New real estate platform lets home buyers check their neighbors’ political affiliations

A new real estate platform is giving homebuyers an unprecedented look at their potential neighborhoods — revealing everything from political leanings to local demographics — before they commit to buying.

Oyssey, a tech startup launched this month in South Florida and New York City, lets shoppers access the political connections of neighborhoods based on election results and campaign contributions, along with housing trends and other social data.

The platform is betting that today’s buyers care as much about their neighbors’ values ​​as they do about square footage or modern finishes.

“It’s about getting buyers the homes they want,” CEO Huw Nierenberg, a former Boston real estate agent, told Axios, which reported news of the tool. Nierenberg did not immediately respond to The Post’s request for comment.

He says buyers’ priorities have evolved, explaining that during home tours, “buyers often go from asking if the water heater is leaking to asking if their neighbors are people they’d like to invite over for dinner one day. ”

The site functions as a one-stop shop for home buyers, simplifying the process of browsing listings, signing contracts and communicating with agents – all by integrating political and consumer data block by block.

Oyssey markets the service to real estate agents and brokers via a subscription model, although buyers can use the platform for free upon invitation from their agents.

The launch comes at a tumultuous time for the real estate industry.

A recent class action lawsuit against the National Association of Realtors now requires buyers to sign contracts with agents and negotiate commission fees in advance, a change Oyssey hopes will benefit by streamlining the process for both parties.

For agents, the platform provides a competitive advantage by arming them with exclusive data, while buyers gain unique insight into the social makeup of their prospective neighborhoods.

“It’s a win-win for buyers and agents,” Nierenberg said, adding that political transparency can be a major factor for buyers looking for a sense of belonging in their new communities.

But an industry insider tells The Post he’s worried about what it could do to America’s social fabric.

“We’re already becoming more and more polarized as a nation, I’m afraid this could deepen it.”