Australia's leading property platform has introduced a groundbreaking tool designed to take the guesswork out of one of life's most stressful decisions - buying a home.
Revolutionising Property Search with Instant Affordability Checks
Realestate.com.au, which began in a Melbourne garage back in 1995, has transformed into Australia's most trusted property resource, attracting over 12 million monthly visitors. The platform now offers a sophisticated affordability calculator that provides immediate insights into whether prospective buyers can afford specific properties.
Jonathan Swift, REA Group's chief product and audience officer, emphasised the platform's evolution beyond mere listings. "Australians hold us in high regard, they trust what we tell them, they trust how we use their data," Mr Swift stated, highlighting the company's commitment to maintaining that trust during what he describes as "the most emotional, high-stress decision you are ever going to make."
How the Affordability Calculator Works
The innovative tool appears on every property listing, including those without advertised price guides. It delivers personalised calculations based on an individual's income and expenses, incorporating current interest rates and allowing users to select their preferred loan type.
More than four million homeowners already actively track their property values on realestate.com.au to determine optimal selling times. The platform also provides valuable selling insights, including performance data and reviews for real estate agents to help vendors select the best representation.
Mr Swift explained that tools like the affordability calculator significantly boost buyer confidence. "They help you build a little bit more of an understanding of the process and they give you access to the information that takes away a lot of worry and uncertainty," he said.
Personalised Property Recommendations and Additional Resources
The platform's suggested property feature uses filters and information gathered from users' previous searches to recommend suitable listings. According to REA Group data, users who engage with this feature view three times more properties than those who don't.
"It gives buyers new suggestions, such as new areas within their price range that they may have never considered," Mr Swift noted. Simply saving preferred properties helps the platform learn user preferences and refine future recommendations.
For deeper research, buyers can visit property.com.au, realestate.com.au's companion site, to access comprehensive information about specific addresses. This includes details about bushfire and flood risks, heritage overlays, school zones, and mobile coverage areas.
The company continues to innovate with new features, recently launching a video discovery hub on its homepage and enhancing immersive experiences through video content and 3D tours. These developments create more opportunities for consumers to learn about properties and make confident, informed decisions.
