When it comes to purchasing a home, a number of online resources are available to help you get a feel for home prices and available properties, but not all apps are created equal. Weve put together a quick list of tools to make the home buying process faster and easier.

The Benchmark Realty App and Website If youre working with a Benchmark agent, youll get access to our exclusive app. By pulling data from the most accurate and updated listings, the app provides a much more real-time look at the market than tools like Zillow or Trulia. Plus, youll be able to search by neighborhood and subdivision to help you find the right homes in the areas you want to live. Find Open Houses at the Website or App Looking for upcoming open houses? Check out Realtor.com, which includes open houses in their search results, making it easy to find houses you can stop by and visit during your hunt for a new home.

Finding the Best Schools with Great Schools Website or App If you have kids in the picture, finding quality schools may be at the top of your list when choosing a neighborhood. GreatSchools allows you to search by city, ZIP or specific schools to see how nearby schools rank.

Determining Walkability in an Urban Setting? Trying to find out if a neighborhood will fit a more urban lifestyle? Walkability or App provides a walking score for neighborhoods as well as commute reports that show car, bike and public transportation commuting options.

LoopNet for Commercial Real Estate If youre looking to purchase land for a shop, caf or other business, LoopNet may be the site or app for you. This tool makes it easy to find updated commercial listings, so you can send them to your agent for feedback and to set up property viewings.

Calculating Monthly Payments If youre not quite ready to connect with a mortgage company but do want to get a feel for your financing options and what your monthly payment will look like, Real Estate Calc is a great solution, allowing you to plug in different variables for a quick look at estimated mortgage payments.

Electronic Document Signing When youre on the go but ready to move forward on a house, getting access to a printer and scanner can be a hassle. A tool like DocuSign, Dotloop or Transaction Desk allows you to sign documents electronically. Be sure to check with your agent to see if they already use one of these tools to make it even easier.

The Best Real Estate Resource Of course, the best real estate resource for any homebuyer is an agent who will put your needs first, helping you find and negotiate the purchase on the right home. Get in touch with a Benchmark agent today!