* Zilpy. Zilpy is a free online rental-market facts-and-analysis service delivered with speed and gusto. It has nifty graphics and detailed info about the rental markets, broken down into specific neighborhoods.
It doesn't include places that take pets -- an increasing problem for those foreclosed-upon homeowners who now rent -- but the site has everything else, except the actual listing of apartments for rent, which isn't its intended purpose. Yet.
And some new features from an old standby:
* ZipRealty. Zip will evaluate your imaginary offer with its "Offer Evaluator," which uses comps in the neighborhood and then tells you the statistical likelihood of the seller taking what you want to pay. All the while, of course, the smiling face of a ZipRealty agent hangs out on the left of your screen, urging you to call.
But the Zipsters are a democratic lot. A new feature invites clients to rate the homes listed for sale, which opens the door to posts such as this about an El Segundo home:
"Pros: square footage, 5+ bdrm!! Wine cooler in kitchen.
Cons: USC flag
Great size and options, more to offer than others at this price, less than others so look around. You might come back to this 'Trojan.' "
ann.brenoff@latimes.com
