Bay Area Real Estate Drone Photography is 'Hip Right Now'

By Juvy Garcia, Christian Post Contributor Friday, March 18, 2016

Drones are being used in a number of different industries. In real estate, some consider the Bay Area scene as drone photography's ground zero.

"They're kind of hip right now," agent Ken DeLeon of Palo Alto-based DeLeon Realty told Mercury News.

In this famous hot market, agents are competing for the attention and money of potential buyers of luxurious and high-end real estate. With the help of a drone, agents can establish the "grandeur and size" of a property and make them go "wow, that's impressive," DeLeon said.

Curt Walton, an aerial artist, videographer, and cinematographer, agrees drones have become the new tool to sell real estate. He believes the whole idea of drone photography is to "make something look beautiful." Footage of awe-inspiring footage of a property both from the sky and within houses are typically used in digital marketing for real estate where virtual tours have become the norm. Walton explains tech types and foreign investors expect to inspect a property online first before deciding to finalize any purchase transaction.

"Real estate agents are seeing the value of having this eye in the sky, especially for high-end properties," said Tom McMahon, a spokesperson for the trade group Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International.

Dan Gettinger of Bard College's Center for the Study of the Drone told The Christian Science Monitor that real estate has become a "bigger category" of drone use in the past year. While 18.4 percent of commercial drone licenses issued nationwide are for real estate purposes, in California, 35 percent of commercial drone use is for real estate photography.

Drone photography is now a national trend. In addition to real estate, it is also useful in agriculture, surveying, and filmmaking, among others. The increased use of drones in more and more civilian and business activities raises questions among lawmakers and other stockholders. The FAA is expected to issue its official rules for drone use this year. Right now, only general guidelines exist regarding drone use.