Google retires real estate listings of Google Maps

Google has announced that they will retire the Google Base function for posting real estate listings on Google Maps.  No longer will users be able to find property for sale or rent on the popular Google maps applications.  Launched in 2009, the listings loaded onto Google Maps were considered a real estate search game changer.  

The Google Maps blog post noted the “low usage” of the features as one of the reasons for discontinuing the API.  They also noted there are a number of excellent real estate search portals and provide more relevant information on properties. 

The blog posting also notes that Google Maps will still play an important role in real estate.  Their maps, applications, and tools continue to be used in real estate search.  In addition, finding local businesses, schools, area amenities, and other local details are something their maps do very well.  Google even has a page for real estate professionals.

We are not surprised that there was a lack of interest in these features on Google’s maps.  First let me say their maps are a critical component to real estate search.  They are critical in providing real estate applications, search and realty portals with the maps, community research, street view, satellite images, and other data needed to inform the consumers about neighborhoods and particular properties.  But, the actual use of their real estate listings was lacking. 

In 2009 Brian Boero from 1000Watts Consulting said it best in his blog post titled, “Google may kill Microsoft, but it won’t kill real estate,” said “but Google is, and will continue to be, the single biggest outside driver of technology innovation for real estate brokers and agents.”