Patent Issued for Systems and methods for executing a customized home search (USPTO 11676226): State Farm Automobile Insurance Company

2023 JUN 30 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Insurance Daily News -- State Farm Automobile Insurance Company (Bloomington, Illinois, United States) has been issued patent number 11676226, according to news reporting originating out of Alexandria, Virginia, by NewsRx editors.

The patent’s inventors are Hailey, John Ryan (Bloomington, IL, US), Olander, Erin Ann (Bloomington, IL, US), Schirano, John Andrew (Bloomington, IL, US).

This patent was filed on May 5, 2021 and was published online on June 13, 2023.

From the background information supplied by the inventors, news correspondents obtained the following quote: “When a person, such as a prospective home buyer, is interested in purchasing a new home, the prospective home buyer may conduct their own searching for available homes, or may hire a real estate agent to assist in such a search. Most prospective home buyers search for a home within a target geographic location. In addition, most prospective home buyers search for a home within a particular price range. In some cases, the price range is broadly set according to an estimated monthly payment for the home, including typical costs such as a mortgage payment, property taxes, and/or home insurance.

“However, there are many additional costs associated with homeownership. First-time homebuyers, as well as experienced homebuyers who may be searching for a very different type of home and/or in a different geographic area, may struggle to identify these additional costs. It would take extensive research and comparison of different homes within the geographic area, as well as considerable knowledge of upkeep and repair costs and timelines, in order for the prospective homebuyer to identify these additional costs. In many cases, precise and/or accurate repair data is unavailable to individuals. Even if most additional costs could be identified, which is unlikely, it would be unclear to most homebuyers how much additional costs will affect their budget and, accordingly, whether a particular home would be affordable.”

Supplementing the background information on this patent, NewsRx reporters also obtained the inventors’ summary information for this patent: “The present embodiments may relate to systems and methods for leveraging a user-defined budget constraint and/or data accessible at one or more external databases to execute a customized home search and/or identify one or more hidden costs. A home cost analysis server, as described herein, may maintain a home cost analysis platform accessible through a software application installed and run on a user computing device. The home cost analysis server may be configured to receive user input defining a budget and, based upon the user input, provide personal, customized home search results to the user through the software application. The home cost analysis server may further facilitate more precise determination of the affordability of a home for a particular user by leveraging that user’s budget against historical home costs for other, similar homes.

“In one aspect, a home cost analysis server for executing a customized home search based upon a user-defined budget constraint may be provided. The home cost analysis server may include at least one processor in communication with a memory. The at least one processor is programmed to define, based upon user input of at least one income data element and a plurality of expense data elements, a user-defined budget constraint and a level of flexibility of the user-defined budget constraint, including a threshold difference from the user-defined budget constraint, and retrieve, from an external database, a list of a plurality of available homes in a user-selected geographic area and first metadata including public listing information associated with each available home on the list. The at least one processor is also programmed to determine, using at least one of image processing or word processing on the first metadata associated with each available home on the list, a monthly home cost associated with each respective available home, isolate (i) a first subset of the available homes on the list having the monthly home cost associated therewith that satisfies the user-defined budget constraint, and (ii) a second subset of the available homes on the list having the monthly home cost associated therewith that is within the threshold difference of the user-defined budget constraint, and cause to be displayed at the user computing device (i) the first subset of available homes along with a first graphical indicator visually identifying the first subset of available homes, (ii) the second subset of available homes along with a second, different graphical indicator visually identifying the second subset of available homes, and (iii) a third graphical indicator of a first adjustable expense data element of the plurality of expense data elements, wherein the third graphical indicator recommends reducing the first adjustable data element to move at least one first available home from the second subset into the first subset.

“In another aspect, a computer-implemented method for executing a customized home search based upon a user-defined budget constraint may be provided. The method may be implemented using a home cost analysis server including at least one processor in communication with a memory. The method includes defining, based upon user input of at least one income data element and a plurality of expense data elements, a user-defined budget constraint and a level of flexibility of the user-defined budget constraint, including a threshold difference from the user-defined budget constraint, and retrieving, from an external database, a list of a plurality of available homes in a user-selected geographic area and first metadata including public listing information associated with each available home on the list. The method also includes determining, using at least one of image processing or word processing on the first metadata associated with each available home on the list, a monthly home cost associated with each respective available home, isolating (i) a first subset of the available homes on the list having the monthly home cost associated therewith that satisfies the user-defined budget constraint, and (ii) a second subset of the available homes on the list having the monthly home cost associated therewith that is within the threshold difference of the user-defined budget constraint, and causing to be displayed at the user computing device (i) the first subset of available homes along with a first graphical indicator visually identifying the first subset of available homes, (ii) the second subset of available homes along with a second, different graphical indicator visually identifying the second subset of available homes, and (iii) a third graphical indicator of a first adjustable expense data element of the plurality of expense data elements, wherein the third graphical indicator recommends reducing the first adjustable data element to move at least one first available home from the second subset into the first subset.

“In a further aspect, at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage media having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon may be provided. When executed by a home cost analysis server including at least one processor in communication with a memory, the computer-executable instructions cause the at least one processor to define, based upon user input of at least one income data element and a plurality of expense data elements, a user-defined budget constraint and a level of flexibility of the user-defined budget constraint, including a threshold difference from the user-defined budget constraint, and retrieve, from an external database, a list of a plurality of available homes in a user-selected geographic area and first metadata including public listing information associated with each available home on the list. The computer-executable instructions also cause the at least one processor to determine, using at least one of image processing or word processing on the first metadata associated with each available home on the list, a monthly home cost associated with each respective available home, isolate (i) a first subset of the available homes on the list having the monthly home cost associated therewith that satisfies the user-defined budget constraint, and (ii) a second subset of the available homes on the list having the monthly home cost associated therewith that is within the threshold difference of the user-defined budget constraint, and cause to be displayed at the user computing device (i) the first subset of available homes along with a first graphical indicator visually identifying the first subset of available homes, (ii) the second subset of available homes along with a second, different graphical indicator visually identifying the second subset of available homes, and (iii) a third graphical indicator of a first adjustable expense data element of the plurality of expense data elements, wherein the third graphical indicator recommends reducing the first adjustable data element to move at least one first available home from the second subset into the first subset.

“In one aspect, a home cost analysis server for executing a customized home search based upon a user-defined budget constraint may be provided. The home cost analysis server includes at least one processor in communication with a memory. The at least one processor is programmed to receive user input from a user computing device, the user input provided through the user computing device by a prospective homebuyer for purchase of a home available for purchase. The user input includes a geographic area and a budget, the budget including at least one income data element and at least one expense data element. The at least one processor is also programmed to define, based upon the at least one income data element and the at least one expense data element, at least one user-defined budget constraint. The at least one processor is programmed to access an external database storing a list of a plurality of available homes in the geographic area, and analyze metadata associated with each available home of the plurality of available homes on the list to determine a monthly home cost associated with each respective available home, the monthly home cost including a monthly mortgage, tax, and insurance payment. The at least one processor is further programmed to determine at least one respective significant home maintenance cost associated with each respective available home of the plurality of available homes based at least in part upon the metadata associated with the respective available home and the geographic area, and calculate a total cost associated with each respective available home of the plurality of available homes based upon the monthly home cost and the at least one respective significant home maintenance cost. The at least one processor is still further programmed to isolate a subset of the available homes of the plurality of available homes having the total cost associated therewith that satisfies the at least one user-defined budget constraint, and cause to be displayed the subset of available homes at the user computing device along with a graphical indicator that associates the respective total cost with the user-defined budget constraint. The server or computer system may include additional, less, or alternate functionality including that discussed elsewhere herein.”

The claims supplied by the inventors are:

“1. A home cost analysis server for executing a customized home search based upon a user-defined budget constraint, the home cost analysis server comprising at least one processor in communication with a memory, wherein the at least one processor is programmed to: define, based upon user input of at least one income data element and a plurality of expense data elements, a user-defined budget constraint and a level of flexibility of the user-defined budget constraint, including a threshold difference from the user-defined budget constraint; retrieve, from an external database, a list of a plurality of available homes in a user-selected geographic area and first metadata including public listing information associated with each available home on the list; determine, using at least one of image processing or word processing on the first metadata associated with each available home on the list, a monthly home cost associated with each respective available home; isolate (i) a first subset of the available homes on the list having the monthly home cost associated therewith that satisfies the user-defined budget constraint, and (ii) a second subset of the available homes on the list having the monthly home cost associated therewith that is within the threshold difference of the user-defined budget constraint; and display at the user computing device (i) the first subset of available homes along with a first graphical indicator visually identifying the first subset of available homes, (ii) the second subset of available homes along with a second, different graphical indicator visually identifying the second subset of available homes, and (iii) a third graphical indicator of a first adjustable expense data element of the plurality of expense data elements, wherein the third graphical indicator recommends reducing the first adjustable data element to move at least one first available home from the second subset into the first subset.

“2. The home cost analysis server of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to: receive a user selection of a second available home from the second subset of available homes; identify a second adjustable expense data element; and display at the user computing device a recommendation that the user reduce the adjustable first and second expense data elements such that the second available home satisfies the user-defined budget constraint.

“3. The home cost analysis server of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is further programmed to: retrieve insurance claim data from an external insurance claim database, the insurance claim data associated with insurance claims initiated for a plurality of homes within the geographic area; determine at least one respective home maintenance cost that exceeds a predefined magnitude threshold cost associated with each respective available home of the plurality of available homes based upon the insurance claim data; isolate an updated first and second subset of available homes based upon the monthly home cost and the home maintenance cost for each respective available home; and display the updated first and second subsets of available homes along with the respective first and second graphical indicators.

“4. The home cost analysis server of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is further programmed to: receive a user selection of at least two available homes on the list; generate a comparison of the monthly home costs associated with each of the at least two available homes; and display the comparison at the user computing device.

“5. The home cost analysis server of claim 1, wherein the at least one expense data element includes a current housing expense data element, and wherein the at least one processor is further programmed to: receive a user selection of one or more available homes; generate a comparison of the current housing expense data element with the monthly home cost associated with each of the one or more available homes; and display the comparison at the user computing device.

“6. The home cost analysis server of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is further programmed to: receive an update to the user input from the user computing device; determine an updated user-defined budget constraint based upon the update to the user input; re-access the stored list of the plurality of available homes at the external database; isolate an updated first and second subset of available homes of the plurality of available homes; and display the updated first and second subsets of available homes at the user computing device along with the respective first and second graphical indicators.

“7. The home cost analysis server of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is further programmed to: analyze the at least one expense data element to determine at least one adjusted expense data element; determine an adjusted user-defined budget constraint; re-access the stored list of the plurality of available homes at the external database; isolate an adjusted first and second subset of available homes of the plurality of available homes; and cause to be display the adjusted first and second subsets of available homes at the user computing device along with the at least one adjusted expense data element and the adjusted user-defined budget constraint.

“8. A computer-implemented method for executing a customized home search based upon a user-defined budget constraint, the method implemented using a home cost analysis server including at least one processor in communication with a memory, the method comprising: defining, based upon user input of at least one income data element and a plurality of expense data elements, a user-defined budget constraint and a level of flexibility of the user-defined budget constraint, including a threshold difference from the user-defined budget constraint; retrieving, from an external database, a list of a plurality of available homes in a user-selected geographic area and first metadata including public listing information associated with each available home on the list; determining, using at least one of image processing or word processing on the first metadata associated with each available home on the list, a monthly home cost associated with each respective available home; isolating (i) a first subset of the available homes on the list having the monthly home cost associated therewith that satisfies the user-defined budget constraint, and (ii) a second subset of the available homes on the list having the monthly home cost associated therewith that is within the threshold difference of the user-defined budget constraint; and displaying at the user computing device (i) the first subset of available homes along with a first graphical indicator visually identifying the first subset of available homes, (ii) the second subset of available homes along with a second, different graphical indicator visually identifying the second subset of available homes, and (iii) a third graphical indicator of a first adjustable expense data element of the plurality of expense data elements, wherein the third graphical indicator recommends reducing the first adjustable data element to move at least one first available home from the second subset into the first subset.

“9. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, further comprising: receiving a user selection of a second available home from the second subset of available homes; identifying a second adjustable expense data element; and displaying at the user computing device a recommendation that the user reduce the adjustable first and second expense data elements such that the second available home satisfies the user-defined budget constraint.

“10. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, further comprising: retrieving insurance claim data from an external insurance claim database, the insurance claim data associated with insurance claims initiated for a plurality of homes within the geographic area; determining at least one respective home maintenance cost that exceeds a predefined magnitude threshold cost associated with each respective available home of the plurality of available homes based upon the insurance claim data; isolating an updated first and second subset of available homes based upon the monthly home cost and the home maintenance cost for each respective available home; and displaying the updated first and second subsets of available homes along with the respective first and second graphical indicators.

“11. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, further comprising: receiving a user selection of at least two available homes on the list; generating a comparison of the monthly home costs associated with each of the at least two available homes; and displaying the comparison at the user computing device.

“12. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, wherein the at least one expense data element includes a current housing expense data element, the method further comprising: receiving a user selection of one or more available homes on the list; generating a comparison of the current housing expense data element with the monthly home cost associated with each of the one or more available homes; and displaying the comparison at the user computing device.

“13. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, further comprising: receiving an update to the user input from the user computing device; determining an updated user-defined budget constraint based upon the update to the user input; re-accessing the stored list of the plurality of available homes at the external database; isolating an updated first and second subset of available homes of the plurality of available homes; and displaying the updated first and second subsets of available homes at the user computing device along with the respective first and second graphical indicators.”

There are additional claims. Please visit full patent to read further.

For the URL and additional information on this patent, see: Hailey, John Ryan. Systems and methods for executing a customized home search. U.S. Patent Number 11676226, filed May 5, 2021, and published online on June 13, 2023. Patent URL (for desktop use only): https://ppubs.uspto.gov/pubwebapp/external.html?q=(11676226)&db=USPAT&type=ids

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