A new section on the listings site Homescape offers information on mortgage rates and articles geared for consumers from Bankrate Inc.
The companies have announced a content agreement that makes much of the information available at Bankrate.com — including comparison tools and a blog authored by Holden Lewis — now available through Homescape’s new Mortgage Center section.
Homescape, which claims more than 2 million listings, recently began working directly with brokers and agents to compile listings, forming partnerships with regional brokerage companies including Prudential Fox & Roach, Prudential California, ERA Masiello, GMAC Real Estate of Atlanta, and Prudential Gary Greene.
Homescape’s parent company, Classified Ventures, is a joint venture owned by newspaper publishers Belo Corp., Gannett Co. Inc., The McClatchy Co., Tribune Co. and The Washington Post Co. Classified Ventures also owns Apartments.com, Cars.com and HomeGain.
Bankrate gathers information on interest rates and fees on mortgages, credit cards, new and used automobile loans, money market accounts, certificates of deposit, checking and ATM fees, home equity loans and online banking fees from about 4,800 financial institutions in more than 575 local markets.
The company’s flagship site, Bankrate.com, drew approximately 53 million unique visitors in 2006, and is on track to break the 70 million mark this year, the company said in its most recent report to investors. Bankrate, which went public in May 2006, also owns and operates Interest.com and Mortgage-calc.com.
