Trulia

About Trulia

Trulia is a search engine that provides classified advertisements dealing strictly with real estate for sale in the United States. Using the website and accessing the information is free for both individuals looking for real estate and those who have real estate available for sale.

The main categories of Trulia are "Find homes", "Stats and Trends", "Real Estate Advice and Opinions" "Trulia Voices" and "My Trulia". The "Find Homes" category allows searches to be refined by location, property type, price range, beds, baths, and square feet, while "Stats and Trends" provides access to a foreclosure center, mortgage calculator, and a rent vs. buy calculator. This last one allows users to determine how much money will be spent over the years if a home is rented rather than bought or vice versa.

The "Real Estate Advice and Opinions" category allows users to ask questions about anything concerning homes and real estate. In addition, it provides a "blog" site for users to post comments.

Additionally, users can click on a number of cities in different states and find professionals in the real estate business in or near those areas. These include agents, appraisers, brokers, builders and/or developers, and home inspectors.

Trulia also sponsors its own "community". Users are invited to share their real estate knowledge with experts in their area, and also receive advice. Subcategories include "Ask a Question", and "Browse Blogs".

"Ask a Question" lets the user submit a real estate question or view questions and answers previously posted on Trulia. The "Browse Blogs" subcategory lets users look at posted blogs which share information on different things applying to real estate and start their own blogs.

"My Trulia allows users to create an individual account so that they can save previous searches on homes they are interested in. It asks for a name, e-mail address, and instructs the user to create a password. It then determines if the user is a seller or buyer.

In addition, they can start and manage a file on the saved properties which can be updated, so comparisons can be made. It is possible to e-mail this information to other addresses so that it will be available when needed.

The account also provides an area where users can make notes on the homes they have viewed, and save the information, which can then later be shared with those who need it. Users can also subscribe to a service whereby they will receive e-mail alerts on new listings that match the buyer's preferences.

Features include listings, maps, and "comps" in one easily accessible area, as well as information on what is available for free, with no registration being necessary, and postings from local experts that include advice, opinions, and news.

Trulia prides itself on providing local level information. Trulia states that its people are brokers or agents, and do not make a commission. It assures users that personal information will not be sold, and that users will not be considered "leads". In addition, Trulia believes that information should be free and easily accessible.

Trulia is a privately held company backed by "angel investors" - people who provide the "start-up" money in exchange for stock options and other considerations. In addition, Trulia receives venture capital funding from Accel Partners, Sequoyah Capital, and Fayez Sarofem and Co.