Method and system for managing real property transactions having internet access and control

Abstract

The invention relates to a system for managing real estate transactions that includes a database and an application server. The database is configured to store property data for properties listed as for sale by a broker, store a search criteria for a buyer, and store an address of a property listed for sale for a seller. The application server is configured to query the database for the properties that match the search criteria, store a first result of the query after the database has been updated, re-query the database using the search criteria to obtain a second result including data not present in the first result for at least one of the properties, where the data comprises a link to a map displaying a geographic location of the at least one of the properties, and generate a message for transmission to the buyer based on the second result.

1 .- 74 . (canceled) 
     
     
         75 . A system for managing a real estate transaction, comprising:
 a database configured to:
 store property data for each of a plurality of properties listed as offered for sale by a user identified as a broker, 
 store at least a name, a method of contact, and a search criteria for a user identified as a buyer, and 
 store at least a name, a method of contact and an address of a property listed for sale for a user identified as a seller; and 
   an application server operatively coupled to the database configured to:
 query the database and determine whether any of the plurality of properties match the search criteria for the user identified as the buyer, 
 store a first result of the query, 
 after the database has been updated, re-query the database using the search criteria to obtain a second result, wherein the second result comprises data, not present in the first result, for at least one of the plurality of properties, wherein the data for the at least one of the plurality of properties comprises a link to a map displaying a geographic location of the at least one of the plurality of properties; and 
 generate a message for transmission to the user identified as the buyer based on the second result. 
   
     
     
         76 . The system as defined in  claim 75  wherein the application server is configured to generate and transmit a message to an agent by at least one of posting a message to a terminal, generating an electronic mail message and sending to an agent e-mail account and generating a pager message, the message notifying the agent of a request to view a selected property entered by the user identified as the buyer. 
     
     
         77 . The system as defined in  claim 75  wherein the message for transmission comprises at least one of posting to a web page accessible to the user identified as the buyer, sending an electronic mail message to the user identified as the buyer and dialing a pager telephone number. 
     
     
         78 . The system as defined in  claim 75  wherein the application server is configured to indicate to the user identified as the seller at least a number of properties having data thereon in the database matching a criterion selected by the user identified as the seller. 
     
     
         79 . The system as defined in  claim 78  wherein the selected criterion comprises at least one of sales price and geographic location of the property listed by the user identified as the seller. 
     
     
         80 . The system as defined in  claim 75  wherein the application server is configured to post picture files from the database to a terminal accessible to the user identified as the buyer of properties selected thereon by the user identified as the buyer for viewing thereof. 
     
     
         81 . The system as defined in  claim 75  wherein the application server is configured to:
 enable the user identified as the seller to enter data including at least the address for the property to be listed as offered for sale on an Internet connected terminal;   transfer the user-entered data to the database;   search the database for complementary listing data on the property to be listed; and   display data entry fields to the user identified as a seller, the data entry fields comprising elements of the complementary listing data not found for the property in the database.   
     
     
         82 . The system as defined in  claim 81  wherein the complementary listing data for the property comprises at least one selected from a structure area, a number of bedrooms, a number of bathrooms, a total number of rooms and a number of garage spaces. 
     
     
         83 . The system as defined in  claim 81  wherein the complementary listing data comprises at least one selected from a school district, real property taxes, and a subdivision in which the property is located. 
     
     
         84 . The system as defined in  claim 75  wherein the application server is configured to provide a secure web page to a user, wherein the secure web page comprises links to the database for matching listings, whereby the user is provided direction to access detailed information on each one of the plurality of properties listed that match the search criteria,
 wherein the user is one selected from the group consisting of the user identified as the buyer, the user identified as the seller, and the user identified as the broker.   
     
     
         85 . The system as defined in  claim 84  comprising initiating a user account for the user prior to making the links available to the user, whereby the user is granted access to the secure web page, the user account comprising personal information about the user including at least a name and a password for subsequent access to the account by the user. 
     
     
         86 . The system as defined in  claim 75  wherein the application server is configured to update the database;
 search the database; and   generate an e-mail message subsequently transmitted to the user including therein at least a quantity of any such listings which match the search criteria, if a property listing added to the database matches the search criteria.   
     
     
         87 . A system for managing a real estate transaction, comprising:
 a database configured to:
 store property data for each of a plurality of properties listed as offered for sale by a user identified as a broker, 
 store at least a name, a method of contact, and a search criteria for a user identified as a buyer, and 
 store at least a name, a method of contact and an address of a property listed for sale for a user identified as a seller; and 
   an application server operatively coupled to the database configured to:
 query the database and determine that a first property of the plurality of properties matches the search criteria for the user identified as the buyer, 
 store a first result of the query, wherein the first result comprises data for the first property and does not comprise data of a second property of the plurality of properties, 
 after the database has been updated, re-query the database using the search criteria to obtain a second result, wherein the second result does not comprise data for the first property and comprises data for the second property, wherein the data for the second property comprises a link to a map displaying a geographic location of the second property; and 
 generate a message for transmission to the user identified as the buyer based on the second result, wherein the message for transmission comprises a link to a map displaying a geographic location of the second property. 
   
     
     
         88 . A system for managing a real estate transaction, comprising:
 a database configured to:
 store property data for each of a plurality of properties listed as offered for sale by a user identified as a broker, 
 store at least a name, a method of contact, and a search criteria for a user identified as a buyer, and 
 store at least a name, a method of contact and an address of a property listed for sale for a user identified as a seller; and 
   an application server operatively coupled to the database configured to:
 query the database and determine that a first property of the plurality of properties matches the search criteria for the user identified as the buyer, 
 store a first result of the query, wherein the first result comprises data for the first property, 
 after the database has been updated, re-query the database using the search criteria to obtain a second result, wherein the second result comprises updated data, not present in the first result, for the first property, wherein the updated data for the first property comprises a link to a map displaying a geographic location of the first property; and 
   generate a message for transmission to the user identified as the buyer based on the second result, wherein the message for transmission comprises a link to a map displaying a geographic location of the second property.