Want to find the perfect new home for your client? With the right schools, the right number of square feet, two stories, a three-car garage and a downstairs Master suite? You can search hundreds of fields of information in a growing number of new builder communities free on a site built especially for you - NewHomeAgent.com.

NewHome Search Systems (NHSS,) the operator of NewHomeAgent.com begain in Dallas, Texas five years ago, collecting builder information to create an MLS type of database. Last year, the company was snapped up by Real Select, Inc. in a pre-emptive move as the listings giant prepared for its strategic partnership with the National Association of Home Builders in the launch of HomeBuil der.com. NHSS performs the data collection for Homebuilder.com.

Now, NewHome Search Systems is offering NewHomeAgent.com free of charge to real estate agents as the only Internet search directory of builder and new home community data in existance. Realtors can access NewHomeAgent.com through some MLS systems or they can enter the site via the Internet. All they have to do is register to log in and remember their user pass code.

As with an MLS system, NewHomeAgents.com gives users about 75 more fields of information than consumers are able to access, including tax records, lot sizes, and different methods of conducting a search.

First, register to log on by filling out the fields of information. Then enter. You will find that you can search for homes initially one of two ways - by builder or by home description.

If you click homes, you will find that you can fill in or leave blank as many fields as you wish. The more specific you are, the closer you will come to finding the right home for your client.

Does your client need to move quickly? If you click on Move-in date, and choose a date, you will find that you won't get houseplans because the homes that are picked with that field of information are already completed. This is a great convenience if you are working with a transferee or someone else who wants to move right away.

Another method of searching is by school district, which is one of the most important criteria for many new home buyers anyway. This feature cuts to the chase, saving agents a lot of time.

When you click search and your search results come on screen, you will see that some of the homes have a home-shaped key next to them. The home key means that you have floor plans and elevations available for each property. Other information included in all search results is the price, plan name, whether or not the home is in one of three stages of completion: a model; an existing home with a finish date; or a plan that hasn't been started yet. When a plan is indicated, there will be no move-in time or address listed.

As you find a listing, you will see the plan name, the asking price, model or spec, the address, sq.ft., number of stories, master up or down, number of bedrooms and baths, the type of garage, and the projected or actual completion date.

Property profiles include average lot sizes, number of lots remaining, utiltity information, whether or not there is a homeowner's association and fees, if any, directions to the community, home and lot amenities, school amenities, and the distance from subdivsion to the school. Property information is so detailed that agents can qualify whether or not a school is within walking distance from the home.

"Our goal is to represent 95% of the new home market at New Home Agents.com," vows Trey White, vice presidnet of NewHome Search Systems. "Right now we are in about 22 markets and it will take us about six months to reach that penetration per market."

To see if NewHomeAgent.com is in your market, look at the U.S. map. Red stars indicate current markets, green indicates pending markets.

NewHomeAgent.com already has approximately 30,000 agents using the site, claims White.

"There is no other Internet site for agents specific to new homes." Editor's note: Access for agents is free in most markets. Please check with NewHomeAgent.com for more information.

Published: February 5, 1999

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