Baron Briefs

I received an invitation to join the Zillow API Network on Monday as an “Alpha” tester, but didn’t get a chance to begin work on anything until yesterday. Since then, I’ve assembled a small “toolkit” using nothing but the finest in Java open source to make integrating Zillow’s API easier. After getting past two roadblocks late this afternoon, I was able to successfully request my home’s property details and Zestimate via Zillow’s API. Woohoo! Anyone else working on integration with Zillow’s API?

I received an email this morning from Zillow Business Development saying the API does not currently include the data I was most excited about when it was announced:

At some point, it is very likely that the API will be able to pull [lot size, square feet, number of bedrooms, bath, etc], but we have not currently developed this functionality.

Bummer.

UPDATE:  False alarm.  Greg from Zillow set me straight in the comments.  Thanks, Greg!

BloodhoundBlog questions the strategy of allowing other websites to plug into the Web services of Zillow and Trulia:

How the hell are either of these two quivering little firms going to make money on this? “Advertising!” they shout in unison, but the advertising is on their home pages, where these APIs aren’t. Each one has a little click-back button to take self-selected volunteers back to the home planet. But if I’m getting the milk for free at LargelyUnobjectionableAtlantaHomes.com, why the heck would I go to the dairy?

My initial thought on why each would do this: By opening up Zestimates and Zindices to the masses, Zillow is following in the foot steps of major players like Amazon and Google…build an API, let others innovate off the technology, and then acquire the best of breed.  Remember, they recently picked up an extra $25 million to “broaden their product offering”.  As far as TruliaMap, it’s likely an attempt to win over agents and brokers who haven’t warmed up to the idea of their website being crawled and scraped. Now, they get a cool widget for their website and Trulia gets access to more listings.

Seen as the big, bad wolf of the real estate industry by some, Zillow just announced they’ll be opening their services in the fall in the form of an application programming interface (API). Basically, it means websites like RealtyBaron.com can ask Zillow.com…programmatically speaking…for things like Zestimates, Zindices, and specs on a home such as square footage, number of beds and baths. This is great news for small operations (i.e. unfunded) like ours. Kudos, Zillow.