Coldwell Banker has new mobile app for Android, iOS

Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC has released a new, free mobile app for iOS and Android platforms that allows consumers to search for homes using an interactive map, contact an agent with one touch, and discover nearby amenities with Yelp integration.

The app features Facebook, Twitter and email integration and a "save-to-favorites" function. Users have access to a database of 1.5 million U.S. and international homes, and the ability to notify a Coldwell Banker agent directly about their interest in a property.

The new app also allows users to delineate a geographic area for home search by drawing a shape in the app's map view on their mobile devices' touch screens and then see the homes for sale pop up within that area.

Users can also use their mobile devices' geolocation ability to search for homes and open houses, and get driving directions using the app and access video content from Coldwell Banker Real Estate's video library.

YouTube video by Coldwell Banker Real Estate highlighting the features of its new app.

"We know that consumers value seamless functionality when searching for homes on their mobile devices, and our new app brings homebuyers further customization to enhance their homebuying experience," said Michael Fischer, chief marketing officer for Coldwell Banker Real Estate. "We have seen a 126 percent year-over-year increase in traffic to our mobile platform, and approximately 25 percent of all traffic to the coldwellbanker.com platform is via mobile devices."

Coldwell Banker Real Estate, one Realogy Holdings Corp.'s franchise brands, has about 3,100 affiliate offices in 50 countries and territories and 83,000 agents.

A review of consumer-facing mobile apps last year by real estate consulting firm Clareity Consulting concluded that Realtor.com, Zillow and Trulia had the best mobile apps for consumers. Reviewers found apps offered by several franchisors suffered from extremely slow response times, minimal property detail and glitch-filled platforms.

The previous Android version of Coldwell Banker Real Estate's app received the lowest grade out of the 10 Android apps reviewed by Clareity. Coldwell Banker's iOS app was not reviewed.