool. Cool map application too!
- RealtyBaron - Uses Zestimate to pre-populate a form for home buyers and sellers. RealtyBaron proves that Zillow data can easily be used as a starting point for user generated inputs.
- ForeclosuresDaily – Zillow data seamlessly integrated into legacy database, so it automatically displays beside ForeclosuresDaily search results and property details. While Zillow information is protected behind a subscription service, this image shows the data that accompanies all ForeclosuresDaily property listings (see image, below).
With dozens and dozens of other integrations in the pipeline, it will be exciting to see all of the compelling applications that go live in the coming weeks. At this point, we are still accepting proposals from sites interested in launching the Zillow API prior to the Open API release. Shoot us an email at BD@zillow.com with your name, email, URL and a brief API integration description or fill out this form and we’ll get back to you within one or two business days.
- Stumble it!
- Categories: Real Estate, Real Estate Industry, Zillow, Zillow API
Comments
26 Comments so far
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Greg Swann on August 17, 2006 1:24 pm
You forgot to brag about the folks at Alcan Properties, who are using Zillow.com’s Zestimates to hustle the gullible in Texas. I’d expect that their liability will run uphill to you, so they would seem to warrant your regard.
Greg Friedman on August 17, 2006 5:32 pm
Hi Greg,
Greg from Zillow here. Thanks for the heads-up regarding Alcan. This is an interesting use of our API, though it unfortunately violates a few of our terms =( We have contacted Joel, who runs the blog, and are working with him to make a few changes.
Please keep in mind that Zillow data is never meant to mislead home buyers or sellers. Rather, we aim to provide a very useful starting point for understanding the value of a home. Comparisons of listing prices to Zestimates makes for interesting content, but does not necessary imply a under or over-priced home. We make this very clear on Zillow.com and require our API Network members to do the same.
CJ,Broker in L A CA on August 18, 2006 6:23 pm
I am a real estate broker In Los Angeles, CA. I received my Zillow API code a few weeks ago, but haven’t implemented it on my site yet. I thought I would look at some of the sites you listed that have already implemented it, to see what they’ve done.
I ran the address of one of the properties we own on one on the sites. I did NOT fill in any contact information. There was NO disclaimer on the site about a sales contact.
Now, just over 12 hours later, I have received several junk emails about from agents, and two phone calls - they obviously looked up our phone number in a reverse directory.
I am BEYOND furious!!! I am absolutely ENRAGED!!! I do NOT allow our agents to make junk phone calls like this.
And I ~thought~ one of the attractions of Zillow was that folks could research info without having to deal with sales calls.
I realize you can’t be responsible for what agents do with the tool you have provided, but I would suggest something in your licensing agreement prohibiting this kind of trollish behaviour.
David G from Zillow.com on August 19, 2006 9:45 am
CJ, I’m so sorry that you experienced this and will look into whether the two events are related.
Please remember that when you are on another website, you are subject to their terms of use. We can and do control how they use our content, but in most cases, how they use the data you provide them will be between them and you.
Please e-mail me with the site’s details [davidg at (our website)] and I will look into this first thing on Monday.
maj on August 20, 2006 8:40 pm
“hustle the gullible” with Zestimates—now there’s an understatement!
According to Zillow, this property has increased in value by 2.5X in the past 18 *months* (yes, you read that right, it is not a typo):
http://www.zillow.com/HomeDetails.htm?zprop=15581899
It’s unfortunate they don’t appear to be doing much to improve their model—clearly, something that needs to be done before any of the data are to be taken seriously.
Douglas Doss on August 21, 2006 9:01 pm
After 35 programming hours our web administrator has your API integrated on our site and we’re up and running. Perhaps we’re a little naive but our only purpose in offering it is to enhance the utility value of our site and continue our drive to make us a destination site for real estate buyers and sellers in our market area. No data capture, no gimmicks, just flat out service at a professional level. We view our potential clients as intelligent and capable of sound decisions given the information to make them. We’re grateful that Zillow came along and delighted that they share with us. Good for us. Good for our clients. Thanks guys.
Greg Swann on August 26, 2006 8:38 am
Still no change at Alcan Properties.
David G from Zillow.com on August 29, 2006 3:52 pm
Hi Greg,
There have been changes on the Alcan Properties site since your last comment. Participation in our API program requires the branding, messaging and links you now see on that site’s home page. That said, we are still working through a few compliance issues with them.
Also note that we require a link to the Zillow.com definition of the Zestimate but that Zillow.com does not determine the other content published by API users.
Amit D. Chaudhary's Blog on September 8, 2006 4:53 pm
Introduction to Zillow API: Web Service to access Real Estate data from zillow.com
It has been a relevation for me personally to see of web services APIs starting with Google Maps are changing the web. This takes the OpenSource model from software to the web (Now Web 2.0) and releases creativity on a large scale. The resultant creati…
Chandra Bishwokarma on January 15, 2007 4:53 pm
Dear Sir /madam
This is Chandra Bishwokarma
I live in Baltimore MD
I bought the house in Baltimore.It was july 7 2006.
my home adress is 4222 Elsa Terrace
Baltimore MD 21211.
I paid 236,000.00 for this house
but could not find out to my house real price in your web page ( Zillow.com) how to put the price in this page or what is the proceder to put the my house price whice is i paid when i bought it.kindly….. can you send me e-mail please. thank you.
Sincerely
Chandra BIshwokarama
4222 Elsa Terrace
Baltimore MD 21211
Drew M from Zillow on January 18, 2007 1:53 pm
Chandra-
I apologize for your troubles with the site. We will follow up with you via e-mail.
Ron Asteak on January 19, 2007 10:56 am
Remember what happened to those “players” at Enron? The same could be in store for the folks at Zillow. All you need to do is get enough homeowners angry. (Zillow.com) is certainly on that path.
David G from Zillow.com on January 19, 2007 1:35 pm
Ron -
Your opinion is noted but as feedback goes, you haven’t given us much to work with here. I’m going to follow up via e-mail to see if we can address your concerns directly.
Maria Alvarez on November 23, 2007 10:06 am
My house 4074 Sierra Ter, Sunrise, Fl 33351 was built in 1983, it shows in zillow.com that was built in 1969!!, that affect dramatically my house estimate value!, please take a look and fix the error!
Brad Lemieux on December 20, 2007 2:00 pm
I have had my house on the market now for a few months. Zillow had it estimated for around 247,000 and I had it on the market for 225,000. When it comes off the MLS Listing will it go back up to the original Zestimate??? Some banks choose to use your site as a guide and this is going to hurt my loan to value report. Hope to hear from you one this matter. Thank You Brad
Brad Lemieux on December 20, 2007 2:01 pm
I have had my house on the market now for a few months. Zillow had it estimated for around 247,000 and I had it on the market for 225,000. When it comes off the MLS Listing will it go back up to the original Zestimate??? Some banks choose to use your site as a guide and this is going to hurt my loan to value report. Hope to hear from you one this matter. Thank You Brad
Bonnie Roberts on December 20, 2007 7:49 pm
We renovated the house we have for sale, doubling the size. This shows on my advertising page, but when I get e-mail updates from Zillow, it still states that it’s a 2-bedroom, 1-bath house instead of its current size of 3-bedroom, 2-bath. AND if we use Zillow’s mapping function, it shows a property several lots away from ours! How can I get this corrected?
Linda Frey on January 10, 2008 2:19 pm
My home was delisted from Atlanta fmls Oct 2007 . You list it as 2 bed, when it has 3 bedroom . It also has 5.34 acres of fenced pasture + a barn. Large porches surrounds the home, which is > 40% brick. it also has very heavy crown molding , howe casing 2 fireplaces + double tray ceilings . One home precisely like it sold last year for 700,000, it was very old, down in a whole, with very little pasture. will you take this off your site, your info is hugely in error!Linda Frey
Anthony Miles on February 1, 2008 2:19 pm
I placed a home for sale on zillow & it seems you have a very difficult process to remove this from you active for sale homes.
It was taken off of the market & you do not post any phone numbers to call to get help to remove this property.
steve on February 6, 2008 11:24 am
is there a way to save a picture in birds eye view to deskto??
Merritt on February 13, 2008 8:53 pm
thanks for the API. Keep up the good work.
David Lane on February 27, 2008 4:05 pm
Please take Plata street off the active listings in Mesa, AZ off immediately,Please someone call me and assure me its been done!
Thanks,
David Lane
West USA Realty
602.524.5719
David Lane on February 27, 2008 4:05 pm
Please take Plata street off the active listings in Mesa, AZ off immediately,Please someone call me and assure me its been done!
Thanks,
David Lane
West USA Realty
602.524.5719
Matt Donatelle on October 28, 2008 1:54 pm
Hi There,
I had requested to get an API to put active real estate listings on my website. I have not heard back in a week.
If you could help, would be appreciative.
Matt
617 268 9800 ext 103
Drew Meyers on October 28, 2008 3:47 pm
Matt-
Sorry for the delay - I just responded to your inquiry.
Dan K. on November 11, 2008 11:03 am
Zillow API question: I would like to integrate one of the Zillow API’s in our website, but I believe we’ll exceed the daily limit of API calls often. I submitted a request on Zillow.com about this, but I haven’t received a reply. Please contact me to discuss terms of use.
Thanks,
Dan