The real estate market was quicker than most to jump on the bandwagon for smartphone applications, probably because agents must operate in the field so often. But as a result there are all kinds of apps out there geared towards the real estate market, either with the goals of a realtor or those of the consumer in mind (or both). For example, LoopNet caters to those looking to buy or sell in the commercial market, Open House Manager helps agents and homeowners to track and follow-up with interested parties, and Real Estate Calc (as the name implies) calculates home loan qualifications for particular properties. And all help to fill certain niches. But for a good all-around RE app meant for anyone seeking or listing a home, there are a couple of comprehensive offerings.

Most people are already familiar with names like Zillow, Trulia, and Realtor.com because they were multiple listing sites (MLS) before they ever made their way into the wide world of apps. So for most people, making the switch to a mobile version of their favorite site was a no-brainer. As a result, all are fairly popular. And that they offer almost the same features could make it difficult to decide which one to use. But for people who have made the rounds with these apps (and many download more than one if they’re on the prowl for a new home), Realtor.com seems to be the most reliable. This could have something to do with the fact that it is offered with the National Association of Realtors, meaning it provides access to multiple databases for listings. But what will you get when you download this freebie for your favorite Apple device?

For starters, you’ll have access to a multitude of listings within a particular search area, including geographic locations (shown on a map) complete with pricing, property details, and photos (for easy, side-by-side comparison). You can further narrow your search based on a variety of criteria (buying versus renting, price range, or even garage size), you can save favorite searches for later reference or to search new listing that match your criteria, and you’ll be happy to see that updates to the app are timely (in fact, it updates every 15 minutes). And of course, it syncs up with your Realtor.com online account, so if you would rather enter information by computer keyboard than to do it on your smartphone touchpad, you can access it the moment you turn on your mobile account.

Whether you’re in the market for Hollywood mansions, New York walk-ups, or Boston foreclosures, this is one app that can make your search for a new home a heck of a lot easier (and you can take it on the go, to boot). For realtors it’s a must-have tool of the trade. But for the average consumer looking to sell quickly with competitive pricing, or find the best deal when buying their dream home, Realtor.com can make the process almost painless. And that it’s free means there’s nothing to stop you from starting the process post-haste.

Editor’s Note

Thanks to Evan Fischer for this guest post. He is a freelance writer and part-time student at California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks, California.