Microsoft Moves In With GeoCities

Microsoft is looking to extend the reach of its HomeAdvisor online real estate resource under an exclusive distribution agreement with leading community site GeoCities.

Under terms of the agreement, HomeAdvisor will be the sole provider of real estate listings for GeoCities’ new Real Estate Center. Neighborhood data, home-buying tutorial information and links to HomeAdvisor’s site will be integrated into the center.

Financial specifics of the deal were not disclosed.

GeoCities is the latest in a string of community sites to begin offering real estate services to visitors. Yahoo!, Excite and Infoseek are just a few of the many
sites to add or expand their real estate offerings recently.

“Home-buying information is an important service for online communities today,” said Thomas R. Evans, GeoCities CEO and president. “By joining forces with HomeAdvisor, we’re able to provide online consumers with the most comprehensive real estate information available on the Web today.”

Today’s agreement serves to further promote HomeAdvisor’s presence on the Web. Last month the company inked deals with several portals and Internet service sites including Yahoo!, Infoseek, Switchboard, and Pathfinder, among others.

“This exclusive relationship with GeoCities reinforces our commitment to providing online consumers with easy access to the richest set of
home-buying tools and information available on the Internet,” said Ian
Morris, lead product manager for HomeAdvisor, in a statement.

“As one of the most highly trafficked sites on the Internet, GeoCities cements the availability of HomeAdvisor across the Internet, making it fast and easy for people to find the best home-buying information
available today.”