Ed Caropepe wanted to return with his family to the place where he grew up. Caropepe, his wife, Angela and their two daughters, were ready to sell, but were overwhelmed by the arduous task of buying a home while selling theirs, finding an agent, getting a loan, and going through the lengthy escrow process.

He found the shortcut he needed on the Internet.

"I was actually only doing a loan application when the zipRealty.com logo popped up," said Caropepe. "It seemed pretty straightforward."

zipRealty.com is a leader in a field of contestants who say they are the first to offer online transaction management to customers. The site does boast, and justifiably so, that it makes the entire process of getting a loan, writing an offer, scheduling inspections, and closing escrow possible to do over the Internet. But the site offers something others don't - savings for the buyer as well as the seller with money back at the end of the transaction.

"I was trying to figure out what the catch was," said Caropepe. "It really seemed too good to be true." But three weeks later as the escrow closed on his new San Jose home, zipRealty.com made good on its promise. As the family moved in over the weekend, zipRealty.com president, Scott Kucirek, met Caropepe in person with a $5,000 check and the company's blessing.

zipRealty is growing. In the two months since the site launched, eight offers have been written with 52 homebuyers contracting with zipRealty.com as their agent. Two other homes are already in escrow. More than 400 people have already registered from around the country and world.

To serve sellers, the site is offering it's new seller's version, a simple nine-step process that will make selling a home faster and more convenient than ever before, promises the site. Sellers as well as buyers will be able to complete the entire transaction over the Internet and get cash back at the finish.

The seller's version promises to be as simple to use as the buyer's edition. Sellers will be able to show a home, view multiple bids, complete all necessary tasks and paperwork online, and receive cash back at the closing of the transaction.

Buyer's can view seller requirements and other bids on any home of interest, while seller's simultaneously watch competing bids for their property.

According to the company, the site will save buyers and sellers negotiation time and agent commission fees, leaving seller's with thousands of dollars in cash at the end of the sale.

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Published: October 12, 1999

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Blanche Evans is the award-winning senior editor of Realty Times, the Internet's leading independent real estate news service. She is featured daily on the Realty Times Video Network in the "Realty Viewpoint" segment. Blanche has been named one of the "25 Most Influential People In Real Estate" by REALTOR Magazine, and has been twice recognized as a "notable." In 2005, she was named "Top Reporter Covering the NAR" by Delahaye-Bacon's. Blanche is a renowned author of five real estate books. Her newest, Bubbles, Booms and Busts: Make Money In Any Real Estate Market, McGraw-Hill, was rave-reviewed by The New York Times. She was also selected from hundreds of real estate experts to contribute to Donald Trump's book, Trump: The Best Real Estate Advice I Ever Received: 100 Top Experts Share Their Strategies, Rutledge Hill Press, and is featured on page 68. Order Now Review - Honors In 2006, Blanche was selected among scores of candidates to author two consumer real estate guidebooks for the National Association of Realtors: The NAR Guide to Home Buying, and The NAR Guide to Home Selling, Wiley & Sons. She is currently planning two new books for the NAR and its members.       Known for her keen insight into real estate industry issues and for her ability to make complex subjects easy to understand, Blanche is a sought-after keynote and continuing education speaker. Real estate organizations from MLSs, to brokerages, to franchisors, to associations hire her to provide up-to-the-minute analysis of real estate industry news and advice on how to improve revenues. Her passionate delivery, peppered with stinging wit, is a huge hit with audiences and fans. Don Klein, CEO Greater Nashville Association of Realtors, Blanche Evans, Richard Courtney, president 2007, GRAR "The GNAR membership meeting last week featured Blanche Evans as the keynote speaker. Her comments and insights resonated extremely well with those in attendance and we have had many requests for copies of her PowerPoint Presentation. She was a terrific part of the membership meeting and convention program!" - Don Klein, CEO Greater Nashville Association of Realtors Coverage from WSMV, Nashville - 8-14-2007 That Interview Guy - Get Inside The Head Of Today's Generation 2007 AE Institute Session - To purchase 2006 AE Institute Session - Parts 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 HouseValues Mastermind call - Parts 1 2 Blanche's fireside chat with Jeremy Conaway, HAR - Click here. To contact Blanche, email her at . For more articles by Blanche, click here.