Patent Publication Number: US-2023162302-A1

Title: Comparative searching in a real estate search engine

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This U.S. patent application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application 63/281,272 entitled, “COMPARATIVE SEARCHING IN A REAL ESTATE SEARCH ENGINE” which was filed on Nov. 19, 2021, and which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     A search engine is an information retrieval system that provides resource identification services for user devices like computers or smartphones. The search engine provides an interface that allows a user to input search criteria referred to as a search query. The search query typically includes a text-based user input into a user interface. The search engine processes the search query and identifies items in its search database that match the search query. Typically, one or more of the characters, words, or numbers entered into the search query are used to match to the item. Processing may include identifying synonyms to match items, but typically the search involves identifying a match between some portion of the search query and some portion of the item. The search engine uses the identified items to generate a search result. The search engine presents the search result on the user device for the user. Search engines may utilize internets, wireless communication networks, local area networks, and the like to interface with user devices. Exemplary search engines include desktop search engines, federated search engines, metasearch engines, web search engines, and specialized search engines. Specialized search engines may include search engines for a specific type of data, such as real estate search engines or film and television search engines, or specialized search engines may include search engines for a specific format of data, such as template search engines or image search engines. 
     A real estate search engine may provide an interface for a user to search for properties. Typically, the real estate search engine includes a map of a geographic area that indicates the locations of properties and a search bar. A user may generate search queries by interacting with the map to select locations of interest and/or by entering a text-based search query into the search bar. The real estate search engine typically generates a search result of properties that are currently available to purchase in response to the search query input by the user such that the resulting properties meet the user&#39;s input criteria for things such as number of bedrooms, square footage, number of bathrooms, and the like. The search result may include information on the returned properties, including property locations, property characteristics, property prices, and the like. Unfortunately, real estate search engines do not effectively generate search results that compare or identify properties having non-quantitative characteristics, such as for real estate investing. Accordingly, real estate search engines do not efficiently identify potential investment properties based on their investment type and their property characteristics. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION 
     Non-limiting examples of the present disclosure describe systems, methods, and devices for comparative real estate investing searching. Some embodiments may include a method of operating a real estate investment search engine to perform comparative searching. The method may include ingesting, from multiple data sources, real estate data that indicates properties and their characteristics and storing the real estate data. The method may further include identifying a subset of the properties having investment characteristics derived from the corresponding property characteristics. The method may further include generating investment data that indicates the investment characteristics and investor activity for the subset of properties based on the real estate data. The method may further include receiving a search request that specifies a geographic area and an investment type from a user device. The method may further include in response to the search request, algorithmically resolving the search request based in part on comparing the search request to the investment data to generate a search result that indicates potential investment properties from the subset and transmit the search result to the user device. 
     Optionally, the comparing may include identifying the geographic area from the search request and locating one or more properties from the subset having property locations within the geographic area as the potential investment properties. Optionally, the comparing may include identifying the investment type from the search request and selecting one or more properties of the subset that include investment characteristics and investor activity that correspond to the investment type as the potential investment properties. Optionally, the comparing may include locating one or more properties having property locations within the geographic area and then selecting from the one or more properties in the geographic area at least one property having investment characteristics and investor activity corresponding to the investment type as the potential investment properties. Optionally, the method may include determining an investment success indicator for each of the potential investment properties, ranking the potential investment properties based on the investment success indicators, and indicating the ranking of the potential investment properties in the search result. Optionally, the method may include generating a map that includes an indication of the location of each of the potential investment properties and transmitting the map with the search results to the user device. Optionally, the corresponding property characteristics for each of the potential investment properties may be transmitted with the search results to the user device. Optionally, the investment type may include one or more of holding, flipping, tear down and rebuild, story addition, short-term rental, long-term rental, multi-family, land, off-market, and mobile. Optionally, the investment characteristics may include one or more of After Repair Value (ARV), appreciation, size, price, short term rental equations, long term rental equations, capitalization rate, Return on Investment (ROI), cash-on-cash return, equity, net monthly cash flow, gross yield, net ROI, all in cost to ARV, net profit/sales process, holding time, asking price to sell ratio, and debt coverage ratio. Optionally, the data sources may include one or more multiple listing source (MLS) for a specified region. 
     The systems, hardware, and software for performing comparative real estate investment searching may include methods that are performed by a computing device. The systems may include a computer-readable storage media device, a computing system, or the like such that a memory stores instructions that are executed by or executable by one more processors to perform the method or that cause the processor to perform the steps described. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Non-limiting and non-exhaustive examples are described with reference to the following figures. 
         FIG.  1    illustrates a real estate search system to perform comparative real estate investment searches. 
         FIG.  2    illustrates an exemplary operation of the real estate search system to perform comparative real estate investment searches. 
         FIG.  3    illustrates an exemplary swim diagram of an operation of the real estate search system to perform comparative real estate investment searches. 
         FIG.  4    illustrates an exemplary user interface of a real estate search system to perform comparative real estate investment searches. 
         FIG.  5    illustrates an exemplary user interface of a real estate search system to perform comparative real estate investment searches. 
         FIG.  6    illustrates an exemplary user interface of a real estate search system to perform comparative real estate investment searches. 
         FIG.  7    illustrates an exemplary user interface of a real estate search system to perform comparative real estate investment searches. 
         FIG.  8    illustrates an exemplary user interface of a real estate search system to perform comparative real estate investment searches. 
         FIG.  9    illustrates an exemplary user interface of a real estate search system to perform comparative real estate investment searches. 
         FIG.  10    illustrates an exemplary user interface of a real estate search system to perform comparative real estate investment searches. 
         FIG.  11    illustrates an exemplary user interface of a real estate search system to perform comparative real estate investment searches. 
         FIG.  12    illustrates an exemplary user interface of a real estate search system to perform comparative real estate investment searches. 
         FIG.  13    illustrates an exemplary user interface of a real estate search system to perform comparative real estate investment searches. 
         FIG.  14    illustrates an exemplary computer apparatus configured to perform comparative real estate investment searches. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Various embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Like reference numbers represent like parts throughout the drawings. The described embodiments are not limiting in that examples set forth in this specification are not intended to be limiting and instead set forth some of the many possible embodiments. 
     Traditional real estate search systems generate search results that identify properties available for purchase in response to a user query. The search results include information regarding the individual properties such as price, location, number of rooms, square footage, and the like. However, traditional real estate search systems are inadequate with regards to identifying investment properties for purchase. The data used to identify current or former investment properties is not readily available for a given location. There is not an existing clear characteristic where a property may be identified as an investment property. Further, any given property may be an investment property for one transaction, but not an investment property in the next. For example, if an investor purchases a property to use as a rental, the property is an investment property for the transaction in which the investor purchases the property. However, if the investor sells the property after determining it is no longer a property the investor wishes to own, the property may not be an investment property for the purposes of the sale to the next owner, who may use it as a primary residence. Accordingly, a property may change status over time from an investment property to a non-investment property. Identifying the type of property in any given sales transaction is not a value that is tracked with typical property characteristics (e.g., square footage, number of rooms, and the like). Moreover, gathering and aggregating the data used to identify a property as an investment property for any given transaction is difficult due to the amount of data, the large number of locations indicated by the data, the format of the data, and the type of data provided by various data sources. Accordingly, traditional real estate search systems are limited to providing search results that provide only quantitative data about a property including values such as the geographic location, the listing price, the number of rooms, the square footage, the size of the lot, and the like. 
     As mentioned above, there is no straightforward way to search for properties that are currently or were previously used for investment purposes. Described herein is a solution that provides a real estate investing search engine capable of identifying investment properties and making comparative analysis to provide insights to an investor searching for new opportunities. 
     Systems and methods are provided that obtain relevant investment information from a myriad of sources, normalizes the information, and uses algorithms to identify properties that were or currently are used for investment purposes. The system inputs the information to the algorithms to identify and provide information on potential investment properties out of the existing pool of available properties. This solution allows the investor to easily find potential investment properties and compare these properties to other investment properties, providing technology not previously available from traditional real estate search systems. 
     The systems, methods, and devices described throughout provide technical advantages for comparative real estate investment searching. The algorithms described to identify investment characteristics and use those characteristics to identify investment properties from the pool of available properties did not previously exist. While users could painstakingly look at all available data on all the available properties, the process takes weeks and is very limited in identifying potential investment properties. Using the algorithms disclosed herein, previous investment properties are used to identify future investment properties, and the information about those previous investments can help rank the value of the potential investment properties. This technology simply was not previously available and will save investors hundreds of hours of time. Further, once a property for a given transaction is identified as a type of potential investment property, the information may be saved so that the analysis need only be performed once, but can be provided to countless investors, further saving many hours of time as well as computational processing time. 
       FIG.  1    illustrates real estate search system  100 . Real estate search system  100  includes user device  101 , data sources  130 , and real estate search service  150 . Real estate search service  150  provides search engine services to user device  101  such as property searching, comparative real estate investment searching, real estate investment characterizing, and/or other types of search engine products. Real estate search service  150  includes data center  110  and server  111 . While a single data center  110  and single server  111  is depicted for the ease of description, any size and number of data centers  110  and server  111  may be used to provide the functionality described without departing from the spirit of the description. Data center  110  includes server  111 . Server  111  includes storage device  112  which stores data collection module  121 , search module  122 , and data processing module  123 . Server  111  executes modules  121 - 123  to implement process  200  that is illustrated in  FIG.  2    to drive the operation of real estate search system  100 . Data sources  130  includes individual data sources  131 - 133 . 
     Various examples of network operation and configuration are described herein. In some examples, data collection module  121  receives real estate data that indicates properties, property locations, property information, and the like from data sources  130 . The real estate data may indicate mortgage data, loan amount data, interest rate, owner information, title information, listing history, demographic data, tax assessment data, assessor records data, and/or comparable data. The real estate data may further include housing characteristics like house type, number of stories, number of bedrooms, number of bathrooms, number of garages, square footage, location within a neighborhood, and the like. For example, server  111  may execute data collection module  121  and responsively receive Multiple Listing Service (MLS) data from data source  131 . Data collection module  121  may store the real estate data. In some examples, data collection module  121  populates data store  110  with the real estate data in a database format. The data store  110  may retain the real estate data in any organizational format. For example, the real estate data may be organized by type, location, and the like to facilitate efficient data retrieval. 
     Search module  122  may receive a search request that specifies a geographic area and an investment type from user device  101 . For example, the geographic area may indicate a city, polity, neighborhood, property location, and the like. For example, the investment type may indicate an investment strategy, price range, property type, property characteristics, capitalization rate, net operating income, cash on cash return, and the like. An investment type may be, for example, buy and hold, fix and flip, pop top, tear down and rebuild, short- or long-term rental, and the like. Search module  122  transfers the search request to data processing module  123 . In response, data processing module  123  retrieves the real estate data from data store  110 . Data processing module  123  generates real estate investment data that indicates investment characteristics and investor activity of the properties based on the real estate data. In some examples, data processing module  123  may generate the real estate investment data based on additional criteria like property owner details, acquisition and selling details, and investment metrics. Data processing module  123  compares the search request to the real estate investment data and algorithmically resolves the search request based on the comparison. For example, the search request may indicate an investment type and a geographic area. Data processing module  123  may execute a comparison algorithm that takes the investment type and geographic area as inputs, identifies other properties which include investment characteristics and locations related to the investment type and the geographic area, and generates an output that includes information characterizing the identified properties. 
     Data processing module  123  may generate a search result that indicates potential investments properties and transfers the search result to search module  122 . Search module  122  transfers the search result for delivery to user device  101 . For example, search module  122  may provide a graphical presentation of the search result for display on a display screen of user device  101 . The depicted modules  121 - 123  are used for ease of description, and the described functionality may be provided in more or fewer modules. 
     Advantageously real estate search system  100  effectively generates search results that compare properties for real estate investing. Moreover, real estate search system  100  efficiently identifies potential investment properties based on their investment type and property characteristics. 
     Data center  110  includes server computers and data storage devices deployed on-premises, in the cloud, in a hybrid cloud, or elsewhere, by content providers such as enterprises, organizations, individuals, and the like. The server computers include microprocessors, software, memories, transceivers, bus circuitry, and the like. Data center  110  may rely on the physical connections provided by one or more other network providers such as transit network providers, Internet backbone providers, and the like to interface with user device  101  and data sources  130 . Data sources  130  include real estate data repositories like Multiple Listing Services (MLS), county record real estate data services, online real estate listings, and the like. Data sources  130  may include data storage systems, data centers, cloud computing systems, and the like. The various systems utilized by data sources  130  may include microprocessors, software, memories, transceivers, bus circuitry, and the like. Data sources  130  may provide data to real estate search service  150  through, for example, subscription agreements, one-time data provisions, or any other agreement. The agreement may allow for push or pull data retrieval by real estate search service  150 . User device  101  includes microprocessors, software, memories, transceivers, bus circuitry, and the like. Although user device  101  is represented as a desktop computer, user device may include a laptop computer, tablet computer, server, smartphone, smartwatch, or some other type of computing device with wireless or wireline connectivity. 
     The microprocessors include Central Processing Units (CPU), Graphical Processing Units (GPU), Digital Signal Processors (DSP), Application-Specific Integrated Circuits (ASIC), Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGA), and the like. The memories include Random Access Memory (RAM), flash circuitry, disk drives, and/or the like. The memories store software like operating systems, modules, user applications, and system applications. The microprocessors retrieve the software from the memories and execute the software to drive the operation of real estate search system  100  as described herein. 
     Links  102 - 105  use metal, glass, air, or some other media. Links  102 - 105  use IEEE 802.3 (Ethernet), Time Division Multiplex (TDM), Data Over Cable System Interface Specification (DOCSIS), Internet Protocol (IP), Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), WIFI, virtual switching, inter-processor communication, bus interfaces, and/or some other data communication protocols. Links  102 - 105  may include intermediate network elements like relays, routers, and controllers. 
       FIG.  2    illustrates process  200 . Process  200  includes an exemplary operation of a real estate search system (e.g., real estate search system  100 ) to perform comparative real estate investment searches. The operation of process  200  may differ in other examples. Real estate data is received by, for example, a data collection module (e.g., data collection module  121 ). The real estate data may indicate properties and property locations (step  201 ). For example, the real estate investment characteristics may indicate property value appreciation, property owner details, acquisition and selling details, investment metrics, investment type, and the like. The data collection module stores the real estate data (step  202 ). A search request is received by, for example, a search module (e.g., search module  122 ). The search request may specify a geographic area and an investment type (step  203 ). For example, the search request may specify a geographic area such as a city, country, or user drawn perimeter on a map. The investment type specified in the search request includes investment strategies such as, for example, buy and hold, fix and flip, pop top, tear down and rebuild, short- or long-term rental, and the like. The search request may include additional relevant criteria like a price range, property type (e.g., condominium), number of bedrooms and bathrooms, acreage, square footage, and the like. 
     The search module may transfer the search request to a data processing module (e.g., data processing module  123 ) (optional step  204 ). In response to receiving the search request by the real estate search service, the real estate data is retrieved from data storage (step  205 ). Real estate investment data is generated by, for example, the data processing module. The real estate investment data indicates investment characteristics and investor activity for the properties (step  206 ). For example, the data processing module may generate the real estate investment data based on property owner details, location and demographic information, acquisition and selling details, and investment metrics of the properties. The search request is compared to the real estate investment data by, for example, the data processing module and the search request is resolved algorithmically based on the comparison (step  207 ). The data processing module may compare the property characteristics specified in the search request with the real estate investment data to identify a set of properties that meets the specifications of the request. For example, the request may specify two-story houses and a fix and flip investment strategy, and the data processing module processes the real estate investment data to identify properties that are two-story houses suitable for a fix and flip. The data processing module may utilize machine learning, a neural network, or another type of artificial intelligence to algorithmically resolve the search request. 
     A search result is generated that indicates potential investment properties by, for example, the data processing module (step  208 ). The search result may be transferred to the search module. The search result includes the output of the algorithmic resolution. For example, the algorithmic resolution may identify and rank a set of potential investment based on their likelihood to be successful investments and the data processing module may generate a search result that indicates the ranks. The search result is transferred for delivery to a user device (e.g., user device  101 ) (step  209 ). For example, the search module may generate web page and graphically present the search result on a display screen of the user device. The graphical presentation may include a map that illustrates the locations of the potential investment properties, photographs of the properties, and lists that describe investment attributes (e.g., estimated return on investment) of the potential investment properties. 
     The artificial intelligence (AI) used in the system (e.g., to algorithmically resolve the search request) may include supervised learning, unsupervised learning, semi-supervised learning, reinforcement learning, or any other type of learning. The types of AI processing may include, for example, machine learning, neural networks, deep neural networks, and/or any other type of AI processing. Non-limiting examples may include nearest neighbor processing; naive bayes classification processing; decision trees; linear regression; support vector machines (SVM) neural networks, perceptron networks, feed forward neural networks, deep feed forward neural networks, multilayer perceptron networks, deep neural networks (DNN), convolutional neural networks (CNN), radial basis functional neural networks, recurrent neural networks (RNN), long short-term memory (LSTM) networks, sequence-to-sequence models, gated recurrent unit neural networks, auto encoder neural networks, variational auto encoder neural networks, denoising auto encoder neural networks, sparse auto encoder neural networks, Markov chain neural networks, Hopfield neural networks, Boltzmann machine neural networks, restricted Boltzmann machine neural networks, deep belief networks, deep convolutional networks, deconvolutional networks, generative adversarial networks, liquid state machine neural networks, extreme learning machine neural networks, echo state networks, deep residual networks, Kohonen networks, neural turing machine neural networks, modular neural networks, transformers, clustering processing including k-means for clustering problems, hierarchical clustering, mixture modeling, application of association rule learning, application of latent variable modeling, anomaly detection, assumption determination processing; generative modeling; low-density separation processing and graph-based method processing, value-based processing, policy-based processing, model-based processing, and the like. 
       FIG.  3    illustrates an exemplary data flow of real estate search system  100  to perform comparative real estate investment searches. In other examples, the operation and structure of real estate search system  100  may differ. Data collection module  121  ingests real estate data from data sources  130 . Data sources  130  transfer the real estate data to data collection module  121 . In some examples, data sources  130  transfer pre-formatted real estate data, while in other examples, data sources  130  transfer raw real estate data. The real estate data may include MLS data, public record data, short term rental data, long term rental data, and/or other types of real estate investment data. The real estate data indicates properties, their locations, real estate investment characteristics of the properties, and investor activity of the properties. Data collection module  121  receives the real estate investment data and subsequently stores the received data in memory. For example, data collection module  121  may populate and manage a real estate data based that categorizes the data ingested from sources  130 . 
     Data processing module  123  retrieves the real estate data from storage. Data processing module  123  processes the real estate data to determine real estate investment characteristics for the properties indicated by the data. For example, data processing module  123  determines investment data like the length of time between purchase and sale, change in price between sales, homeowner mailing addresses, rental data, change in square footage between sales, change in year built between sales, and/or change in house stories between sales. A short length of time between sales and/or an increase in price above market value for a property may indicate a house flip of a property. An owner mailing address that differs from the address of the property may indicate the property is a rental. A change in square footage and/or year built between sales may indicate a tear-down and rebuild. A change in house stories may indicate an addition made to the property. Data processing module  123  generates investment data for each of the properties indicated by the real estate data that characterizes the investment attributes classifies the investment types for each of the properties. Data processing module  123  stores the investment data in association with the properties. 
     User device  101  transfers a search request to search module  122 . The search request specifies a geographic area and an investment type. In other examples, the search request may specify only a geographic area, only an investment type, or other combinations of search criteria. In some examples, the search request specifies additional investment criteria like property type, price range, and the like. Search module  122  processes the request and extracts the requested investment criteria from the search request. Search module  122  indicates the geographic area, investment type, and/or other investment attributes indicated by the request to data processing module  123 . 
     Data processing module  123  identifies a set of candidate properties that have locations proximate to the geographic region and that have investment characteristics and investor activity similar to the specified investment type. Data processing module  123  compares the geographic region specified by the search request to the property locations indicated by the real estate data to identify potential properties to resolve the search request. Data processing module  123  selects ones of the properties that include locations proximate to the geographic region. For example, the geographic region may indicate a town or city and data processing module may select properties located within the town or city. Data processing module  123  compares the investment attributes specified by the search request with the investment data for the selected ones of the properties. Data processing module  123  selects ones of the properties that include investment characteristics and investor activity that correspond to investment type specified by the search request. For example, the investment type of the search request may include house flips, a price range, and a house size. In response, data processing module  123  identifies ones of the selected ones of the properties that include house flips, that fall within the price ranges, and that include a similar house size. For example, the house size specified by the search request may include 1500 square feet and the identified ones of the selected ones of the properties may include other properties between 1300 and 1600 square feet. In some examples, data processing module  123  executes a function or other type of algorithmic process to resolve the search request. The function may take geographic locations and investment types indicated by the search request as inputs. The function may output candidate properties that include similar locations and investment characteristics to those specified in the search request. 
     In some examples, data processing module  123  algorithmically resolves the search request based on the comparison to determine investment success metrics. Data processing module  123  may input one or more variables into an algorithm that outputs potential investment properties. The inputs may include a specified property, geographic region, investment type, the candidate properties, and/or any other input that helps identify potential investment properties that fit the user&#39;s desired criteria. The outputs may include the candidate properties and an investment success indicator that ranks the candidate properties. The ranks may sort properties into investment tiers. The investment success indicator may represent how likely the specified property will make a good investment. For example, investment success indicator may estimate a capitalization rate, appreciation, and/or some other type of success metric. 
     Data processing module  123  generates a search result based on the algorithm output. The search result identifies potential investment properties. In some examples, the search result further indicates whether individual potential investment properties are likely to be successful. Data processing module  123  forwards the search result to search module  122 . Search module  122  transfers the search result for delivery to user device  101 . In some examples, search module  122  may graphically display the potential investment properties on a map for delivery to user device  101 . In some examples, search module  122  may list the potential investment properties and, if in some embodiments, the investment success metrics for the property for delivery to user device  101 . For example, search module  122  may graphically format a user interface to present the search result on a display screen of user device  101 . 
       FIGS.  4 - 12    illustrate exemplary operations of real estate search systems to perform comparative real estate investment searches. The real estate search systems illustrated in  FIGS.  4 - 12    include exemplary user interface screen captures of real estate search system  100 , however the user interfaces of real estate search system  100  may differ. For example, the user interface may include more or less information, have different formatting or coloring, use different icons, have a different layout, and/or the like. 
     Referring to the Figures,  FIG.  4    illustrates exemplary user interface  400  of real estate search system  100 . User interface  400  may facilitate comparative real estate investment searching. User interface  400  includes a map that depicts real estate investment activity and a search bar that allows a user to search for properties, addresses, geographic areas, and the like. The real estate investment activity is presented as a heat map with bubbles indicating activity. The bubbles include different shades that correspond to different data sources. In this example, the real estate data sources include public records, MLS data, 3 rd  party listing data, and future MLS data. The size of the bubbles corresponds to the amount of property listings. In this example, a larger bubble indicates a larger number of listings for the area the bubble covers. The map includes a zooming function that allows a user to increase the resolution of the map to focus on a selected geographic region. For example, a user may zoom in to focus on a specific city or town. In this example, a user selects the Dallas, Tex. metropolitan area on the map and user interface  400  transitions to user interface  500  as illustrated in  FIG.  5   . 
       FIG.  5    illustrates exemplary user interface  500  of real estate search system  100 . In response to the user selection from  FIG.  4   , user interface  400  transitioned to user interface  500 . User interface  500  may also facilitate comparative real estate investment searching. In this example, user interface  500  includes a map that depicts real estate investment activity in the Dallas metropolitan area and a search bar that allows a user to search for properties, addresses, geographic areas, and the like. In other examples, the region depicted by user interface  500  may differ. The real estate investor activity is presented as bubbles indicating activity. Each bubble includes a number that indicates the number of properties for the area that corresponds to the bubble. User interface  500  further includes a dashboard that categorizes the properties based on their investment characteristics. The dashboard categories include “Fix &#39;N Flip,” “Pop-Top,” “Tear Down,” and “Buy &#39;N Hold.” A Fix &#39;N Flip property includes a property with a short time period of ownership (e.g., six months) and a high price change. A Pop-Top property include a property that has a story change (e.g., one story→two story) between listings. A Tear Down property includes a property with two build dates. A Buy &#39;N Hold property includes a property that has been owned for an extended period of time without an owner present (e.g., absentee owner). The dashboard allows a user to select a category to filter the property listings. For example, a user may select the “Fix &#39;N Flip” category and user interface will display the Fix &#39;N Flip properties. The investment type categories may have preset configurations, semi-customized configurations, or fully customized configurations. 
     In some examples, user interface  500  categorizes real estate data and sorts the properties into the categories presented on user interface  500 . For example, real estate search system  100  may apply a data structure to real estate data that indicates properties to identify Fix &#39;N Flip properties, Pop-Top properties, Tear Down properties, and Buy &#39;N Hold properties. However, real estate search system  100  may alternatively receive pre-categorized real estate data that indicates Fix &#39;N Flip properties, Pop-Top properties, Tear Down properties, and Buy &#39;N Hold properties. In some examples, user interface  500  may include additional and/or different categories for the properties. For example, user interface  500  may include categories for short-term rental properties and/or long-term rental properties. 
     In this example, a user selects one of the bubbles on the map and selects the “Fix &#39;N Flip” button on user interface  500 . In response to the user selections, user interface  500  transitions to user interface  600  as illustrated in  FIG.  6   . 
       FIG.  6    illustrates an exemplary user interface  600  of real estate search system  100 . In response to the user selection from  FIG.  5   , user interface  500  transitioned to user interface  600 . User interface  600  may also facilitate comparative real estate investment searching. User interface  600  includes a dashboard that categorizes the properties based on their investment type, a map that shows the locations of individual properties, and a side bar that lists individual properties and their characteristics. The properties illustrated on the map are indicated by bubbles that indicate the price and location of the property. The properties may be classified by house status like sold, active, under contract, pending, and the like. A user may interact with the map and select one of the properties. In response to the selection, user interface  600  may present the property and its characteristics in the sidebar. In this example, a user searched for properties that include Fix &#39;N Flip properties in the illustrated geographic region, however, in other examples, the search may differ. In response, user interface  600  presents the locations of identified Fix &#39;N Flip properties on the map and hides properties that do not include Fix &#39;N Flip properties. In other examples, a user may search for a different type of investment property and user interface  600  would subsequently display the selected type of investment property on the map and hide the Fix &#39;N Flip properties from view. 
     In this example, a user selects the “DEALS” button on the top of user interface  600  to locate potential Fix &#39;N Flip properties that are available for sale. In response to the user selection of the deal button, user interface  600  transitions to user interface  700  illustrated in  FIG.  7   . 
       FIG.  7    illustrates exemplary user interface  700  of real estate search system  100 . In response to the user selection from  FIG.  6   , user interface  600  transitioned to user interface  700 . User interface  700  may also facilitate comparative real estate investment searching. In this example, user interface  700  is filtering for Fix &#39;N Flip properties in response to user input and is displaying available Fix &#39;N Flip properties on the map and in the side bar. The filtering hides available properties from display on the map and sidebar that do not include Fix &#39;N Flip properties. A user may select the filtering option by interacting (e.g., clicking via a cursor) with user interface  700 . In other examples, a different filtering option (e.g., Buy N&#39; Hold) may be selected on user interface  700  which results in different properties that fall in the selected criteria to be displayed on the map. In response to a user selection of one of the Fix &#39;N Flip properties, user interface  700  presents pictures and investment characteristics of the selected property. 
     In this example, a user selects the one of the properties on the map to view the property and relevant detail regarding the property. In response to the user selection, user interface  700  transitions to user interface  800  illustrated in  FIG.  8   . 
       FIG.  8    illustrates an exemplary user interface  800  of real estate search system  100 . In response to the user selection from  FIG.  7   , user interface  700  transitioned to user interface  800 . User interface  800  may also facilitate comparative real estate investment searching. After a user selects one of the properties from the map, user interface  800  presents a front view of the property. User interface  800  further presents the location of the property on a map as well as other property characteristics like size and price. User interface  800  further presents a number of additional photos that may be selected by a user. Upon selection of one of the additional photos, user interface  800  enlarges the selected photo for view and minimizes the currently presented photo. In some examples, the view of the selected property presented by user interface  800  may differ. In some examples, user interface  800  may lack a photographic view of the property and instead present an alternate view of the property such as a satellite image. 
     In this example, a user selects the “COMPARABLES” tab to compare the currently selected property to other identified Fix &#39;N Flip properties in the vicinity of the selected property. In response to the user selection, user interface  800  transitions to user interface  900  illustrated in  FIG.  9   . It should be noted that the Fix &#39;N Flip selection is an example and that the search criteria may differ in other examples. 
       FIG.  9    illustrates exemplary user interface  900  of real estate search system  100 . In response to the user selection from  FIG.  8   , user interface  800  transitioned to user interface  900 . User interface  900  may also facilitate comparative real estate investment searching. User interface  900  includes a map and a list of comparable properties. The map depicts a geographic area and a number of properties. The property indicated in white includes a property selection input by a user. The properties indicated in red include comparable properties to the selection that were previously sold. The properties indicated in yellow include comparable properties to the selection that are under contract to sell. The properties indicated in green include comparable properties to the selection that are up for sale. The properties indicated in black include comparable properties to the selection that are for rent. The properties indicated in blue include comparable properties to the selection that are investment properties. In this example, the comparable investment properties may include Fix &#39;N Flip investment properties, Buy N&#39; Hold investment properties, Pop Top investment properties, Tear Down investment properties, short-term rental or long-term rental investment properties, and/or other types of investment properties. The colored indications show the selling/asking price of the properties as well as their locations on the map. It should be noted that the colors illustrated are not limited and user interface  900  may use different colors or shading techniques to distinguish the different types of properties. 
     User interface  900  lists investment characteristics for the investment properties. The investment characteristics include metrics like the selling price, one or more of After Repair Value (ARV), appreciation, size, price, short term rental equations, long term rental equations, capitalization rate, Return on Investment (ROI), cash-on-cash return, equity, net monthly cash flow, gross yield, net ROI, all in cost to ARV, net profit/sales process, holding time, asking price to sell ratio, and debt coverage ratio, size, number of rooms, and build year. In some examples, user interface  900  may list different, fewer, or additional investment characteristics for the properties. Advantageously, real estate search system  100  compares the price change for identified Fix &#39;N Flip properties to the potential Fix &#39;N Flip selected by a user. This comparison allows the user to efficiently and effectively estimate the return on investment for the selected property. It should be noted that the investment type may differ in other examples. 
     Real estate search system  100  utilizes algorithmic techniques to determine whether a given property constitutes a potentially successful investment property. The algorithm may take a given property, its geographic location, recognized investment equations, a deal strategy (e.g., Fix &#39;N Flip), and other comparable properties as inputs. The algorithm may output an indication as to whether the given property constitutes a potentially successful investment property. For example, when other nearby properties are identified as Fix &#39;N Flip properties that have a high ARV (e.g., 70%), the algorithm may determine that the given property has a high likelihood to be a successful Fix &#39;N Flip property. Likewise, when few other nearby are identified as Fix &#39;N Flip properties that have a low ARV (e.g., 10%), the algorithm may determine that the given property has a low likelihood to be a successful Fix &#39;N Flip property. When real estate search system  100  determines that a property is unlikely to result in a successful investment for a given investment strategy, user interface  900  omits those properties from searches. In other examples, the algorithm may take fewer, more, and/or different inputs to determine the investment potential for a given property. 
     In some examples, real estate search system  100  uses machine learning techniques, neural networks, and/or other types of artificial intelligence or computational processes to algorithmically determine which properties are potentially successful investments. For example, real estate search engine may train a neural network or other artificial intelligence system using MLS data and country record data to identify which listed properties are likely to be a successful investment. 
     In this example, a user selects the “HOME” icon on the top bar of user interface  900  to return to the search screen and selects user interface  900  to filter for available “Buy &#39;N Hold” properties. In response to the user selection, user interface  900  transitions to user interface  1000  illustrated in  FIG.  10   . 
       FIG.  10    illustrates exemplary user interface  1000  of real estate search system  100 . In response to the user selection from  FIG.  9   , user interface  900  transitioned to user interface  1000 . User interface  1000  may also facilitate comparative real estate investment searching. User interface  1000  includes a map that illustrates geographic locations for properties, a side panel that lists properties, and a dashboard that allows a user to specify search criteria. In this example, a user searched for Buy &#39;N Hold properties in a given geographic region. Real estate search system  100  utilizes algorithmic methods to determine which available properties constitute likely successful investments for the selected investment strategy. When a user selects a different investment strategy (e.g., Fix &#39;N Flip), real estate search system  100  determines a different set of available properties for the selected search strategy and user interface  1000  responsively updates the map and side panel to show the new set of available properties. In this example, a user selects the “FILTER” button to further specify the search. In response to the user selection, user interface  1000  transitions to user interface  1100  illustrated in  FIG.  11   . 
       FIG.  11    illustrates exemplary user interface  1100  of real estate search system  100 . In response to the user selection from  FIG.  10   , user interface  1000  transitioned to user interface  1100 . User interface  1100  may also facilitate comparative real estate investment searching. User interface  1100  includes multiple filters that allow a user to specify the type of property and type of investment. The filters include categories like single family, attached, condo, multi-family, active, pending, under-contract, land, and sold. The filter may be used to select investment strategies like Fix &#39;N Flip, Pop-Top, Tear Down, and Buy &#39;N Hold. In some examples, the investment strategies include categories like short term rental, long term rental, multi-family, land, off-market, mobile, and other types of investment strategy. The filter further includes an investment slider that indicates Under Market Value (UMV). In other examples, the slider may be used to control a different investment metric like After Repair Value (ARV). The sliders facilitate of user configurable investment strategies to tailor the search results presented in the user interfaces. In this example, a user selects the “RUN SEARCH” button and selects one of the properties that appears from the search. In response to the user selections, user interface  1100  transitions to user interface  1200  illustrated in  FIG.  12   . 
       FIG.  12    illustrates exemplary user interface  1200  of real estate search system  100 . In response to the user selection from  FIG.  11   , user interface  1100  transitioned to user interface  1200 . User interface  1200  may also facilitate comparative real estate investment searching. After a user selects one of the properties from the map, user interface  1200  presents a front view of the property. User interface  1200  further presents the location of the property on a map as well as other property characteristics like size and price. User interface  1200  further presents a number of additional photos that may be selected by a user. Upon selection of one of the photos, user interface  1200  enlarges the selected photo for view and minimizes the currently presented photo. In this example, a user selects the “COMPARABLES” button to compare the selected property to other nearby Buy &#39;N Hold properties. In response to the user selection, user interface  1200  transitions to user interface  1300  illustrated in  FIG.  13   . 
       FIG.  13    illustrates exemplary user interface  1300  of real estate search system  100 . In response to the user selection from  FIG.  12   , user interface  1200  transitioned to user interface  1300 . User interface  1300  may also facilitate comparative real estate investment searching. User interface  1300  includes a map and a list of comparable properties. The map depicts a geographic area and the locations of comparable properties that are categorized by color. White indicates a property user selection, red indicates previously sold properties, yellow indicates properties that are under contract to sell, green indicates for sale properties, black indicates rental properties, and blue indicates comparable investment properties. The colored indications show the selling/asking price of the properties as well as their locations on the map. User interface  1300  lists investment characteristics for the investment properties. The investment characteristics include metrics like the selling price, house characteristics, build year, and the like. 
     In a similar manner as illustrated on user interface  900 , real estate search system  100  utilizes algorithmic techniques to determine whether a given property constitutes a potentially successful investment property. The algorithm may take a given property, its geographic location, a deal strategy, and other comparable properties as inputs. However, the geographic area and investment type selected by a user in user interface  1300  differ from the selections made in user interface  900 . As a result, the algorithm implemented by real estate search system  100  outputs a different set of potentially successful investment property. 
       FIG.  14    illustrates computing system  1401  according to an implementation of the present technology. Computing system  1401  is representative of any system or collection of systems in which the various processes, programs, services, and scenarios disclosed herein for performing comparative real estate investment searching may be implemented. For example, computing system  1401  may be representative of server  111 , user device  101 , and/or any other computing device contemplated herein. Examples of computing system  1401  include, but are not limited to, computers, servers, network controllers, web servers, and cloud computing platforms, as well as any other type of physical or virtual server machine, physical or virtual router, container, and any variation or combination thereof. Computing system  1401  may be implemented as a single apparatus, system, or device or may be implemented in a distributed manner as multiple apparatuses, systems, or devices. Computing system  1401  includes, but is not limited to storage system  1402 , software  1403 , communication interface system  1404 , processing system  1405 , and user interface system  1406 . Processing system  1405  is operatively coupled with storage system  1402 , communication interface system  1404 , and user interface system  1406 . 
     Processing system  1405  loads and executes software  1403  from storage system  1402 . Software  1403  includes and comparative searching process  1410 , which is representative of the comparative real estate searching processes discussed with respect to the preceding Figures including process  200  illustrated in  FIG.  2    and the exemplary operation of system  100  illustrated in  FIG.  3   . When executed by processing system  1405 , software  1403  directs processing system  1405  to operate as described herein for at least the various processes, operational scenarios, and sequences discussed in the foregoing implementations. Computing system  1401  may optionally include additional devices, features, or functionality not discussed here for purposes of brevity. 
     Processing system  1405  may include a micro-processor and other circuitry that retrieves and executes software  1403  from storage system  1402 . Processing system  1405  may be implemented within a single processing device but may also be distributed across multiple processing devices or sub-systems that cooperate in executing program instructions. Examples of processing system  1405  include general purpose CPUs, GPUs, DSPs, ASICs, FPGAs, and logic devices, as well as any other type of processing device, combinations, or variations thereof. 
     Storage system  1402  may include any computer readable storage media device that is readable by processing system  1405  and capable of storing software  1403 . Storage system  1402  may include volatile and nonvolatile, removable, and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storage of information, such as computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data. Examples of storage media include RAM, read only memory, magnetic disks, optical disks, optical media, flash memory, virtual memory and non-virtual memory, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other suitable storage media. In no case is the computer readable storage media a propagated signal. 
     In addition to computer readable storage media, in some implementations storage system  1402  may also include computer readable communication media over which at least some of software  1403  may be communicated internally or externally. Storage system  1402  may be implemented as a single storage device but may also be implemented across multiple storage devices or sub-systems co-located or distributed relative to each other. Storage system  1402  may include additional elements, such as a controller, capable of communicating with processing system  1405  or possibly other systems. 
     Software  1403  (comparative searching process  1410 ) may be implemented in program instructions and among other functions may, when executed by processing system  1405 , direct processing system  1405  to operate as described with respect to the various operational scenarios, sequences, and processes illustrated herein. For example, software  1403  may include program instructions for ingesting real estate data, determining potential investment properties based on the real estate data, correlating the potential investment properties to investment and geographic attributes specified by a user generated search request, and surfacing the potential investment properties for review by the user. 
     In particular, the program instructions may include various components or modules that cooperate or otherwise interact to carry out the various processes and operational scenarios described herein. The various components or modules may be embodied in compiled or interpreted instructions, or in some other variation or combination of instructions. The various components or modules may be executed in a synchronous or asynchronous manner, serially or in parallel, in a single threaded environment or multi-threaded, or in accordance with any other suitable execution paradigm, variation, or combination thereof. Software  1403  may include additional processes, programs, or components, such as operating system software, virtualization software, or other application software. Software  1403  may also include firmware or some other form of machine-readable processing instructions executable by processing system  1405 . 
     In general, software  1403  may, when loaded into processing system  1405  and executed, transform a suitable apparatus, system, or device (of which computing system  1401  is representative) overall from a general-purpose computing system into a special-purpose computing system customized to identify properties that include investment attributes similar to investment attributes specified in a search request. The specific transformation of the physical structure may depend on various factors in different implementations of this description. Examples of such factors may include, but are not limited to, the technology used to implement the storage media of storage system  1402  and whether the computer-storage media are characterized as primary or secondary storage, as well as other factors. 
     For example, if the computer readable storage media are implemented as semiconductor-based memory, software  1403  may transform the physical state of the semiconductor memory when the program instructions are encoded therein, such as by transforming the state of transistors, capacitors, or other discrete circuit elements constituting the semiconductor memory. A similar transformation may occur with respect to magnetic or optical media. Other transformations of physical media are possible without departing from the scope of the present description, with the foregoing examples provided only to facilitate the present discussion. 
     Communication interface system  1404  may include communication connections and devices that allow for communication with other computing systems (not shown) over communication networks (not shown). Examples of connections and devices that together allow for inter-system communication may include network interface cards, antennas, power amplifiers, RF circuitry, transceivers, and other communication circuitry. The connections and devices may communicate over communication media to exchange communications with other computing systems or networks of systems, such as metal, glass, air, or any other suitable communication media. The aforementioned media, connections, and devices are well known and need not be discussed at length here. 
     Communication between computing system  1401  and other computing systems (not shown), may occur over a communication network or networks and in accordance with various communication protocols, combinations of protocols, or variations thereof. Examples include intranets, internets, the Internet, local area networks, wide area networks, wireless networks, wired networks, virtual networks, software defined networks, data center buses and backplanes, or any other type of network, combination of network, or variation thereof. The aforementioned communication networks and protocols are well known and need not be discussed at length here. 
     While some examples provided herein are described in the context of computing devices for performing comparative real estate investment searching, it should be understood that the systems and methods described herein are not limited to such embodiments and may apply to a variety of other magnetometry environments and their associated systems. As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, aspects of the present invention may be embodied as a system, method, computer program product, and other configurable systems. Accordingly, aspects of the present invention may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment (including firmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.) or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects that may all generally be referred to herein as a “circuit,” “module” or “system.” Furthermore, aspects of the present invention may take the form of a computer program product embodied in one or more computer readable medium(s) having computer readable program code embodied thereon. 
     Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims, the words “include,” “comprising,” and the like are to be construed in an inclusive sense, as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in the sense of “including, but not limited to.” As used herein, the terms “connected,” “coupled,” or any variant thereof means any connection or coupling, either direct or indirect, between two or more elements; the coupling or connection between the elements can be physical, logical, or a combination thereof. Additionally, the words “herein,” “above,” “below,” and words of similar import, when used in this application, refer to this application as a whole and not to any particular portions of this application. Where the context permits, words in the above Detailed Description using the singular or plural number may also include the plural or singular number, respectively. The word “or” in reference to a list of two or more items, covers all of the following interpretations of the word: any of the items in the list, all of the items in the list, and any combination of the items in the list. 
     The phrases “in some embodiments,” “according to some embodiments,” “in the embodiments shown,” “in other embodiments,” and the like generally mean the particular feature, structure, or characteristic following the phrase is included in at least one implementation of the present technology and may be included in more than one implementation. In addition, such phrases do not necessarily refer to the same embodiments or different embodiments. 
     The above Detailed Description of examples of the technology is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the technology to the precise form disclosed above. While specific examples for the technology are described above for illustrative purposes, various equivalent modifications are possible within the scope of the technology, as those skilled in the relevant art will recognize. For example, while processes or blocks are presented in a given order, alternative implementations may perform routines having steps, or employ systems having blocks, in a different order, and some processes or blocks may be deleted, moved, added, subdivided, combined, and/or modified to provide alternative or subcombinations. Each of these processes or blocks may be implemented in a variety of different ways. Also, while processes or blocks are at times shown as being performed in series, these processes or blocks may instead be performed or implemented in parallel or may be performed at different times. Further any specific numbers noted herein are only examples: alternative implementations may employ differing values or ranges. 
     The teachings of the technology provided herein can be applied to other systems, not necessarily the system described above. The elements and acts of the various examples described above can be combined to provide further implementations of the technology. Some alternative implementations of the technology may include not only additional elements to those implementations noted above, but also may include fewer elements. 
     These and other changes can be made to the technology in light of the above Detailed Description. While the above description describes certain examples of the technology, and describes the best mode contemplated, no matter how detailed the above appears in text, the technology can be practiced in many ways. Details of the system may vary considerably in its specific implementation, while still being encompassed by the technology disclosed herein. As noted above, particular terminology used when describing certain features or aspects of the technology should not be taken to imply that the terminology is being redefined herein to be restricted to any specific characteristics, features, or aspects of the technology with which that terminology is associated. In general, the terms used in the following claims should not be construed to limit the technology to the specific examples disclosed in the specification, unless the above Detailed Description section explicitly defines such terms. Accordingly, the actual scope of the technology encompasses not only the disclosed examples, but also all equivalent ways of practicing or implementing the technology under the claims. 
     To reduce the number of claims, certain aspects of the technology are presented below in certain claim forms, but the applicant contemplates the various aspects of the technology in any number of claim forms. For example, while only one aspect of the technology is recited as a method claim, other aspects may likewise be embodied as a computer-readable medium claim, or in other forms, such as being embodied in a means-plus-function claim. Any claims intended to be treated under 35 U.S.C. § 112(f) will begin with the words “means for” but use of the term “for” in any other context is not intended to invoke treatment under 35 U.S.C. § 112(f). Accordingly, the applicant reserves the right to pursue additional claims after filing this application to pursue such additional claim forms, in either this application or in a continuing application.