The Internet seems to be making it easier for consumers to buy and sell properties, and CityCrybs is just the latest entry into the marketplace.

Like many other similar sites, CityCrybs allows sellers, including agents, to list their properties on their site, effectively making it an alternative MLS. And likewise, folks looking for a home can search their database.

But unlike all the others, CityCrybs seems to be succeeding. Perhaps its the fact that they started out focusing in just one area, apartments in New York City, allowing it to market heavily into that area. CityCrybs has since branched out into Los Angeles, Miami, and New Jersey.

It could also be that they continue to keep their website fresh with new features and tools. It could also be that they launched a human-edited real estate agent directory last April, which also features several links to their property listings.

Does CityCrybs pose a threat to real estate agents? I don't think so. It's really just a tool, nothing more, except that regular folks have access to it. It can't provide the expertise and counsel that a Realtor can provide to the buyer and seller. And perhaps, that's also the beauty of websites like CityCrybs, that it emphasizes the purpose of agents.