Nextdoor, a neighborhood social network that allows neighbors to stay in touch with each other, is often used to sell items or share messages from a local homeowners’ association. However, the website is now dipping its toe into the real estate pool with a new local real estate section.

Launching in 10 markets including Houston, Nextdoor is now piloting this feature which will allow users to see how homes are selling in their neighborhood.

Source: Nextdoor

The website is inviting real estate agents to partner as advertisers. It will have a “Neighborhood Sponsor” program for agents to promote themselves. Agents who participate in this program will be highlighted in the Nextdoor newsfeed, daily digest emails and real estate section for the neighborhoods they choose to sponsor.

“Sponsoring agents will also have the opportunity to answer real estate-related questions from Nextdoor members, highlighting your local knowledge,” the website says.

According to Nextdoor, new listings will be announced in the newsfeed and in daily digest emails. Users will be able to click on a listing to find out about the property, which may include information on the listing agent.

“Some pages will have a module to the right showcasing the listing agent,” the website states. “This is one of the paid products real estate agents can participate in. This makes it easy for members to reach out to a listing agent and learn more about some of the agents who sell homes in their local community.”

However, this information looks to only be available to brokerages right now, as the application form to be part of this program prompts agents to share the form with their managing brokers. The form asks for a variety of information including the name of the brokerage, the number of agents and annual listing volume.

Nextdoor says that the initial pilot is limited at the moment, but there are plans to expand into additional markets over the course of 2017.

Source: Nextdoor