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Open House Hits Second Life

Coldwell Banker

This home in Mercer Island, Wa. is being marketed in real life and in the popular online world Second Life.

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By SHANNON BEHNKEN | The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 11, 2007

Updated: 09/11/2007 04:18 pm

TAMPA - The newest trend in real estate may be touring homes that aren't real.

At least that's what officials at realty company Coldwell Banker hope.

The company is experimenting with a three-dimensional home on the popular online, virtual world called Second Life.

Members of Second Life can walk though the home with their avatar, or virtual ego.

Avatars can flick on the lights, open the stove, or even peek inside the fridge.

The real home, located near Seattle, is listed for $3.1 million and has had 100 visitors so far. That's one tenth the number who have toured the virtual home in Second Life since August.

Coldwell Banker's experiment is an example of how a growing number of companies are turning to Second Life to do business. Companies are holding meetings, interviewing job applicants and buying virtual land so they can expand their businesses there in the future.

Real estate is a natural progression of Second Life, said David Marine, senior manager for eMarketing for Coldwell Banker.

Using the Internet to sell homes is nothing new. Companies have been posting photos and video tours of tours of homes for years. Even virtual homes aren't new. Coldwell Banker has been selling virtual homes to avatars on Second Life for $20 each since March, Marine said.

Reporter Shannon Behnken can be reached at (813) 259-7804 or sbehnken@tampatrib.com.

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