Starting today, MyNewPlace users have a new resource to help them find apartments for rent–their friends and social graph. We know that finding and moving into a new place is an important event and we want to make it easy for you to get good advice from those you know and trust.
To that end, we are pleased to announce our implementation of Facebook Connect; we are excited to be the first apartment site to incorporate the social interactivity of Facebook.
So how is this going to change your apartment search on MyNewPlace? New users will have a choice of registering via their Facebook ID–often with just two mouse clicks. All users can now post properties that they’re interested in to their Facebook profile page along with your note asking for feedback from your trusted network of friends and family.
Perhaps you would like to know if anyone has ever lived in a particular apartment complex and if they enjoyed it. Maybe you would like to know about the surrounding neighborhood, access to public transportation, or what to expect from the nightlife. Or, if you are looking for a roommate, posting to Facebook is an excellent way to see which friends or friends of friends are looking to share an apartment.
Above you can see how our friend Ann is planning a move to Miami beach. Great location, indeed. However, our friend Arthur (who looks suspiciously like my evil twin) knows that there are some great deals on Miami apartments right now and is recommending she consult with his friend Alex, a native of the area, for more information.
Where you live has a huge impact on your social life and happiness. Who better to help you find the perfect spot than the people you know and trust and communicate with everyday via Facebook? Check it out, and let us know what you think.
Wow, good stuff guys!
I think that is pretty awesome that you guys have figured out a way to integrate with sites like Facebook. Are there any plans to integrate with other successful social networking sites such as Myspace or better yet Twitter? I think it would be awesome if I could get a Mynewplace blog feed regarding anything to do with Austin Apartments as an update Tweet on Twitter. I am curious to see what others may think about that idea.
I haven’t seen it work yet, but this is a great idea, Matt … I’m looking forward to seeing what social features you incorporate into the site next.
Seems like a really convenient option for users. I think there are some great opportunities in the social networking sites and Facebook is obviously the best one right now.
Given how ubiquitous social networking sites like Facebook have become in our culture, I can see this type of integration being a real benefit to prospective renters. Getting feedback on apartment properties in the area from strangers is one thing, but hearing the opinions of trusted friends in your network provides a great source of unbiased information. Great idea!