Google Maps is getting out of the house-hunting game, at least for now. In a blog post this week, the company said it would “retire” on Feb. 10 the search option box on Google Maps that allows users to search for property for sale or rent in the United States, Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and Japan.
Brian McClendon, vice president of Google Earth and Maps, said its decision was due, among other factors, to low usage and the “proliferation of excellent property-search tools on real estate Web sites.”
Despite its decision, Google isn’t entirely shutting the door on real estate.
“We recognize that there might be better, more effective ways to help people find local real estate information than the current feature makes possible. We’ll continue to explore this area,” McClendon wrote.
Too bad. I use it all the time when I am in the field showing properties.