I am interested in creating my own web site. Does anyone know of a website that is inexpensive and useful for real estate agents

Totally depends on what you want.

If you want something that just works with canned content, there are TONS of options. Just do a search on real estate website host.

If you want to roll your own, you can just get some host that supports SQL and PHP and install some content management software like Joomla, PHPNuke, PostNuke, etc. and have a decent looking site that you can put data on. I am currently experimenting with this. My current site is done with PHPNuke.

I am experimenting with Joomla (check out that effort here: www.secureideas.com/joomla).

For my first site I just went with a canned hosted one from www.propertyminder.com. It included MLS searches, client tracking, etc. It worked great but I could not customize the look or content as much as I wanted to.

The roll your own option is actually cheaper - if you stick with all the free open source stuff. I just pay something like $13 a month for the host that keeps my site on their server. To get MLS ability on your site will cost from $30-$40 a month.

If I were you, I would start with a package site.... keep things simple till you get going.

R

Thank you for the information. It is very helpful

There's also some free for use content in the Realtor.org website.
If you need help just setting up a website that you can manage yourself, give me a call. I use the CMS robert referred to called Joomla and it can be very good for end users to keep things going.
We can do it affordably if you use a template based design. There are also some low-cost property managers available.
Another solution is to use something like listingware.com.

There a companies that sell template ready websites. Some professionalls give advice that you change it. Since the serch enginges don't like same content websites. Try to make it different from the others. (If you have not bought a domain name and a hosting service check out for free domain and webhosting services www.hostingreviewusa.com )
Best of Luck!
st123

When I started off in real estate I had free website from point2agent. Came along a long way since then now i have a professional level membershipwith them.
Absolutely love the customer service, very easy to customize for a non-technical person.

shoot an email to me ifyou are interested in creating one.

Good Luck
Ritu

I like linkurealty.com
Im not hooked up to the MLS yet until Sept 1st because I just passed the brokers test on August 15th. I cant join the locals with a "pending" licence number I think.

You can see mine in the works. It only costs me 29.95 a month and doesnt require a great deal of computer skill.

www.kevingoleary.com

I used freewebs for my first website for my small business, and I just had a pretty easy time with the free one from yahoo/geocities - pagelauncher, I think. It is pretty easy to use, has a lot of pre-equipped options, and a very simple method of adding all your own backgrounds, borders pics, etc. I do not have it up and running yet, still under construction since I have been lacking for time. I did a search for free backgrounds, then uploaded them all for my use. You still pay a little for domain name and web hosting (search engine) whatever I am bad with the proper terms. But I have been quite please with it. I only need simple stuff anyway.

Take a look on www.realtyvisions.com. You have a lot of things on it.
standards compliant css/xhtml
unnecessary tables and deprecated code replaced
search page
search results template
listing view template
featured listings template
fully customized search criteria (Ajax ready)
Integrated (same look and feel) blog (Ajax ready)
featured listings slide show
API to cooperate with third party addons and modules.
multiple sites from one database
search and listings on non-realty sites
proven scalable to over 60,000 listings(www.hawkinsazrealty.com)
Take a look on www.realtyvisions.com