Prospective buyers and renters in the Wilmington area have a new option when they need the to-go versions of real estate listings.

An app for mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets, launched Monday by the Wilmington Regional Association of Realtors, gives those looking to buy or rent a home another way to access details of listings, among other benefits, according to the association.

Available through all major app stores by searching for SouthEast NC Real Estate, or by texting GO to 87778 to have the app sent to mobile devices, the tool directly connects agents and potential clients, WRAR officials said in a news release.

Sandy Beals, MLS president of WRAR, said, “We’re very forward thinking,” especially in the area of trying to anticipate members’ needs, as well as those of consumers, who “are more mobile than ever.”

WRAR partnered with Smarter Agent, which bills itself as a “global leader” in mobile real estate app development using patented GPS technology. The technology locates people using the WRAR MLS and displays listings in their immediate area. Users can also search by address, city or zip code to see property details for all homes for sale or rent in a certain area. Information includes price, square footage, estimated mortgage, taxes, features, maps, pictures and more, the news release said.

“Advanced Search” and “Refine Search” features let home seekers select a price range, property type and the number of beds and bathrooms they’re looking for to narrow their search. If an app user has questions or wants to request a tour of a property, the app’s “Contact” feature connects the user to the appropriate listing agent by phone or email.

Agents can upgrade for a fee ($55 during a current promotional period) to include their own branding, with all leads going directly to them.

Beals said the association’s MLS updates every 15 minutes. “We want people to get the most accurate information,” she said.

A multitude of real estate search apps and mobile tools are available for buyers and agents. Last year, XiLi Mobile, a company headquartered in Wilmington, launched its XiLi mobile service, which uses texting, Internet connection and GPS technologies to deliver real estate listings to potential homebuyers. Those in the market can enter 86789, type in XiLi (pronounced zih-lee) and, if they allow the program to use their current locations, get a list of nearby available properties, along with photos, prices and addresses.

Agents pay $24.99 a month each to subscribe to the XiLi network, according to XiLi’s website, and their listings in its national MLS database are highlighted and given featured priority.

“People, especially between the ages of 25 and 35, are using their phones for everything,” said Tim Milam, president of Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage in a Greater Wilmington Business Journal article on XiLi Mobile published in October.