Systems And Methods For Electronically Selling Property

A wireless device in bidirectional communication with a communication system having application software for displaying a property for sale. A user selects a property through the GUI, the selected property and data are displayed to a user through application software. The application software presents to a user the total list price of the selected property. A programmer divides the selected property into at least two portions, each having property rights of a predetermined monetary value that when combined equal the total listed value of the undivided property. Application software displays the selected property and the listed value of each divided portion to a user. A user selects at least one portion of the divided property. Application software displays to a user the combined listed value of the selected portion and then a user selects an icon of the application software to pay for the selected portion of divided property.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates, generally, to systems and methods for electronically selling property. More particularly, it relates to application software configured for a programmer to divide the property rights of a user selected property onto at least two portions and to display the listed price of the at least two portions of divided property to a user, whereby, the user can select to purchase at least one portion of the divided property.

2. Background Art

Many individuals want to purchase property such as real property, real estate, or personal property which can be costly and unaffordable for a vast majority of individuals. Often, these individuals cannot afford the costs associated with the purchase of 100% of the property rights of a property by themselves and end up either leasing or renting a property. It would be more desirable for an individual such as, a buyer to have the ability to become a joint owner of a divided portion of a property. There is a need for a network-enabled computer having an application software that displays to a buyer at least two portions of a divided property and the listed price of each of the at least two portions. A buyer can select an affordable portion of a divided property and purchase the selected portion of the divided property. This allows a buyer to spend within their budget while acquiring ownership of a corresponding percentage of a divided property.

Many individuals may not have the ability to travel to a location to preview a property. Additionally, many individuals may not have the monetary funds to purchase 100% of the property rights of a property. It is more desirable for an individual to be able to preview a property for sale on a network-enabled computer having application software. It is also more affordable for a programmer to divide the property rights into at least two separate portions each having a list price displayed on a graphical user interface (GUI) to a user.

However, in view of the prior art considered as a whole at the time the present invention was made, it was not obvious to those of ordinary skill in the pertinent art how the identified needs could be fulfilled.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The long-standing but heretofore unfulfilled need for a wireless device in bidirectional communication with a communication system having application software configured to provide a graphical user interface (GUI) to a user for displaying an image of at least one property listed for sale from a database, whereby, the property having a list price predetermined by a programmer, a user selecting an image of at least one property through the GUI, the selected property and property data are displayed to a user through application software on the wireless device, the application software displaying to a user through a wireless device the total list price of the user selected property, a programmer dividing the total list price of the at least one property into at least two portions, whereby, the at least two portions each having a listed value predetermined by a programmer. It is within the scope of this invention for a user to include, but not be limited to, a buyer, a buyer's representative, a third party, or a combination of a buyer and the buyer's legal representative.

The combined listed value of each of the at least two portions of property is equal to the total list price of the undivided property. The at least two portions of divided property each have a percentage of property rights predetermined by a programmer, whereby, the combined percentage of property rights of each of the at least two portions is equal to 100% of property rights of the at least one property. The application software displays an image of each of the at least two portions of the divided property to a user on a wireless device. The divided portions of the selected property and the listed value of each of the divided portions of the selected property are displayed to a user. A user selects an image of at least one portion of the divided property through the GUI. The application software displays to a user the total combined listed value of the selected portion of divided property. A user selects an icon of the application software to proceed with payment for the selected portion of divided property, which, also includes improvements that overcome the limitations of prior art systems and methods for electronically selling property is now met by a new, useful, and non-obvious invention.

In a preferred embodiment, a method of electronically selling property has the steps of providing a wireless device in bidirectional communication with a communication system having an application software configured to provide a graphical user interface (GUI) to a user. A wireless device in bidirectional communication with a communication system includes, but is not limited to, an iPhone, an iPod, an iPad, a mobile device having an Apple's iOS operating system, a device having a Google Android operating system, a device having Microsoft's Windows Mobile operating system, a smartphone, a phone, a computer, or a tablet having internet or phone.

A communication system is any way of connecting a primary device to a secondary device including, but not limited to, a wireless communication network, a cellular network, a phone network, or the internet. It is within the scope of this invention for a network to include, but not be limited to, a wireless network, a wired network, or any combination of a wireless network and a wired network for transmitting and receiving a data signal.

Application software displays to a user an image of at least one property from a database. The database can retain at least one property listing. In another embodiment, the database can retain a plurality of property listings from a source including, but not limited to, manual upload, a real estate agency database, Ebay, Craigslist, a manufacturing company, a distribution company, a seller, a programmer, or another database.

The at least one property has a predetermined listed value determined by a programmer. The programmer includes, but is not limited to, a company, a seller, a relator, a sales agent, an individual, a buyer, or a real estate agent. It is within the scope of this invention for the at least one property to not need to come from a database, but the property can be individually uploaded to the application software by a programmer. It is within the scope of this invention for property to include, but not be limited to, land, a car, a boat, a building, a combination of land and buildings, real property, real estate, or personal property.

A user selects an image of a desired property from a database that is accessed through the application software. An image of the selected property is displayed to the user through the application software on the wireless device. The application software displays data of the selected property. It is within the scope of this invention for data to include, but not be limited to, identifying property information, total property listed value, undivided total list price of the selected property, property size, property location, a quantity, a photograph of the property, a video, an image, property type, representative information, GPS coordinate information, a physical address, type of dwelling, added features such as pool, clubhouse, gated community, golf course, guest parking, or waterfront view, or contact information for a realtor or homeowner associated with the property.

A programmer divides the selected property into at least two portions. The at least two portions of the divided selected property each have a listed value predetermined by a programmer. The combined listed value of each of the at least two portions of the divided selected property is equal to the undivided total list price of the undivided selected property. The application software displays the at least two portions of the divided selected property to a user on a wireless device. The at least two portions of the divided selected property each have a percentage of property rights predetermined by a programmer, whereby, the combined percentage of property rights of each of the at least two portions of the divided selected property is equal to 100% of property rights of the undivided selected property.

The application software displays to a user through the graphic user interface the listed value of each of the at least two portions of the divided selected property. The user selects at least one portion of the at least two portions through the GUI. It is within the scope of this invention for a user to select only one portion of the divided selected property, all of the portions of the divided selected property, or at least one portion of the divided selected property. It is also within the scope of this invention for at least one user or for a plurality of users to select at least one portion of a user selected divided property. It is within the scope of this invention for a user to enter into the graphical user interface the monetary value the user is willing to spend on a portion of a property. The user will then be presented through the graphic user interface the corresponding percentage of divided property for the user specified monetary value. The monetary value is the amount of money a user is willing to spend on at least one portion of property.

The application software displays to a user a total property cost of the at least one portion of divided property that was selected by the user. The user then selects an icon through the graphical user interface to make a payment for the at least one portion of a selected divided property.

In an alternate embodiment, a user selects a closing company. The application software presents the user with a contract. The user signs the contract and submits the signed contract to the closing company. It is within the scope of this invention for the user to execute a power of attorney with the user selected closing company. The user selected closing company signs the contract on behalf of the user. The closing company presents the seller with the signed contract through the application software. The seller then signs the signed contract and submits the signed contract to the closing company. The user then pays for their selected portions of divided property by transferring the total property cost to the closing company. The user then receives a warranty deed. Further, it is within the scope of this current invention for a buyer to choose the selected portion of property and then sign a power of attorney designating a legal representative to act on their behalf regarding matters between a third party and the closing company. The third party includes, but is not limited to, a holding company, an individual, or a corporate entity. The third party can collect payment from the buyer and then transfer the payment to the third parties escrow account. The third party can sign the contract and submits the signed contract to the closing company.

In another embodiment, a method of electronically selling property has the steps of providing a network-enabled computer. A network-enabled computer includes, but is not limited to, a computer device or a communications device. A communications device includes, but is not limited to, a server, a network appliance, a personal computer, a workstation, a mobile device, a phone, a handheld PC, a personal digital assistant, or an internet browser.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In a preferred embodiment,FIGS. 1 and 3illustrate a method of electronically selling property1having seller13uploading or listing at least one property into property database16. Property database16electrically communicates with application software3. Application software3electrically communicates34with communication system20. Communication system20is in bidirectional communication11with network-enabled computer22(FIG. 1). It is within the scope of this current invention for communication system20to be in bidirectional communication11with wireless device21(FIG. 3).FIGS. 1 and 2show network-enabled computer22having graphical user interface12which displays to a user an image of listed properties4A,4B, and4C. It is within the scope of this invention for GUI12to display at least one property to a user. A property includes, but is not limited to, real property, real estate, or personal property.

FIG. 3shows the graphical user interface12displaying to a user (not shown) an image of at least one listed property4A,4B, and4C.FIG. 4depicts a user selecting a desired listed property with arrow23. The user can interact with the graphical user interface with including, but not limited to, a mouse or a touch screen. The user has selected listed property5(FIG. 5) as being listed property4A.FIG. 5illustrates wireless device21having graphical user interface12displaying to a user an image of the user selected property5. It is within the scope of this invention for at least one data6A-6N to be displayed to a user. For example,6A is the property type,6B is the property size,6C is the property location,6D is the waterfront feature,6E is the gated community feature,6F is the clubhouse feature,6G is the pool feature,6H is the total list price,6J is the representative contact phone number,6K is a website address,6L is a video tour,6M is an image of the selected listed property, and6N is an icon for more purchase information.FIG. 6depicts a user selecting an icon for more purchase information with arrow7.

FIG. 7shows graphical user interface12displaying an image of purchase information data of selected listed property5. Selected listed property5is divided into portions8A and8B. For example, divided portion8A has divided listed value24being $60,000.00. Divided portion8B has divided listed value25being $60,000.00. The selected listed property can be divided into at least two portions. It is within the scope of this invention for the divided property values to be displayed to a user on a grid. Divided property portion8A has divided percentage of property rights26being 50%. Divided property portion8B has divided percentage of property rights27being 50%.6H illustrates an image of the total list price6H of $120,000.00 for the combined divided listed values of24and25.60illustrates the total percentage of property rights being 100% for the combined value of divided property rights of26and27.

Each grid portion8A and8B can have a total combined value of total value6H of selected property5.The total value6H of selected listed property5is determined by a programmer (not shown). A programmer includes, but is not limited to, a third party, a seller, or a buyer. The programmer also determines how selected listed property5will be divided, whereby, each divided portion of selected property5will have a monetary value displayed in at least two grid portions. For example (not shown), buyer selected property5is property4A. Property4A has a total value of $4,000.00. The programmer has divided property4A into four portions8A,8B,8C, and8D. The programmer can determine and assign each of the divided property portions a value. The value of portion8A is $1,000.00 for 25% of property4A,8B is $1,000.00 for 25% of property4A,8C is $1,000.00 for 25% of property4A, and8D is $1,000.00 for 25% of property4A. It is within the scope of this invention for the divided portions of the selected listed property to be displayed on a grid, a chart, a graph, as text, or as an image.

In another embodiment, the programmer can be a buyer. The buyer can determine the amount of money they want to spend. For instance, as shown inFIG. 7, a buyer can select the customize icon28to enter in the monetary value that the buyer is willing to invest on a portion of property. If a buyer wants to only spend $500.00 on a portion of property4A that has a total value being $4,000.00, the value of the portion would be $500.00 for 12.5% of property4A. A buyer could enter the percentage of property26or the divided property cost24into the field of graphical user interface12. The parameters predetermined by the programmer would correspond to a first buyer inputted field with a second programmer inputted field. For example, if a buyer wants to only spend $500.00 on a portion of property4A that has a total value being $4,000.00, the buyer would input into the first buyer inputted field the value of $500.00. The second programmer inputted field would have the predetermined value of 12.5% of property4A.

FIG. 8depicts wireless device21having graphical user interface12displaying to a buyer (not shown) the selected divided portion27of8B having divided property rights27being 50% and divided listed value of $60,000.00. The buyers total cost15is $60,000.00. It is within the scope of this invention for a buyer to select to buy a plurality of portions of divided property. The buyer selects Buy Now icon or Purchase icon29to proceed with paying for divided portion8B of property4A.

FIGS. 9 and 10depict wireless device21having graphical user interface12displaying to a buyer (not shown) at least one closing company18A-18C (FIG. 9). The buyer (not shown) selects14(FIG. 9) selected closing company17being18C.FIG. 10shows buyer being presented with contract19.FIG. 10illustrates the buyer signing9contract19. A legal representative including, but not limited to, the selected closing company18C can sign contract19on behalf of the buyer. The signed contract is submitted10(FIG. 10) to selected closing company18C by the buyer if contract19is signed directly by the buyer or signed contract19can be submitted10to the seller if the selected closing company18C is the legal representative of the buyer.

FIG. 11depicts wireless device21having graphical user interface12displaying to a seller (not shown) the user signed contract. The seller signs30contract19and the seller submits31the contract back to the closing company18C.

FIG. 12depicts wireless device21having graphical user interface12displaying to a buyer (not shown) that the seller has signed the contract. The buyer can enter payment information32into graphical user interface12and transfer33payment to the closing company.FIG. 13illustrates wireless device21having graphical user interface12displaying to a buyer (not shown) an image of selected closing company17presenting the buyer with an image of warranty deed2.

Now that the invention has been described,