In the last few years, news has usually been bad when it comes to Millennials’ low rate of homeownership. However, it seems like thing are finally taking a turn for the better. According to Relator’s 2015 Home Buyer study, Millennials now represent nearly a third (32%) of the home buying market in the United States, and more than two thirds (68%) of first-time home buyers. When you are working with millennial homebuyers, you have to understand that they are used to instant access to information. If you want to keep in touch with this on-the-go generation, and provide them with useful information when they need it, you need a right set of tools.

1. Houzz

This revolutionary app, launched in 2009, introduced a new way to design a home, providing prospective sellers and buyers with access to almost 10 million interior design photos, decorating ideas and home professionals online. Recently, Houzz added a “Real Estate Agent” category in its directory, which offers agents the ability to list for themselves with a profile – free of charge. 

2. Zillow Real Estate

Zillow is designed for industry professionals, which allows you to put your house on the market with just a click of a button. The users can also seamlessly browse houses for sale, including access to more than a million listings not on MLS. The app recently integrated a new video feature that allows sellers to create their own video walk-throughs.

3. DocuSign

If you are looking for a way to maximize time, then you should definitely consider acquiring DocuSign for Realtors. This app combines the power of DocuSign and eSignatures Transaction Rooms and allows users to keep their transactions organized while on the go.

4. Vert

Relators have to deal with a lot of different metrics, including weight, length and sometimes, even currency. Vert is an “anything and everything” conversion application that turns your phone into an all-in-one converter that fits your pocket.  Due to its simple interface, users are able to get the desired information in a matter of seconds.

5. Homesnap

Known as the “Snapchat of real estate”, Homesnap allows its users to take a picture of any home nationwide and then receive instant information on it from MLS. Launched way back in 2008, the app has become one of the top-rated real estate apps for both the buyers and the sellers, providing real-time access to agent-only data, as well as unique branding aspects for relators to promote themselves.

It’s All About the Clients

The key to using more tech effectively in your real estate business is to figure out how it fits into your business. In addition, you need to understand what your clients want, need and how they want to receive information and communicate with you. For instance, property owners have to know that some people prefer to pay rent online, and with the help of apps like Rental Rewards, allow them to save time and never forget to pay rent on time. The costs of using technology are minimal today; as a matter of fact, you don’t even need to buy a new computer anymore to conduct your business as a realtor. With a smartphone and a tablet, you can execute contracts, advertise on social media, produce content and maintain your database.

Jonathan Smoke, the chief economist of Relator.com, predicts that we will see a healthy growth in home sales and prices this year – at a slower pace than in 2015. However, this slowdown isn’t an indication of a problem, far from it; it is actually just a return to normalcy. After 15 years of truly abnormal trends, and after working off the effects of the housing crash in the mid-00s, we are finally seeing signs of more normal condition. Distress sales will no longer play an outsized role; new construction is returning to more traditional levels, and prices are rising at more normal rates, consistent with a more balanced market.