There’s been a lot of shifts in real estate in 2020. Some of the trends and evolution were already on their way in, such as buying a home primarily online, but COVID-19 inevitably sped up what was already happening.
The Casa Blanca real estate app is new to the scene, and it’s capitalizing on some of these unique evolutions in the real estate world. It’s like a dating app for real estate, and much as you do on apps like Bumble, you swipe right to choose the home of your dreams.
What Is Casa Blanca?
Casa Blanca just launched, and both renters and buyers can use it for their home search. You create a profile and then outline your preferences. Potential homes meeting your preferences appear, and you swipe right or left. The listings are sorted based on your criteria initially, but based on your swipes, the app gets smarter about what you’re interested in and what you like.
Another similar component to dating apps is the fact that your listings are organized based on location. Then, your swipe-rights are saved, and the rest are hidden.
Co-Founder and CEO Hanna Bomze said the goal was to create something fun and engaging. She said customization was key, so the company created a proprietary algorithm that takes users beyond budget and square footage.
Bomze, who is a veteran of the New York City real estate scene, said she noticed throughout the years it was becoming increasingly tech-driven. There was a move away from traditional brokerages and toward online marketplaces.
She says that by eliminating the things that aren’t a good fit, it makes for a more engaging experience.
What Factors are Considered?
Some of the factors that the app takes into consideration when matching you with homes are day-to-day lifestyle, neighborhood features, and familial status. The goal is to go beyond the traditional logistical components of a home and get more into the lifestyle elements.
What Happens When You “Match” With a Home?
If you swipe right, you’re then matched with a Casa Blanca agent. The agent will do all the things a real estate agent traditionally does, including scheduling showings and walking you through the rental or buying process.
Casa Blanca has what they describe as a non-traditional commission structure, so they say as a result, they can offer app users as much as 1 % cash back at closing.
COVID-Friendly Home Searches
Bomze said Casa Blanca is well-suited to the current pandemic and its effects. She said that the process of house hunting is streamlined and is more efficient with the app. You can do things like scheduling viewings and talk to agents within the app.
Currently, Casa Blanca is only available in New York City, but Bomze said they would soon expand into other markets. According to the company, the app in beta made more than $100 million in sales. They project they’ll reach $250 million by 2021.
The company along with being women-owned, is also women-operated, and most of the staff is female.
