WO2024000020A1

WO2024000020A1 - Systems and methods for facilitating property purchasing

Info

Publication number: WO2024000020A1
Application number: PCT/AU2023/050585
Authority: WO
Inventors: Aaron Kyle GROOM; Franklin Jeremy Kila Taspe WEBBER; Grant Shayne KING
Original assignee: BC House Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2022-06-30
Filing date: 2023-06-27
Publication date: 2024-01-04

Abstract

Disclosed is a system for facilitating property purchasing. The system comprises at least one processing system configured to receive a request from a user device to conduct a property purchase process, and to initiate one or more communication sessions between the user device and one or more service provider devices associated with one or more service providers for conducting at least part of the property purchase process. Disclosed is a method for facilitating property purchasing.

Description

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR FACILITATING PROPERTY PURCHASING

TECHNICAL FIELD

[1] The present invention relates to systems and methods for facilitating property purchasing. In further specific examples, the present invention relates to systems and methods for facilitating property purchasing on a single platform.

BACKGROUND

[2] Buying real estate property is a complex process, involving multiple steps and requiring familiarity with various kinds of procedures, such as financial procedures for obtaining a loan and legal procedures for analysing contracts of sale. For this reason, most real estate buyers seek assistance from several agents and professionals, including mortgage brokers, insurance brokers, and solicitors. However, each of these people normally needs to be engaged and dealt with separately, which is time-consuming and can cause misunderstandings between agents. It can also be difficult for inexperienced buyers to know which agents they might need and when they might need them along the various stage of the purchase process.

[3] It is desired to address or ameliorate one or more disadvantages or limitations associated with the prior art, or to at least provide a useful alternative.

[4] The reference in this specification to any prior publication (or information derived from it), or to any matter which is known, is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgement or admission or any form of suggestion that that prior publication (or information derived from it) or known matter forms part of the common general knowledge in the field of endeavour to which this specification relates.

SUMMARY

[5] According to one example aspect, there is provided a system for facilitating property purchasing. The system comprises at least one processing system configured to: receive a request from a user device to conduct a property purchase process; and initiate one or more communication sessions between the user device and one or more service provider devices associated with one or more service providers for conducting at least part of the property purchase process. [6] In some embodiments, the at least one processing system is configured to initiate two or more communication sessions, each of the two or more communication sessions being between the user device and at least one of the one or more service provider devices. In some embodiments, the two or more communication sessions are initiated at different times.

[7] In some embodiments, to initiate the two or more communication sessions, the at least one processing system is configured to: initiate a first communication session of the two or more communication sessions between the user device and a first service provider device of the one or more service provider devices; receive a progress prompt; and, in response to receiving the progress prompt, initiate a second communication session of the two or more communication sessions between the user device and a second provider device of the one or more provider devices. In some embodiments, the first communication session and the second communication session share a virtual forum. In some embodiments, the at least one processing system is configured to exclude the first provider device from the second communication session.

[8] In some embodiments, at least one of the one or more communication sessions is a group communication session between the user device and two or more service provider devices. In some embodiments, the at least one processing system is configured to give the two or more service provider devices access to the group communication session at different times. In some embodiments, the at least one processing system is configured to: receive a progress prompt; and, in response to receiving the progress prompt, give one of the two or more service provider devices access to the group communication session.

[9] In some embodiments, to receive the progress prompt, the at least one processing system is configured to receive a manual input from the user device or from one of the one or more service provider devices.

[10] In some embodiments, to receive the progress prompt, the at least one processing system is configured to automatically detect a trigger event. In some embodiments, the trigger event is the completion of a stage of the property purchase process.

[11] In some embodiments, the at least one processing system is configured to: receive, from the user device, one or more selection criteria; produce a property list comprising one or more real estate properties based on the one or more selection criteria; provide the property list to the user device; receive, from the user device, a property selection of a real estate property in the property list; and select the one or more service providers based on the property selection.

[12] In some embodiments, the at least one processing system is configured to initiate one or more further communication sessions between the user device and one or more further service provider devices associated with one or more aftersales service providers for conducting an aftersales process following the purchase of a real estate property. In some embodiments, the one or more service providers are one or more of a mortgage brokers, a conveyancer, a solicitor, a builder, a property developer, an insurance broker, a buyers’ agent, a real estate agent, and a property manager.

[13] According to another example aspect, there is provided a computer-implemented method for facilitating property purchasing, the method comprising: receiving a request from a user device to conduct a property purchase process; and initiating one or more communication sessions between the user device and one or more service provider devices associated with one or more service providers for conducting at least part of the property purchase process.

[14] In some embodiments, initiating one or more communication sessions comprises initiating two or more communication sessions, each of the two or more communication sessions being between the user device and at least one of the one or more service provider devices. In some embodiments, the two or more communication sessions are initiated at different times.

[15] In some embodiments, initiating two or more communication sessions comprises: initiating a first communication session of the two or more communication sessions between the user device and a first service provider device of the one or more service provider devices; receiving a progress prompt; and, in response to receiving the progress prompt, initiating a second communication session of the two or more communication sessions between the user device and a second provider device of the one or more provider devices. In some embodiments, the first communication session and the second communication session share a virtual forum. In some embodiments, further comprising excluding the first provider device from the second communication session.

[16] In some embodiments, at least one of the one or more communication sessions is a group communication session between the user device and two or more service provider devices. In some embodiments, the method further comprises giving the two or more service provider devices access to the group communication session at different times. In some embodiments, the method further comprises: receiving a progress prompt; and, in response to receiving the progress prompt, giving one of the two or more service provider devices access to the group communication session.

[17] In some embodiments, the progress prompt is manually input from the user device or from one of the one or more service provider devices.

[18] In some embodiments, receiving the progress prompt comprises automatically detecting a trigger event. In some embodiments, the trigger event is the completion of a stage of the property purchase process.

[19] In some embodiments, the method further comprises: receiving, from the user device, one or more selection criteria; producing a property list comprising one or more real estate properties based on the one or more selection criteria; providing the property list to the user device; receiving, from the user device, a property selection of a real estate property in the property list; and selecting the one or more service providers based on the property selection.

[20] In some embodiments, the method further comprises initiating one or more further communication sessions between the user device and one or more further service provider devices associated with one or more aftersales service providers for conducting an aftersales process following the purchase of a real estate property. In some embodiments, the one or more service providers are one or more of a mortgage brokers, a conveyancer, a solicitor, a builder, a property developer, an insurance broker, a buyers’ agent, a real estate agent, and a property manager.

[21] According to another example aspect, there is provided a system to facilitate a property purchasing experience on a single platform. The system comprises: one or more first user devices associated with buyers; one or more second user devices associated with service providers selected from mortgage brokers, conveyancers, builders, insurance brokers, buyers’ agents, real estate agents and property managers; and a processing module associated with a support team, connected with the one or more first user devices and the one or more second user devices. The processing module is configured to: register the one or more first user devices and the one or more second user devices with the system; receive a request from a first user device of the one or more first user devices for purchasing a property along with buying preferences; provide a list of properties that match the buying preferences, to the first user device, to select a property for purchase; receive a selection of the property from the list along with an Expression of Interest (EOI) to buy the selected property, from first user device; facilitate the one or more services selected from due diligence, property analysis, mortgaging, insurance and documentation, for the buyer, by the one or more service providers using the one or more second user devices; and facilitate a sale of the selected property to the buyer up to complete settlement.

[22] In certain embodiments, the processing module is further configured to facilitate aftersales services selected from property building, servicing, annual insurance, and maintenance of the purchased property.

[23] In certain embodiments, the processing module is configured to register the one or more first user devices by receiving personal and financial details of each of the respective purchaser, and generating a buyer account associated with the buyer. In certain embodiments, the processing module is configured to register the one or more second user devices by receiving personal and professional details of each of the respective service provider, and generating a service provider account associated with the service provider.

[24] According to another example aspect, there is provided a method to facilitate a property purchasing experience on a single platform. The method comprises: registering one or more first user devices associated with buyers and one or more second user devices associated with service providers selected from mortgage brokers, conveyancers, builders, insurance brokers, buyers’ agents, real estate agents and property managers; receiving a request from a first user device of the one or more first user devices for purchasing a property along with buying preferences; providing a list of properties that match the buying preferences, to the first user device, to select a property for purchase; receiving a selection of a property along with an Expression of Interest (EOI) to buy the selected property from the list, from the first user device; facilitating the one or more services selected from due diligence, property analysis, mortgaging, insurance and documentation, for the buyer, by the one or more service providers using the one or more second user devices; and facilitating a sale of the selected property to the buyer up to complete settlement.

[25] In certain embodiments, the method further comprises a step of facilitating aftersales services selected from servicing, annual insurance, and maintenance of the purchased property.

[26] In certain embodiments, the step of registering the one or more first user devices comprises receiving personal and financial details of each of the respective purchaser, and generating a buyer account associated with the buyer. In certain embodiments, the step of registering the one or more second user devices comprises receiving personal and professional details of each respective service provider, and generating a service provider account associated with the service provider.

[27] In certain embodiments, the buying preferences include a location, an area, a type of property, availability of financing options, an architecture of property and a budget. In certain embodiments, the one or more first user devices and the one or more second user devices are selected from mobile devices, tablets, laptops, and desktop PCs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[28] Some embodiments of the present invention are described below, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[29] Figure 1 shows a block diagram of an example system for facilitating property purchasing;

[30] Figure 2 shows a flowchart of an example method for facilitating property purchasing;

[31] Figure 3 shows a diagram of the operation of an example computing platform for facilitating property purchasing; and

[32] Figure 4 shows a flowchart of an example method for finding real estate properties.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[33] Embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for facilitating a process of purchasing real estate property by facilitating communication and interaction between a user or buyer and one or more service providers who assist or enable the user to purchase a real estate property. However, it is to be understood that the systems and methods of the invention may also facilitate other kinds of processes, including multistep processes, such as financial processes, legal processes, and administrative processes.

[34] In one example aspect, the present invention utilises technology to enable users (i.e. property purchasers) to navigate the entire property buying process on a single online or Web platform, with everything that is needed in one place, regardless of whether they are purchasing as an individual or combining profiles with others. The present invention further allows for storage and accessibility of all the documentation and information on a single platform. All due diligence, property analysis and steps throughout the purchase j ourney are executed on the platform. This may reduce or prevent miscommunication between the parties involved, and gives them easier access to purchase information, thus simplifying and streamlining the process of buying real estate properties.

[35] The systems and methods described herein may reduce or eliminate a disconnect between service providers for purchasing property, which can lead to increased costs, confusion, and discomfort for the buyer. They may further address a lack of communication, transparency, and guidance that people may experience when purchasing real estate. The systems and methods described herein may further reduce the time it takes to source property, reduce the number of decisions that are required to be made by a buyer, and reduce the effort for the buyer, as each service provider is linked and can source information directly from other service providers without the intervention of the buyer. The systems and methods described herein may assist in making expert advice available to buyers and may provide outcome calculations automatically for each individual buyer in relation to their lending options and property options. All services required for purchasing real estate property may be found through a single log in and may be intrinsically linked to each other.

[36] Figure 1 shows an example system 100 for facilitating property purchasing.

[37] System 100 comprises a processing system 110, which is communicatively coupled with a user, or first client, device 120 and with one or more service provider, or second client, devices 130a, 130b, ..., 130n, collectively labelled 130, through a communication network 140.

[38] User device 120 and each service provider device 130 may be any computing or telecommunication device, including a mobile computing device, such as a smartphone, laptop, or tablet computer, or a desktop computer.

[39] Communication network 140 may include, but is not limited to, the Internet, a local area network, a wide area network, or a cellular network. In other examples, processing system 110 is communicatively coupled with user device 120 and with service provider devices 130 through two or more separate communication networks or through two or more separate communication channels.

[40] User device 120 may be associated with one or more persons, such as individuals or companies, having an intention or an interest to purchase a real estate property.

[41] Each one of service provider devices 130 may be associated with a service provider or a service professional. A service provider may be an organisation or a person, such as an individual or company, that provides services, such as consulting, legal, real estate, or communications services. The types of service providers using system 100 may depend on the kind of process to be facilitated. In the context of facilitating a process of purchasing real estate, service providers may include, but are not limited to, mortgage brokers, conveyancers, solicitors, builders, property developers, insurance brokers, buyers’ agents, real estate agents, and property managers. The service providers may offer both before-sale and after-sale services.

[42] System 100 further comprises a data repository 150 communicatively coupled to processing system 110 through communication network 140 or through any other communication channel. Data repository 150 may be configured to store data or information from user device 120 and/or from service provider devices 130. In some examples, data repository 150 is configured to store accounts or profiles of users and/or service providers. In some examples, data repository 150 is configured to store data of real estate properties available for sale, including details of the properties, their owners, and sale agents. In some examples, data repository 150 is configured to store trained machine learning models to be implemented in system 100. Processing system 110 may be further configured to access the data or information stored in data repository 150 as required. Examples of data repository 150 include, but are not limited to, a local storage or a cloud-based storage.

[43] In other examples, processing system 110 is further connected with one or more of a cloud server, one or more of application servers, and data processing servers to enable remote processing of data received from the user device 120 and service provider devices 130, thereby allowing system 100 to be implemented as a distributed system. There may also be a web platform or an application that is installed on user device 120 and service provider devices 130.

[44] In other examples, processing system 110 is also communicatively coupled with one or more seller devices (not shown) associated with one or more persons, such as individuals or companies, that are selling real estate properties using system 100.

[45] Figure 2 shows a flowchart of an example method 200 for facilitating a process, such as a property purchase process. Method 200 may be performed by system 100 or by any other processing system.

[46] Step 210 of method 200 comprises receiving at processing system 110 a request or an expression of interest (EOI) from user device 120 to conduct or commence a property purchase process. [47] The request may comprise personal or financial information of the user associated with user device 120. The financial information may be received in response to questions or through a form sent to user device 120 by processing system 110.

[48] Step 220 of method 200 comprises initiating by processing system 110 one or more communication sessions between user device 120 and one or more service provider devices 130. Step 220 may be performed automatically, in response to receiving the request to conduct the property purchase process.

[49] A communication session may include an online or Web discussion site, such as an Internet forum or message board, a chat room, or any other computer-mediated communication or conferencing application. The messages exchanged in a communication session may include text, images, video, audio, or a combination of these. In some examples, a communication session supports synchronous or real-time communication.

[50] In some examples, all communication sessions relating to the same real estate property and the same user, or the same real estate property transaction, share the same virtual forum or message board so that user device 120 and all service provider devices 130 with access to those communication sessions are able to access all messages exchanged. In other examples, one or more service provider devices 130 may be excluded or denied access to one or more communication sessions, preventing their access to messages exchanged in those sessions.

[51] The initiated communication sessions may be hosted, managed, or conducted by system 100, such as by processing system 110 or by any other processing system, such as a communications server of system 100. In some examples, other persons, such as an operator or administrator of system 100, also have access to the communication sessions, allowing them to oversee or exchange messages through the communication sessions.

[52] Figure 3 shows a diagram of the operation of an example computing platform for facilitating property purchasing. The computing platform may be implemented by system 100 or by any other system operating according to method 200. The computing platform may be implemented on any operating system, and may include client applications on user device 120 and on service provider devices 130 implemented on any operating system, such as iOS or Android.

[53] A user 300 initially enrols or registers with system 100, creating a user account or profile associated with user 300. User 300 also provides their financial details to system 100, such as income and other earnings, savings, and expenses. After user 300 provides their financial details, processing system 110 initiates a first communication session 310 between user 300 and a mortgage or finance broker 320. A buying capacity for the user may be estimated based on financial details of user 300 and based on their capacity to cover transactional costs such as taxes and insurance, and any other relevant financial information. User 300 is then provided with one or more lending options. In some examples, user 300 is provided with three lending options: the lending option with the greatest capacity, the lending option with the lowest interest rate on a principal-and-interest loan, and the lending option with the lowest interest rate on an interest-only loan.

[54] User 300 is then transferred to a property search or property details session 330, in which they are provided with a list of suitable real estate properties, based on the user’s selected loan option and other preferences, as described below with reference to Figure 4. Within session 330, user 300 can select or apply to purchase any of the properties presented.

[55] Upon receiving a selection or an expression of interest relating to a real estate property, processing system 110 sends the expression of interest to the stock provider of the selected property and initiates a second communication session 340 between user 300 and a conveyancer or solicitor 350. Mortgage broker 320 may also be given access to communication session 340, thus allowing mortgage broker 320 and conveyancer 350 to act in coordination with each other. Communication session 340 may include indicia of the selected property, such as the property address or another identifier displayed as the title on a graphical interface representing communication session 340.

[56] Mortgage broker 320 completes a loan pre-approval process and submits it to the appropriate lender for the lending option selected by user 300. If the stock provider confirms that the selected property is available, a contract of sale for the selected property is sent from the stock provider to conveyancer 350 for review, either directly or indirectly through processing system 110 acting as an intermediary. Conveyancer 350 may review the contract of sale with user 300 through communication session 340.

[57] The pre-approval or conditional approval of the loan may also be communicated through session 340 by mortgage broker 320 to conveyancer 350, who can then send the contract of sale to user 300 for signing. Mortgage broker 320 and conveyancer 350 may then set deadlines for any payments to be made by user 300, including but not limited to an initial deposit, a balance deposit, and transactional costs, as well as any other important milestones related to the purchase. Processing system 110 may be configured to record these deadlines and to send user 300 alerts, triggers, and reminders of these deadlines or other important dates.

[58] Processing system 110 may further be configured to provide a payment gateway 360 to receive payments from user 300 and to allocate the received payments to the vendor’s trust account or into the payment accounts of the appropriate service providers, such as mortgage broker 320 and conveyancer 350.

[59] Once the contract of sale and a valuation have been executed, processing system 110 may be configured to grant an insurance broker 370 access to communication session 340. Insurance broker 370 may provide one or more quotes for available property insurance policies. User 300 may select their preferred policy in communication session 340 to insurance broker 370, who can then facilitate the submission of the policy schedule and provide the certificate of currency to mortgage broker 320 to ensure the appropriate insurance cover is in place to satisfy the lender’s conditions and the user’s intended use for the property. All insurance documents may be stored on the profile of user 300.

[60] If the property has been purchased as an investment, processing system 110 may be configured to grant a property manager 380 access to communication session 340. Property manager 380 will then be able to coordinate with user 300 the establishment of lease agreements and the execution of the services required to maintain the rental property and its income. All property management documents are stored on the profile of user 300.

[61] In some examples, processing system 110 is further configured to facilitate aftersales services selected from, but not limited to, servicing, annual insurance, and maintenance of the purchased property.

[62] The profile of user 300 may remain active even after closing, completion, or settlement of the real estate transaction to allow certain service providers to continue to communicate effectively with user 300. For example, property manager 380 may need to regularly communicate with user 300 after settlement as part of their management duties, while mortgage broker 320 may occasionally contact user 300 to inform them of refinancing options.

[63] When it is said that user 300 or a service provider is given access or otherwise interacts with sessions 310, 330, and 340 and payment gateway 360, it is to be understood that the access or interaction occurs through an appropriate computing device of user 300 or of the service providers, such as user device 120 and service provider devices 130.

[64] Therefore, processing system 110 is configured to initiate multiple communication sessions at different times, as appropriate to assist and guide user 300 through the property purchasing process. Moreover, when a communication session is a group communication session, involving multiple service providers, such as communication session 340, processing system 110 may be configured to give each service provider access to the group communication session at different times, as appropriate to assist and guide user 300 through the property purchasing process. In other examples, processing system 110 is configured to initiate two or more communication sessions, or to give two or more service providers access to a group communication session, at the same time.

[65] The initiation of new communication sessions and the granting of access to new service providers may occur in response to processing system receiving a progress prompt or instruction. In some examples, the progress prompt may be an input from user 300, from any of the service providers, or form a system administrator, in which case the new communication session or the new access permission is produced manually, under human instruction. In other examples, the progress prompt is the automatic detection of a trigger event by processing system 110, in which case the new communication session or the new access permission is produced automatically, without human input.

[66] A trigger event that may cause the automatic initiation of a new communication session or the automatic granting of access to a new service provider may be the completion of a stage of the property purchase process. The type or form of the trigger event may depend on the stage or progress status of the property purchase process at any given time, or on the type of service required.

[67] One example trigger event may include the completion of a profile of user 300, in response to which processing system 110 invites mortgage broker 320 to communication session 310. Another example trigger event may include the submission of an expression of interest in a property by user 300, in response to which processing system 110 initiates communication session 340 and invites conveyancer 350 and mortgage broker 320. Another example trigger event may include the execution of the contract of sale (signed by both user 300 and the vendor), in response to which processing system 110 sets the appropriate date of settlement (either automatically or under instruction by conveyancer 350). Another example trigger event may include the approach of the settlement date, so that, for example, one month before the settlement date, processing system 110 invites insurance broker 370 to communication session 340 and, optionally, notifies property manager 380 to begin searching for tenants and establish all lease-related documents. Also, for example, seven days before the settlement date, processing system 110 may notify mortgage broker 320 and conveyancer 350 to ensure the finances required for settlement and in order for settlement to proceed. Another example trigger event may include the elapse of a preset period after the settlement date, such as 11 months (and, in some examples, every year thereafter), in response to which processing system 110 notifies insurance broker 370 to either renew or change the insurance policy on the property. Another example trigger event may include the growth of the value of the property above a predefined threshold: processing system 110 may be configured to monitor the average property value of the suburb or area in which the property is located, and to notify user 300 and mortgage broker 320 when the property value changes beyond a predefined threshold (e.g. 30 percent) so that they can discuss selling or otherwise accessing the equity of user 300 in the property.

[68] As part of inviting a service provider to join a communication session, processing system 110 may be configured to send the service provider a notification (e.g. an email or a push notification), which may include a link and access details to allow the service provider to join the communication session.

[69] Figure 4 shows a flowchart of an example method 400 for finding real estate properties.

[70] Step 410 of method 400 comprises receiving at processing system 110 one or more selection criteria for real estate properties from user device 120.

[71] In some examples, the selection criteria include a home loan option provided to user device 120, as described above. Processing system 110 may be configured to determine a property price or a user budget based on the selected loan option. Other example selection criteria include, but are not limited to, recent capital growth, cash flow (both positive and negative), location, area, and property type. The property type may include options such as a fully furnished property, an unfurnished property, undeveloped or raw land, commercial property, residential property, and agricultural land.

[72] Step 420 of method 400 comprises producing, using processing system 110, a property list comprising one or more real estate properties based on the one or more section criteria. This step may include matching the properties available for sale stored in data repository 150 with the buying preferences of the user. In some examples, processing system 110 may be configured to use artificial intelligence or machine learning model for analysing, collating, and presenting the data in real time.

[73] Step 430 of method 400 comprises providing, using processing system 110, the property list to user device 120. User device 120 may be configured to display an estimated cash flow for each real estate property, calculated by subtracting the estimated expenses of holding the property from the property’s estimated income. The displayed cash flow may be relative to each individual loan option and the specific costs associated with a particular property. The property list may be provided to user device 120 via push notification, email, or any other message type. In some examples, step 430 is repeated, so that user device 120 periodically receives a list of properties tailored to fit within the parameters specified by the user. Processing system 110 may therefore be configured to collect or gather data inputted by the user and data stored on the profile of the user to find suitable matching properties.

[74] User device 120 may also be configured to allow the user to change and select filters to alter the properties in the property list. Processing system 110 may further be configured to receive from user device 120 questions or information requests provided by the user.

[75] Step 440 of method 400 comprises receiving, from user device 120, a property selection of a real estate property in the property list. The user may apply to purchase the selected property from user device 120, for example, by interacting with a graphical object displayed by user device 120.

[76] Step 450 of method 400 comprises selecting the one or more service providers based on the property selection received from user device 120. For example, the service providers may be selected based on their proximity to the selected property, or based on their experience in dealing with the property type of the selected property, or based on any other criterion.

[77] Therefore, the systems and methods described herein may provide the professional services required to make a property purchase and reduce the time it takes to orchestrate these components by allowing the software to share the information required between these professional services. This allows the software to present the most appropriate options available to a customer based on their customer profile, lending options, property details and insurance options. Moreover, all service providers may interact through a single platform to communicate effectively, with clear roles defined to avoid confusion and reduce errors from occurring that affect the user.

[78] The term “processing system” may refer to any electronic processing device or system, or computing device or system, or combination thereof (e.g. computers, web servers, smart phones, laptops, microcontrollers, etc.), and may include a cloud computing system. The processing system may also be a distributed system. In general, processing/computing systems may include one or more processors (e.g. CPUs, GPUs), memory componentry, and an input/output interface connected by at least one bus. They may further include input/output devices (e.g. keyboard, displays, etc.). It will also be appreciated that processing/computing systems are typically configured to execute instructions and process data stored in memory (i.e. they are programmable via software to perform operations on data).

[79] Optional embodiments may also be said to broadly include the parts, elements, steps and/or features referred to or indicated herein, individually or in any combination of two or more of the parts, elements, steps and/or features, and where specific integers are mentioned which have known equivalents in the art to which the invention relates, such known equivalents are deemed to be incorporated herein as if individually set forth.

[80] Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word “comprise”, and variations such as “comprises” or “comprising”, will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.

RELATED APPLICATION

[81] The original specification of the related application, Australian provisional patent application 2022901840, filed on 30 June 2022, is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

Claims

THE CLAIMS:

1. A system for facilitating property purchasing, the system comprising at least one processing system configured to: receive a request from a user device to conduct a property purchase process; and initiate one or more communication sessions between the user device and one or more service provider devices associated with one or more service providers for conducting at least part of the property purchase process.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one processing system is configured to initiate two or more communication sessions, each of the two or more communication sessions being between the user device and at least one of the one or more service provider devices.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the two or more communication sessions are initiated at different times.

4. The system of claim 2 or 3, wherein to initiate the two or more communication sessions, the at least one processing system is configured to: initiate a first communication session of the two or more communication sessions between the user device and a first service provider device of the one or more service provider devices; receive a progress prompt; and in response to receiving the progress prompt, initiate a second communication session of the two or more communication sessions between the user device and a second provider device of the one or more provider devices.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the first communication session and the second communication session share a virtual forum.

6. The system of claim 4 or 5, wherein the at least one processing system is configured to exclude the first provider device from the second communication session.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more communication sessions is a group communication session between the user device and two or more service provider devices.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the at least one processing system is configured to give the two or more service provider devices access to the group communication session at different times.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the at least one processing system is configured to: receive a progress prompt; and in response to receiving the progress prompt, give one of the two or more service provider devices access to the group communication session.

10. The system of claim 4 or 9, wherein, to receive the progress prompt, the at least one processing system is configured to receive a manual input from the user device or from one of the one or more service provider devices.

11. The system of claim 4 or 9, wherein, to receive the progress prompt, the at least one processing system is configured to automatically detect a trigger event.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the trigger event is the completion of a stage of the property purchase process.

13. The system of any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the at least one processing system is configured to: receive, from the user device, one or more selection criteria; produce a property list comprising one or more real estate properties based on the one or more selection criteria; provide the property list to the user device; receive, from the user device, a property selection of a real estate property in the property list; and select the one or more service providers based on the property selection.

14. The system of any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the at least one processing system is configured to initiate one or more further communication sessions between the user device and one or more further service provider devices associated with one or more aftersales service providers for conducting an aftersales process following the purchase of a real estate property.

15. The system of any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the one or more service providers are one or more of a mortgage brokers, a conveyancer, a solicitor, a builder, a property developer, an insurance broker, a buyers’ agent, a real estate agent, and a property manager.

16. A computer-implemented method for facilitating property purchasing, the method comprising: receiving a request from a user device to conduct a property purchase process; and initiating one or more communication sessions between the user device and one or more service provider devices associated with one or more service providers for conducting at least part of the property purchase process.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein initiating one or more communication sessions comprises initiating two or more communication sessions, each of the two or more communication sessions being between the user device and at least one of the one or more service provider devices.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the two or more communication sessions are initiated at different times.

19. The method of claim 17 or 18, wherein initiating two or more communication sessions comprises: initiating a first communication session of the two or more communication sessions between the user device and a first service provider device of the one or more service provider devices; receiving a progress prompt; and in response to receiving the progress prompt, initiating a second communication session of the two or more communication sessions between the user device and a second provider device of the one or more provider devices.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the first communication session and the second communication session share a virtual forum.

21. The method of claim 19 or 20, further comprising excluding the first provider device from the second communication session.

22. The method of claim 16, wherein at least one of the one or more communication sessions is a group communication session between the user device and two or more service provider devices.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising giving the two or more service provider devices access to the group communication session at different times.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising: receiving a progress prompt; and in response to receiving the progress prompt, giving one of the two or more service provider devices access to the group communication session.

25. The method of claim 19 or 24, wherein the progress prompt is manually input from the user device or from one of the one or more service provider devices.

26. The method of claim 19 or 24, wherein receiving the progress prompt comprises automatically detecting a trigger event.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the trigger event is the completion of a stage of the property purchase process.

28. The method of any one of claims 16 to 27, further comprising: receiving, from the user device, one or more selection criteria; producing a property list comprising one or more real estate properties based on the one or more selection criteria; providing the property list to the user device; receiving, from the user device, a property selection of a real estate property in the property list; and selecting the one or more service providers based on the property selection.

29. The method of any one of claims 16 to 28, further comprising initiating one or more further communication sessions between the user device and one or more further service provider devices associated with one or more aftersales service providers for conducting an aftersales process following the purchase of a real estate property.

30. The method of any one of claims 16 to 29, wherein the one or more service providers are one or more of a mortgage brokers, a conveyancer, a solicitor, a builder, a property developer, an insurance broker, a buyers’ agent, a real estate agent, and a property manager.