Whoops. The sounds you just heard were thousands of real estate agents jumping out of the nearest windows.

Google has just added new functionality to its Google Maps feature. It is wicked cool.

Go here:

http://maps.google.com/maps/mm?mapprev=1

Type in some address, say 528 Tremont Street, Boston, MA (The Boston Real Estate Blog's world headquarters). Hit "Search Maps".

Click on the "Mapplets" folder, then check the Google Real Estate Search box and leave the other boxes blank. Hit "Search".

The map will then be populated with real estate listings in the immediate neighborhood. (You can scroll in and out if you have a scroll key on your mouse, btw.)

This is awesome.

Google real estate entries must be entered manually by real estate agents. Google doesn't have feeds from the local MLSs, so the data is incomplete.

Several real estate agents in Boston are working on similar tools which allow you to see multiple properties on a single map, narrowing your search by of bedrooms, price, size, and location, but Google Maps the first fully-functional site I have yet to see.