Zoopla launches iPhone app for UK property with Augmented Reality

UK real estate startup Zoopla has launched an iPhone app which rather puts the competition in the shade with an Augmented Reality option. Main competitors Rightmove and Findaproperty have apps, but all they do is For Sale and To Rent searches. Zoopla by contrast offers all the data its has on every UK home with a number of features you won’t find in the average app. The app has map-led search (map and hybrid options) as well as list view and Augmented Reality (3GS or 4 only).

Because of Zoopla’s combined crowdsourced and land registry approach, it claims to have every UK home on its platform, not just those for sale and to rent. That means it can give value estimates for all 27 million UK homes, with 15 million+ house prices paid dating back to 1995.

In other words, this is for the serious home hunter/owner (track values) and anyone nosey or curious enough to want to find out what friends or neighbours paid for their house. Which is pretty much everyone in Britain, given our sclerotic interest in houses as assets not homes.

The app also gives access to local market data including average home values by area; the ability to search results by geography, price, keywords and more; the ability to save and email friends your favourite properties and one touch click to call or email estate agents.

Zoopla recently acquired the PropertyFinder Group, which was put up for sale recently by joint owners REA Group and News International. Terms were undisclosed but we believe it was for £1.5m. The startup had a Series B funding round last year from Atlas Venture and Octopus Ventures.