Virtual reality changes the way firms market real estate

For its latest condominium project, BLVD Sarasota, Core Development Inc. developed a glossy, four-color sales brochure that has become de rigueur to entice luxury residential buyers.

But Core's marketing of the 49-unit project just outside downtown Sarasota didn't stop there. In addition to the print material, the company hired Imerza Origin Sarasota to develop a virtual reality presentation to showcase the 18-story tower, which is expected to commence construction in the coming weeks.

Controlled by an iPad and presented on a series of big-screen televisions and through a virtual reality headset, potential buyers visiting Core's sales center just north of downtown can view a three-dimensional representation of their future home — complete with images of both their furniture and the nearby Sarasota Bay.