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Drone use in real estate may increase 

By KATIE 

THISDELL 

(mailto:katie.thisdell@sddt.com), The Daily Transcript 

Wednesday, January 7, 2015 

Article Comments SourceBook Data 

1 

When broker Kurt Wannebo added an aerial video to the 

listing for a Carmel Valley house, located on a large corner 

lot overlooking canyons on two sides, he saw Web traffic 

noticeably increase. 

And so did the number of offers, resulting in what Wannebo 

said was a record high price for the community of Carmel 

Country Highlands, where the home sold for about $1.275 

million. 

"I feel it's absolutely essential to be able to take aerial photos 

and videos of certain properties to be able to convey these 

valued propositions," said Wannebo, CEO and broker of San 

Diego Real Estate and Investments. 

Wannebo is one of the increasing number of real estate 

agents who desire to use unmanned aerial vehicles-- UAVs, 

or drones -- to shoot video and photos for marketing 

properties, particularly those that have assets beyond what's 

visible at street level. 

Though commercial use of drones over 400 feet is currently 

prohibited, this week the Federal Aviation Administration 

granted its first exemption for use in real estate photography, 

possibly opening the door for the industry. 

"They really make sense," said professor Norm Miller of the 

Burnham-Moores Center for Real Estate at the University of 

San Diego. "Just like the 360-degree cameras can capture 

virtual touring ... we will see the same efficiency with 

inspections, search and rescue, with marketing, and with 

home delivery. It's really going to make it better for 

visualizing, marketing and accurate information gathering. It's 

really a boon for the whole economy, not just for real estate." 

The FAA has banned the use of drones for commercial 

purposes while it crafts regulations, now scheduled to be 

implemented by 2017. Exemptions are available for 

companies and individuals, and the FAA has now granted 14, 

and has received 214 requests for exemptions from 

commercial entities. 

On Tuesday, the FAA gave exemptions to Tierra Antigua 

Realty, based in Tucson, Ariz., authorizing Douglas Trudeau 

to fly a Phantom 2 Vision+ quadcopter to "enhance academic 

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community awareness and augment real estate listing 

videos;" and to Advanced Aviation Solutions, in Spokane, 

Wash., to use a fixed-wing eBee Ag UAS for "crop scouting." 

The FAA said both applicants also must ensure the airspace 

for their proposed operations is safe, and that they have 

taken proper steps to see and avoid other aircraft. The 

unmanned aerial systems (UAS) do not need an FAA-issued 

certificate of airworthiness because they do not pose a threat 

to national airspace users or national security, the FAA 

release said. Pilots must have an FAA private pilot certificate 

and a current medical certificate, and the drone must remain 

in sight. 

"If there's no problems with the few exemptions they provide, 

I expect they'll let out more approvals," Miller said. "Clearly 

the big condo developers and high-rise developers would 

love to be able to go up 50 or 60 floors to show the views 

before their buildings are built." 

Many companies in San Diego offer aerial video and 

photography, for everything from filming events, weddings 

and sports, to creating real estate listings. Drones are being 

used for all sorts of jobs now, for inspections for roofs and 

utilities, in security work, or even for filming whale and 

dolphin migrations. A huge hobby has expanded around 

drones in just the past few years, with groups forming and 

shops opening to support users. Drones were also a popular 

Christmas gift item this year. 

"We are really at the heart of robotics here," Miller said. "Most 

of the robotics companies you'll find in San Diego work on 

drones, either for the military or for research purposes." 

For real estate, being able to tell the story of a property, 

whether it sits on the edge of canyons or by the ocean, is 

vital to effective marketing, Wannebo said. 

Some agents buy their own drones and film themselves, 

others hire companies that provide the aerial video and 

photography services. Wannebo outsources things to 

specialists, like professional photography and house staging, 

and said filming by drones is also best left to third-party 

companies. 

"They keep track of the laws and what's allowed to be done 

and what's not able to be done," said Wannebo, who didn't 

want to name the company he hires. "I let them worry about 

it." 

Depending on flight height and other considerations, without 

FAA approval, some companies may be operating in a 

somewhat gray area. 

The National Association of Realtors had previously 

recommended that its members not use drones for any 

purpose related to selling a property, and to not hire aerial 

photographers. 

After this week's news, the NAR said it is compiling 

resources for members who want to apply for an exemption 

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to legally use UAVs for their real estate business. 

"NAR will continue to educate our members about new 

technology and innovation that can enhance the experience 

of buying and selling real estate," a statement said. 

Large cities, like San Diego and Chicago, present particular 

safety concerns for the FAA because of airports. 

"I'm quite sure they all would apply instantly if they thought it 

was possible" to receive an exemption, Miller said about local 

companies. 

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