In Seattle this means that instead of just showing you sale records from public records, which can take a few weeks to show up on our site and have little information about the past listing, we get up-to-the-minute information from the Northwest MLS on what’s for sale, pending or sold.

Here’s an example of a recent sale from Marselle. It sold three days ago.

As a blogger and real estate junkie I think this is a great way to see what’s selling. Though it is a bummer we can only show you one photo from the listing though instead of all of them. For buyers and sellers, this should make it much easier to do your own CMAs.

With the next release of our website we’ll be adding email alerts so you can sign up to be notified of sales so you don’t need to keep hitting refresh.

Disclaimer: I work at Redfin.

You can download it here. If you love it, help us out by please leaving a review!

You can read all about the app on Redfin’s blog. Or watch videos of it in action on YouTube. But here’s why I think you’ll love it if you’re looking for a condo:

• Search condos on the go: We have MLS data, so you see all the condos for sale in Seattle. You can easily browse what’s nearby or search for condos in a specific neighborhood or zip and narrow down by price, square footage, etc.
• Stays in sync + takes photos: All those condos you favorited on Redfin you can browse on the iPhone app. Same goes for your notes. Even better, you can take notes and photos, on the go with your iPhone, and they’ll upload back to Redfin.
• It’s fast: We didn’t build an iPhone website, we built an app from the ground up.

So if you’re wondering why blogging has been slow around here. This is why!

4. Know what services your agent will provide: Much of the work of a buyer’s agent begins after the buyer has agreed to buy a house. This work includes coordinating inspections, repairs, mortgages, title reviews and escrow services. But agents today are paid only to bring a buyer to a transaction. Once that happens, it is virtually impossible to fire your agent. In most cases, this is appropriate, as the agent who puts a deal together deserves the commission. But in becoming committed to an agent, you should know what services the agent will provide as part of that commitment and what recourse you have if the agent doesn’t perform those services. An open agreement between you and the agent protects the agent from being unfairly dismissed, and ensures you get the service you expect through closing.

And I know I still owe you all the full story and it will come.

Also, I’m busy now but I’m sure we could come up with a list of best practices for developers and their agents with regards to new construction that might read similar to this more general consumer bill of rights.

On Thursday we’ll be grabbing drinks near the Microsoft campus and would love for you to join us, Thursday-Night Chimichangas at the Redmond Azteca:

Every day, Redfin gets a dozen or so e-mails about how our site could be better, from people who seem to know a lot about computers, often using browsers that haven’t even been released yet. We have had to conclude that many of them are from the Planet Microsoft.

The other thing I should point out is that we are looking to hire more real estate agents. In Glenn’s words this is why you might be interested in working for us:

Do you want to be part of the future of real estate? Are you passionate about customer service? Would you prefer to spend your time helping your clients negotiate and close deals rather than driving them around town?

If so, Redfin wants to talk to you!

Redfin is redefining real estate. Our agents are paid a salary, with bonuses based on customer satisfaction, not a commission. Agents also earn stock options in an Internet business, so they have a stake in our long-term success.

Find out more on our jobs page and feel free to e-mail me your resume and I’ll get it into the right hands. I also promise not to tell John L Scott that you’re shopping around for a better gig :).

Sweet Dig bloggers visit homes in their area and get the straight story behind listing remarks espousing “a charming kitchen” or “great potential” and let’s not forget that classic “lovingly maintained” house that hasn’t been updated since 1967. As a neighborhood residents who know the area well, they’ve got the inside scoop on the best schools and how bad the morning traffic is. They know what to look for and what is easily overlooked.

The group is headed by Marie a true real estate enthusiast (see my post here). Hopefully she doesn’t set her sights on new construction or else urbnlivn will be doomed :).

Unfortunately Redfin does not have a price reduction search feature yet. In the meantime there is still a way to find price reductions. This is how I do it.

1. Go to Redfin, set your search options and set the map to cover the area you would like to see. In my case I’m looking for condos on Capitol Hill.
2. Click ‘Save this search’
3. Type in your search name and set your e-mail notification to something other than ‘Never’
4. If you aren’t logged in to your Redfin account you will be prompted to login or create one
5. Wait for the e-mails to roll in

Now every day/week/month you will receive an e-mail from Redfin and the e-mail will let you know when the status or price of a listing changes. This is helpful to track price reductions, when listings get sold, when listings that were in ’subject to inspection’ come back on the market, etc.

If you’re watching an area other than Capitol Hill feel free to send me the daily/weekly price reductions and I’ll post them for everyone here.