Austin Maddux from Ranches and Rivers Realty in Austin, Texas believes that it is certainly possible, with GIS mapping. In fact, he discusses how several rural agents have already created their own systems for the areas that they serve. Obviously there are issues with keeping the data up to date, and many initial hurdles to jump through to get it all set up, but it certainly gives the rural real estate agents that have a GIS digital mapping system a huge leg up on their competition.
Digital Mapping, GIS and the next rural real estate revolution… 
“I am looking for between 200 and 500 acres in Hays County, Texas somewhere between Dripping Springs and Wimberley. I want some type of water on the property, either a permanent or seasonal creek, and I want to make sure there are no improvements on the property, just raw land. I have cash, and I am ready to close as soon as you find something that fits my description.”
Just a short time ago, a request like this might have taken a broker a couple of frustrating weeks to locate a few prospective properties. Starting with the area Multiple Listing Service (MLS) (if the area had an MLS, and if the broker subscribed to it), the broker could look and see if there were any rural properties that fit the description. Usually, there are few rural listings in a typical MLS system; generally MLS is used by agents who are selling homes close to major cities. If the broker was very fortunate, he might have found something in MLS that could work; but if he wasn’t, the next thing he would have done was to search the local papers for any ads or classifieds that might fit his criteria: this is still a good way to find rural properties, although it is very time-intensive. If he still hadn’t found anything, he would have started calling different brokers in the area to see what kinds of properties they had available. After all this legwork, a rural real estate broker might have been lucky to find a single property that fit his client’s request; and more often then not, he never did find anything.
These days, with the advent of the Internet and GIS (Geographic Information Systems) mapping, a savvy real estate broker can find every single property that would fit this client’s description, whether it be for sale or not. GIS is a user- friendly tool that allows the creation of interactive queries, analyses of spatial information, and the capability to present the results in a unique manner. With just a few clicks, one can locate every property between 200 and 500 acres in size with a creek running through it, and located between Dripping Springs and Wimberley. Once all these properties are located, with another click the broker can have contact information for each property owner right at his fingertips. Taking this data and then quickly overlaying it onto an aerial image and a USGS topo map, the broker will have quite an amazing presentation for the client! With the steady addition of rural properties into a national rural land MLS, http://www.landsofamerica.com/, from now on finding which properties are for sale will take but a matter of moments. These tools can be a huge benefit to many different people, from someone looking to find a piece of property to retire on, to a real estate developer looking for that next tract to develop.Currently the biggest problem in the GIS world is finding the right data. There are numerous Internet websites devoted to GIS data, some providing data for free and others for a nominal charge. Many state agencies are also getting into providing GIS data free of charge, whether it be for public recreation, or for the purpose of regional planning and economic development. When you get down to the county level, GIS data is sometimes a little harder to come by, but with almost every county realizing how important GIS is in keeping up with property owners and appraisal data, it is just a matter of time before it will be widely available.
As the role of GIS develops in real estate, so does the traditional method of dealing with real estate commissions. Historically, it has been the seller that pays commissions in a real estate transaction; but as GIS becomes more popular and real estate continues to boom, there will be more and more buyers paying commissions to their brokers for being able to find them the perfect piece of property. Once the broker pulls up all of the properties that fit his clients’ criteria, there is a good chance that the majority of those properties are not listed for sale. Because of this, there is a good chance that if one of those properties could be bought, the seller would not want to pay a commission. There are more and more buyers starting to realize how important a GIS-knowledgeable real estate broker can be, and therefore they are willing to pay commissions to those brokers who are able to find exactly what these buyers want. This development, coupled with the fact that in many markets there is a big shortage of rural real estate for sale, makes for a very promising future in the world of GIS and rural real estate. As more and more tracts of land are developed, the demand for raw, undeveloped property increases, since — as we know — there is no more land being made.
Next time you are looking for the perfect piece of property, ask your brokers if they know GIS. If they don’t , then you are not getting anything near the service that you deserve!
Austin Maddux
Ranches and Rivers Realty
3937 Ranch Road 620 South
Austin, TX 78738
Office: 512.263.2244
Fax: 512.263.2983
austin@ranchesandrivers.com
http://www.ranchesandrivers.com/
This sort of integrated GIS mapping will be an enormous boost to more industries than people may realize. It is not just the private real estate industry and developers who will benefit, but government agencies, recreational businesses, big agriculture, and even companies that work in minerals mining should find it to be of great benefit. Zillow’s success in the residential area is well-documented, and its problems also are a matter of record so many potential problems with rural GIS can now be addressed in the design phase. But there are other pitfalls lying in wait which are peculiar to the rural real estate market, and addressing these will require the expertise of companies that are experienced in this field. A great rural GIS system won’t come together easily.
There’s a company out there right now no doubt trying to lay claim to be the Zillow of Rural Real Estate. I wouldn’t be surprised to see their announcement months down the road. Unfortunately for anyone who wishes to make such a claim, unless these companies are well versed in the rural real estate market, they may be selling nothing but sizzle while more experienced players are still carefully preparing to serve the steak. A good rural GIS system is badly needed in the United States, and it is coming. It just will take a little time.
2 responses so far ↓
Mike Howle // Feb 7, 2007 at 10:09 pm
Right on. I agree with everything you said. GIS is a great tool. However, it takes a lot of education, money, practice and patience to utilize it correctly.
Clint Flowers // Mar 10, 2007 at 11:50 pm
I agree and disagree. I am an up and coming rural real estate professional, moving into my fifth year in this field. I have been exposed to GIS programs and technology through the years, but many of the older agents, foresters, etc. in the field have not. Their ability should not be discounted because they are not tech-wizzes. Their years of experience and contacts many times places customers on properties that fit their needs to the “T” and also enables them to pursue properties that weren’t on the market.
In summary: look for an agency with experience AND the ability to fuse with modern technology.
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