As some of you know, I'm a R.E. broker in the Wash DC metro area and also a technology entrepreneur.
I've co-founded a company that does something pretty neat: It sends location data to the browser. Here's why that's such a big deal:
For the first time, your MLS home search tool can be "location aware", meaning it knows where the user is, and can display the listings that are near that user.
Imagine using this on a phone! An agent or consumer could see the homes for sale around them, wherever they are.
It's great for a "I hate the house but love the neighborhood" type scenario.
In fact, our real estate company has taken the technology, called PointAbout, and applied it to our search tool. Check out www.TBHSE.com/mobile. You can also see a video of the tool in action below, and you can read about the company behind the location-based technology at PointAbout.com
I'm also actively looking for other Realtors that want to try hooking this into their local MLS system, either by using our mobile search interface or developing your own. Daniel.Odio@PointAbout.com or call me at 202.250.3846.
Video of PointAbout in Action:
Technology-centric real estate firm, featured in The Wall Street Journal, CNN, CNBC & many others. Referral & relocation clients welcomed. Call anytime 202-250-3846 (cell). www.DROdio.com/search
If you're wondering exactly how a Realtor can help you find a home, you'll probably enjoy this whitepaper.
I was wondering the exact same thing when I bought a home in 2001 (before I was a Realtor) from Pulte. What I found was that most Realtors were generally clueless and were just trying to get me into a home so they could get paid their commission. Furthermore, I had no idea how they were even paid. Needless to say, I didn't have the most positive experience, so I decided to start a real estate company to change the way buyers purchase homes.
The first thing I did was apply my background (in technology) to make the search process as easy & transparent as possible for buyers. Most Realtors try to restrict access to the MLS, not enable it, because they want control over the process. Our approach is entirely different.
We give you access to as much information as possible. We created a Google Maps based home search tool, BirdsEyeSearch.com (all links open in new windows) that searches the MLS, and we include the address of the homes, so you can drive by yourself. In fact, we'll even help you help yourself, with our free GPS loaner so you don't get lost. Our philosophy is this: If we let you do your own research at your own pace, then we believe you'll contact us when you're ready for an expert.
Everyone wants some hand holding at a different part of their search process. That's why we're always available, 24x7, for phone calls. In fact you can call me, the owner, at 202-250-3846 anytime you have a question (and yes, I take midnight phone calls all the time, so feel free). Some buyers want us to show them homes at the beginning of their search, and other buyers want to drive themselves around until they've narrowed their choices to a few homes or a few neighborhoods. The point is, we're here when you need us, and we won't bother you until you're ready for us to help.
We think that most Realtors have a fundamental misunderstanding of what their role should be in the home buying process. Most Realtors think they have to "control" the process, and they think that by driving you around to certain homes, you'll buy one of the ones they show you. We call this the "taxi driving syndrome." But we don't think our value lies in being a taxi driver. Our agents are expert negotiators and don't mind making lowball offers, all of it with the goal of serving your best interests. We'd rather enable you with the ability to see homes, with addresses, through our search tools, and let you take your time, and then be the expert to guide you through the process when you're ready. To that end, we have a series of buyer tutorials, including "How to make a lowball offer" and "How to buy a home as a Realtor would", which you can access, for free, at 
DROdio.com/video. We even work more efficiently than any other firm I know of, allowing you to digitally sign documents instead of running around looking for fax machines.
But that's not all. In our quest to empower you with information, we've even automated some of the more tedious parts of the home search process. By signing up at ListingNotice.com, you can have our servers check the MLS for you, once an hour, for any homes that match your criteria. If you want to be alerted when a 4 BR home in a certain neighborhood is for sale, no problem, we'll email you the second any homes that match come on the market. And yes, we give you the street address so you can drive by yourself to see if you're interested.
We've also had many buyers wondering if they could search for certain keywords, like "backs to woods" or "close to Metro" so we created a search tool for that too, called TheBestHomeSearchEver.com, which lets you do exactly that, and much more, like searching for homes that have dropped by a certain amount in price, or have been listed for a certain number of days or more. Even Realtors don't have the ability to search by keywords in their super-duper MLS search tool, so they use our site too!
Many people ask me if I'm worried that people will just use our free tools but never contact us. I know a certain percentage of buyers will do that, but I figure that by putting the tools out there, buyers will recognize that our approach is a better one, and for every buyer that takes advantage of these tools without contacting us, there will be several other buyers that do want our help. And that's just fine with us, because we really do think we've come up with a better way to help you buy a home.
Best regards, and good house hunting. We're here when you need us.
Daniel R. Odio
Owner & Managing Broker
DROdio Real Estate, Inc.
P.S. - if you'd like to learn more about me and my philosophies, I invite you to visit my blog, at DanielOdio.com/blog.
P.P.S. - Others must think what we're doing is pretty neat too, as we've been featured in multiple publications for our progressive use of technology in the real estate world, including The Discovery Channel, CNN, CNBC, The Washington Business Journal, Forbes.com, CNN Money, The Washington Post, The Washington Times, and many others.
For Our Clients...
Whether this is your first house, or you've done it all before, DROdio Real Estate, Inc. has the resources & expertise you need to purchase your next home. We provide you with a winning combination: Tools to help you find what you want, and smart, tech-savvy agents to represent your interests and close the deal. Follow the steps below and contact us when you're ready. We'll be here when you need us.
You should definitely take a look at the home buyer video tutorials we offer at www.DROdio.com/video
You might also especially like these free buyer tools we offer:
www.ListingNotice.com - Our system checks the MLS every hour and sends you any matching properties that meet your criteria
www.BirdsEyeSearch.com - Allows you to search the full MLS using a Google Maps interface
www.TheBestHomeSearchEver.com - Offers powerful search tools, including the ability to search listing notes for keywords (like "Metro" or "deck"), or to search for properties that have dropped a certain amount in price, or have been on the market more than a certain number of days, and much more
Did you know that the same $500,000 house can cost you between $2,083.33 per month and $4,219.28 per month depending on which loan you get? For this reason, it's very important you start your search by determining how much you want to spend per month, and which loan you want. We've gathered some excellent loan tools to help you make that decision. And remember, unless you'll be living in a house for the next 30 years, a 30 year conventional loan is probably not the right loan for you. Visit our resources library to learn about the different loan types. Be sure to read documents DROdio-1011 
and DROdio-1010 .
You'll also need a loan pre-qualification (or better yet, approval) letter from a lender before you can make an offer. So save yourself the time spent looking at properties that aren't right for you. Talk to a loan officer and use these tools as the first step of the home buying process.
We have several loan officers we recommend available here (this will take you to Step 2). Any of them can get a pre-qualification letter made for you in 1/2 hour or so, and you can do it all over the phone. (If you're willing or able to, however, we highly recommend getting an approval letter, which is stronger, and will probably require you to fax your financial information over to the loan officer. Sellers much prefer approval letters over pre-qualification letters.)
f you're not sure how to use these calculators, we're here to help! Just use the contact box at left to send us an inquiry, and we'll walk you through the calculators.
Note: When you use these tools, you will be leaving our site. We are not affiliated with the company that has created these calculators.
Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM) vs. Fixed Rate Mortgage Calculator
Without a lender pre-qualification or approval letter, you will not be able to make an offer on a property. However, the reason you really need to talk to a loan officer is to figure out exactly what you can afford. Trying to buy a house without talking to a loan officer first is like buying a car with no engine. The loan is what drives the process, and just like a car, there are many different "engines" available for any particular purchase. You may think you know what you afford, but unless you can answer all of the questions below, you don't truly know, and hence, you're not ready to look at houses!
Learn your Credit Score! Visit MyFico.com to get a copy of your credit report and learn what you can do to raise your score. By pulling your own credit you may also be able to give a copy to the loan officers below to obtain a pre-qualification letter. (We are not affiliated with MyFico and do not get any type of compensation for recommending their use.)
If you think there is a problem with your credit score, click here.
Lending Institutions
Contact Brian Martucci directly at 202-588-2400 or email him at Brian@GetLoans.com . You can also visit his website.
2. Chuck Davis - APRcompare.com
Contact Chuck Davis directly at 1.877.277.2667 or email him at Chuck.Mortgage@Gmail.com . You can also visit his website.
3. Steven Spitz - Allied Home Mortgage Capital Corporation
Contact Steven directly on his cell phone 703-819-7290 or at his office at 703-934-9316 or e-mail sspitz@alliedmortgageloans.com .
4. Patrick Collins - First Savings Mortgage Corporation
You can contact Patrick at 703.564.1756 or on his cell phone at 571.334.7352 or PCollins@fsavings.com .
5. Richa Badami - Countrywide
You can contact Richa at 703.779.7042 or on her cell phone at 703.928.3030 or Richa_Badami@Countrywide.Com .
ATTN Military service members: If you are in the armed forces and already a member of USAA, we strongly suggest you contact them along with the references listed below. If you are in the Navy or a member of the Navy Federal Credit Union, you should contact them as well. Both these institutions have great loan programs, but they are only available to military and family of military members.
Powerful Search Tools:
We specialize in helping buyers who want to start the home search process on their own, at their own pace. We enable users with tools to help themselves, and we are available as a resource when the buyers are ready to start looking seriously.
How To Search For A Home
Get a free GPS Loaner from us, so you can do the initial part of the home search on your own! 
We recommend compile a long list of potential homes that interest you. Then, take the print-out and drive around the neighborhoods which you might want to live in, previewing the available homes from the street. You'll find that you can narrow down your list of homes by about 90%, and by then you'll know exactly which ones you want to see inside. This approach allows you to search at your leisure without a Realtor interfering. It also allows the Realtor to maximize his or her time with you, because the agent is opening houses up (something you can't do on your own) vs. driving you around (something you can do on your own). Having said that, if you're not familiar with the area, or you'd like to have a Realtor with you, we're happy to do the driving! We'll work with you based on what suits your needs best.
Just set up a "ListingNotice" email alert below and it'll notify you when a property matching your description comes on the market. This service is free and requires absolutely no obligation. We won't even contact you if you don't want us
Ready to View Homes and/or Make An Offer?
DROdio Real Estate, Inc.'s Market Analysis Tool
Our job is to represent your interests, and it doesn't cost you anything to have us working for you. The seller pays for the buyer's agent, so you have nothing to lose by having us help you (see Resource Library document DROdio-1009 ).
Even if you are buying a new construction home and don't think you need a Realtor, you should contact us (and we'll tell you some stories!). After all, would you walk into a courtroom without an attorney? The same principle applies - we're experts and will help you navigate the biggest purchase of your life safely and effectively.
Please use the contact form at left or call us at 1-800-705-2782.
Here are two resources to help you learn about schools in the area:
A little pitch for 2 Virginia schools:
Many of you already know about Thomas Jefferson High School for Science & Technology. Daniel R. Odio of DROdio Real Estate, Inc. is a TJHSS&T alumnus and would be happy to share his experience at the school. Many people consider TJHSS&T to be the best high school in the US. Its average SAT score is 1482. Students must apply, and out of about 3,000 applications yearly, only 500 are accepted. To learn more about TJHSS&T, visit www.TJHSST.edu. You must be a Fairfax County resident to apply (some exceptions for Loudoun, Arlington & PW Counties).
The University of Virginia is one of the top public universities in the nation. If you have a child contemplating colleges, Daniel R. Odio of DROdio Real Estate, Inc. would be happy to discuss his experience at the school. Daniel graduated from UVA with a BS in Commerce. You can learn more about UVA at www.Virginia.edu.
ActiveRain Corp. is not responsible for the accuracy of the site's content (which is written by members of the ActiveRain Real Estate Network) and does not endorse the views of the real estate agents, mortgage brokers, and others listed here.
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