--- title: "Understanding Realist Map Tools" slug: "understanding-realist-map-tools" updated: 2026-07-29T20:37:07Z published: 2026-07-29T20:37:07Z canonical: "docs.cotality.com/understanding-realist-map-tools" --- > ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.cotality.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Understanding Realist Map Tools ### Understanding Realist Map Tools The Map tools allow you to customize the Map to give you a better perspective on a search area. This gives you the ability to visually scan important information about a property and its surrounding areas and also easily target properties in specific geographic areas. **Accessing the Map Tools** The Realist Map tools are available on the toolbar at the top of the Map. Click on a tool to open the tool options. Each tool is described in the sections that follow. Click [here](/docs/understanding-realist-map-tools#) to view the Map toolbar layout. ![Realist core toolbar interface positioned across the top of the map view canvas.](https://cdn.document360.io/d7730790-9b0e-4a1e-800e-a32628b13559/Images/Documentation/Understanding_Realist_Map_Tools_1.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-06T00%3A21%3A46Z&se=2026-11-06T01%3A21%3A46Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=VBM2a5%2FCnALKWO4DbpwKgeheZnfMx3NJz7q6iP7GV80%3D) **TIP:** You can display up to six combinations of Map boundaries and trend layers simultaneously. The number of items selected appears at the bottom of the Boundaries and Trends tool windows **Drawing Tools** The drawing tools let you work directly on the Map to refine and enhance the area you are looking at: The shape tools allow you to draw a circle, rectangle, or polygon around an area to focus a search within the shape area, find properties within a certain radius of a school or other point of interest, and measure distances. You can draw up to five shapes covering an area up to 6.875 miles. Click [here](/docs/understanding-realist-map-tools#) to view the Drawing Tools layout. ![Drawing tools options flyout interface highlighting spatial shapes selectors.](https://cdn.document360.io/d7730790-9b0e-4a1e-800e-a32628b13559/Images/Documentation/Understanding_Realist_Map_Tools_2.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-06T00%3A21%3A46Z&se=2026-11-06T01%3A21%3A46Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=VBM2a5%2FCnALKWO4DbpwKgeheZnfMx3NJz7q6iP7GV80%3D) **Boundaries** The Boundaries tool controls boundary lines that appear on the Map, including zip codes, county lines, parcel boundaries, school district boundaries, and even neighborhood boundaries: Click [here](/docs/understanding-realist-map-tools#) to view the Boundaries panel. ![Boundaries tool layer menu showing checkboxes for parcel boundaries, zip codes, and geographic filters.](https://cdn.document360.io/d7730790-9b0e-4a1e-800e-a32628b13559/Images/Documentation/Understanding_Realist_Map_Tools_3.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-06T00%3A21%3A46Z&se=2026-11-06T01%3A21%3A46Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=VBM2a5%2FCnALKWO4DbpwKgeheZnfMx3NJz7q6iP7GV80%3D) **Property and Sales Information** Property and Sales Information lets you display property information such as Foreclosures, MLS Listings, Recent Sales, and Property Characteristics on the Map to provide a holistic view of the activity in a given area. This information is especially helpful when conducting searches using the Map or to show activity around a subject property. Click [here](/docs/understanding-realist-map-tools#) to view the Property and Sales Information checklist. ![Property and Sales option criteria checklist selection pane layout.](https://cdn.document360.io/d7730790-9b0e-4a1e-800e-a32628b13559/Images/Documentation/Understanding_Realist_Map_Tools_4.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-06T00%3A21%3A46Z&se=2026-11-06T01%3A21%3A46Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=VBM2a5%2FCnALKWO4DbpwKgeheZnfMx3NJz7q6iP7GV80%3D) **Trends** The Trends tool gives you a quick view into the sales and market trends for a particular area – either by zip code or neighborhood Click [here](/docs/understanding-realist-map-tools#) to view the Trends analytics panel. ![Trends tool dropdown options view facilitating zip code analytics overlay filters.](https://cdn.document360.io/d7730790-9b0e-4a1e-800e-a32628b13559/Images/Documentation/Understanding_Realist_Map_Tools_5.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-06T00%3A21%3A46Z&se=2026-11-06T01%3A21%3A46Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=VBM2a5%2FCnALKWO4DbpwKgeheZnfMx3NJz7q6iP7GV80%3D) **Points of Interest** The Points of Interest tool helps you quickly locate points of interest in a particular area, or near a particular property, including things like banks, schools, restaurants, gas stations, and many more. You can use this tool in conjunction with drawing tools to measure distances or points within a radius. Click [here](/docs/understanding-realist-map-tools#) to view the Points of Interest utility options. ![Points of Interest category selection window framework displaying business checkboxes.](https://cdn.document360.io/d7730790-9b0e-4a1e-800e-a32628b13559/Images/Documentation/Understanding_Realist_Map_Tools_6.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-06T00%3A21%3A46Z&se=2026-11-06T01%3A21%3A46Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=VBM2a5%2FCnALKWO4DbpwKgeheZnfMx3NJz7q6iP7GV80%3D) **Driving Directions** The Driving Directions tool lets you quickly find directions to a specific address and print or email them to yourself or a client. This tool helps you go directly from your research to your car and off to the property. Click [here](/docs/understanding-realist-map-tools#) to view the Driving Directions lookup panel. ![Driving Directions path address lookup panel displaying start and end point fields.](https://cdn.document360.io/d7730790-9b0e-4a1e-800e-a32628b13559/Images/Documentation/Understanding_Realist_Map_Tools_7.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-06T00%3A21%3A46Z&se=2026-11-06T01%3A21%3A46Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=VBM2a5%2FCnALKWO4DbpwKgeheZnfMx3NJz7q6iP7GV80%3D) **Locating Address on the Map.** Locate on Map allows you to quickly find a property or city by typing in the address, city, or landmark name. As you type the address, city, or landmark name, the predictive text provides a list of probable matches. Simply select from this list of matches to view the property, city, or landmark. The result will appear at the center of your Realist map screen. Click [here](/docs/understanding-realist-map-tools#) to view the Locate on Map interface element. ![Locate on Map autocomplete predictive text dropdown input box interface view.](https://cdn.document360.io/d7730790-9b0e-4a1e-800e-a32628b13559/Images/Documentation/Understanding_Realist_Map_Tools_8.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-06T00%3A21%3A46Z&se=2026-11-06T01%3A21%3A46Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=VBM2a5%2FCnALKWO4DbpwKgeheZnfMx3NJz7q6iP7GV80%3D) **Measurement Tool** The Measurement tool allows you to quickly measure the distance between two or more points on a map. Click [here](/docs/understanding-realist-map-tools#) to view the Measurement tool option panel. ![Measurement tool path calculation lines active across spatial coordinates.](https://cdn.document360.io/d7730790-9b0e-4a1e-800e-a32628b13559/Images/Documentation/Understanding_Realist_Map_Tools_9.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-06T00%3A21%3A46Z&se=2026-11-06T01%3A21%3A46Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=VBM2a5%2FCnALKWO4DbpwKgeheZnfMx3NJz7q6iP7GV80%3D) **Annotation Tool** You can annotate the Map so a cloud appears near an area with any notes you want to appear on the Map when you print it. Click [here](/docs/understanding-realist-map-tools#) to view the Annotation tool markup panel. ![Annotation text popup cloud entry box interface element display.](https://cdn.document360.io/d7730790-9b0e-4a1e-800e-a32628b13559/Images/Documentation/Understanding_Realist_Map_Tools_10.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-06T00%3A21%3A46Z&se=2026-11-06T01%3A21%3A46Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=VBM2a5%2FCnALKWO4DbpwKgeheZnfMx3NJz7q6iP7GV80%3D)