Some brokerage firms are using touchscreen technology in their storefronts to allow passersby on the street to easily flip through listings. NY1's Real Estate reporter Jill Urban filed the following report.

New technology has made it easier than ever to shop for real estate. Thanks to websites and apps, the tools to look for a home are right at one's fingertips.

Now, some brokerage firms have found a new window of opportunity to help draw clients in — the touchscreen.

"In a world of instant gratification, we now have the opportunity of having our client just touch our storefronts and interact with us instantaneously," says Matthew Leone, the director of Web marketing for Halstead Property.

The so-called real estate touchscreen search window is sort of like a giant tablet in a window. Rather than having pictures and listings posted in a storefront, the touchscreen devices allow consumers to search for listings right from the street.

Halstead Property is one of a handful of companies that is installing these devices, and has a test storefront in place at 79th Street and Columbus Avenue.

"Pretty much all that you would do is you put in your criteria, the type of property you would like and your price range, and then in an instant your results will show up. You'll choose which one you'll like," says Leone.

From there, users can access property details, maps, photos and contact information. They can also use a smartphone to scan a QR code to bring the information with them.

This technology is fairly common in Europe, but it is now starting to show up in New York. Halstead, for example, hopes to install touchscreen windows in most of its storefronts in the coming months.