You're The Realtor Instructor Guide

“You’re the Realtor” – Exploring the practical uses of GIS Instructor Guide BACKGROUND Geographical Information Systems allow us to access all sorts of information with the click of a button. In this activity, students will use the Portland Maps web site (www.portlandmaps.com) to view property information for the Portland, Oregon metropolitan area. PREPARATION Before the class, visit the web site so you understand the format. Each student or group will need the “You’re the Realtor” activity handout, a pencil or pen, and a computer with an internet connection. DO Start the class by briefly explaining what GIS is, if they class is not already familiar with the technology. Explain the task for the day, “Pretend you are a real estate agent trying to find the perfect home for seven clients. You have picked seven homes that you would like to show. Match up each client with the best home for their needs. Use the information on the web to find out details about each property.” Have the students turn on the computers and open the web browser (Internet Explorer or other) and go the Portland Maps web site. Students will find it easier to type in the address rather than trying to click on the map on the home page. Each address will bring up a new set of pages with property specific information. Encourage students to explore the different tabs. Some buttons that will be particularly helpful are the Tax Assessor, Aerial Photo, Transit, Schools, and Census. The only important information that is not on the web site is the price of the home, and that has been provided on the handout. Each clue in the biographies is important. If students seems stuck or find more than one match for a home, encourage them to examine all clues closely again. REFLECT Correct answers: 612 NE Killingsworth Ct., $198,500 - Mr. and Mrs. Rodriguez (in Portland city limits, within budget, census shows diversity, tax assessor shows low taxes, rowhouse) 11106 NE Shaver St., $210,000 - Ms. Davis (large yard seen in lot size and on photo, assessor shows appropriate square footage and one story house) Agriculture, 4-H Youth, Family & Community Development, Forestry, and Extension Sea Grant Programs. Oregon State University, United States Department of Agriculture, and Clackamas County cooperating. The Extension Service offers its programs and materials equally to all people. Developed by Wendy Hein, 4-H Youth Development Agent, Clackamas County, Oregon. 2005.

22064 S Evergreen Dr., $290,900 - Mr. and Mrs. Smith (house is outside of city, property is a few acres, assessor shows year house was built and school district, within budget) 515 NW 10th, unit 102, $325,200 - Ms. Hwong (location in downtown Portland, transit map shows nearby streetcar, census shows many single people, condo, within budget) 2133 SE Orange, $360,900 - Mr. and Mrs. Jacobs-Hart (schools map shows elementary school blocks away, census shows families with children and other couples of similar age, within budget) 3440 SW Gale Ave., $483,400 - Mr. and Mrs. Johnson (assessor shows enough bathrooms, park map shows nearby nature park, aerial photo shows trees, within budget) 02326 SW Greenwood Rd., $1,225,000 - Mr. Williams (can afford an expensive house, assessor shows enough square feet, fireplace, and garage square feet) Have students compare answers, going over each clue. Have the group come to an agreement on the best answers. APPLY What features of the web site did you find most interesting? Who might use this web site? What are some other uses of GIS? If there is time, allow students to explore the site more. They could look at the crime maps, compare demographics of neighborhoods, find recent sale prices of homes, etc.