We've heard Househappy.org called the "Pinterest for real estate" several times since the site launched in March 2013. While the search portal's visual focus makes the comparison understandable, the truth is that the Portland-based startup is far more compelling—especially for real estate professionals.

"When searching for a new home, real estate consumers really want to see images of properties," says Robyn Woodman, Vice President of Partnerships for Househappy. Househappy gives consumers exactly what they want by offering a visual real estate search experience that places property photos front and center.

While that alone is enough to differentiate Househappy from other property search portals, it's their business model that makes them really stand out. Househappy is (and always will be, according to Woodman) free to consumers and agents. Unlike other portals, agents never have to worry about a competitor's contact info being shown next to their listing. There are no banner ads, either, and no advertising programs for agents to buy into.

But we'll get to all of that in a moment. First, let's take a look at how Househappy works.

The Basics

Househappy's interface is based on the principles of clean, beautiful design. As you can see in the screenshot below, a search brings up properties as a list of photos displayed on a grid. Mousing over a photo will reveal the location, price, and property type. The heart icon lets users who have created a free Househappy profile save that home to their favorites.