Inspiring confidence in digital-first home buying journeys
2x increase in mobile map engagement following the launch of FlyAround
10% of all listing detail page viewers engage with FlyAround feature
Scaled FlyAround across iOS, Android, and web in just one development quarter
Realtor.com used Google Maps Platform 3D Maps to launch FlyAround, a 360-degree view of properties, driving a 2x increase in map engagement and giving buyers confidence in their home purchase decisions.
Realtor.com used Google Maps Platform 3D Maps to launch FlyAround, a 360-degree view of properties, driving a 2x increase in map engagement and giving buyers confidence in their home purchase decisions.
Building confidence in a "sight unseen" market
Would you consider buying a home without seeing it in person first? According to recent research from Realtor.com, an online real estate listing platform, nearly half of all buyers (and 52% of first-time buyers) would.
For many, the home search starts on websites like Realtor.com. However, while static 2D photos and floor plans provide a glimpse inside a home, they often fail to capture the feel of the surrounding area. Home shoppers frequently struggle with spatial blind spots: They can't tell if a backyard is too steep for a swing set, if a home sits in a valley, or how close the neighboring structures truly are.
Since 1995, Realtor.com has pioneered the digital real estate space, helping buyers and renters find their way home. But as consumer behavior shifts, the company knew it needed to move beyond the flat map to provide a true sense of place.
When consumers come to Realtor.com, we want them to trust they're getting an accurate representation of a home, a neighborhood, or a market. By building immersive experiences with Google Maps Platform, we can help them feel confident in their home buying decisions.
Dave Herman
SVP of Product and AI Innovation, Realtor.com
"When consumers come to Realtor.com, we want them to trust they're getting an accurate representation of a home, a neighborhood, or a market," says Dave Herman, SVP of product and AI innovation at Realtor.com. "By building immersive experiences with Google Maps Platform, we can help them feel confident in their home buying decisions."
Creating FlyAround, an immersive
home buying experience
Realtor.com worked with Google Maps Platform and real estate research platform TopHap to bridge the gap between physical and virtual spaces. Street View is integrated directly into listings to allow users to "walk" the block and evaluate a home's exterior surroundings and character. Realtor.com+, the company's collaborative platform that connects real estate professionals and shoppers, offers dynamic map integration to help agents optimize tour routes and provide driving directions for clients during physical home visits.
However, Realtor.com saw an opportunity for even more immersive experiences that would bring prospective buyers closer to properties, from anywhere. Deepening its use of Google Maps Platform, the team leveraged 3D Maps to create its FlyAround feature.
Our relationship with Google Maps Platform is very much a two-way street. They’re quick to share opportunities that align with our values while also being receptive to feedback that informs future evolutions of the product.
Dave Herman
SVP of Product and AI Innovation, Realtor.com
Unlike traditional drone footage, which is expensive and difficult to scale across millions of listings, FlyAround uses a high-resolution photorealistic 3D map to generate a seamless, immersive view of any property. This interactive experience allows users to move beyond passive viewing of the property and freely explore the home or surrounding area in more detail.
"As Google Maps Platform has created new opportunities and increased investment in these technologies, it became very obvious to us that we have a strong collaboration," Herman says. "There are synergies around the type of experiences we're trying to deliver to our consumers."
By integrating 3D exploration, Realtor.com users can virtually "fly" around a listing, observing the property's lot, elevation, and proximity to landmarks or infrastructure. The implementation was designed for speed and consistency; the team successfully launched the feature across iOS, Android, and web platforms simultaneously within a single development quarter.
"Our relationship with Google Maps Platform is very much a two-way street," Herman says. "They're quick to share opportunities that align with our values while also being receptive to feedback that informs future evolutions of the product."
Doubling down on digital map engagement
The launch of FlyAround has transformed how users interact with the Realtor.com platform. Since its debut in November 2025, the feature has driven a 2x increase in mobile map engagement, demonstrating that users are eager for more interactive, data-rich map experiences. Currently, 10% of all visitors to a listing detail page on Realtor.com engage specifically with the FlyAround feature.
Looking toward 2026, Realtor.com plans to further its collaboration with Google Maps Platform. The team is strategically advancing FlyAround to deliver a comprehensive, immersive neighborhood and local Point-of-Interest (POI) exploration experience. This evolution will deeply integrate Google AI within all exploration features and ensure Realtor.com's FlyAround experience development remains tightly synchronized with the future of Google Maps Platform.
"By integrating Google Maps into our platform, we've elevated the consumer experience and reduced friction in the discovery phase of home buying," Herman says. "This collaboration speaks to transparency: Together, we're building customer confidence and ensuring every buyer finds their way home with total certainty."
By integrating Google Maps into our platform, we've elevated the consumer experience and reduced friction in the discovery phase of home buying. This collaboration speaks to transparency: Together, we're building customer confidence and ensuring every buyer finds their way home with total certainty.
Dave Herman
SVP of Product and AI Innovation, Realtor.com
Realtor.com is a trusted guide for consumers and real estate professionals, providing the essential tools and insights to help people find their perfect home.
Industry: Real Estate
Location: United States
Products: Google Maps Platform, 3D Maps, Street View
