Quick Guide to Getting a Map API key

A Google map API has to be implemented within your real estate website, allowing visitors to browse, search and show the location of your listings on map. To get a map API key you will need a billing account with the Google Cloud Platform. Before you can start using the Google Map API, you need to sign up and create a Google billing account. A credit card is required to set-up and to use a Google Maps API key. For normal use on Real Estate websites, there will be no charges. Google Maps Platform offers a free $200 monthly credit. You won’t be charged until your usage exceeds $200 in a month. Your website usage of the API will rarely exceed the limit of the monthly credit from Google. 

Step 1: Sign in to your Google account

You’ll need to be signed in to a Google or Gmail account before you can do this. If you don’t already have a Google or Gmail account, you can create one on the following page: https://accounts.google.com/SignUp

Step 2: Create a Google Billing Account

• Go to the Google Cloud Platform Console
• Click the menu button  in the top left of the page and select Billing.
• Set up your billing account.
  • Follow these steps to set up your first billing account.
    • Click the Add billing account button.
  • If you already have a billing account:
    • Click the billing drop-down and select Manage billing accounts.
      (You’ll see a list of your current billing accounts.)
    • Select Create account.
    • Follow the instructions to set up your next billing account.

Step 3: Create a Google Maps ‘Project’

• Click the menu button  and select Home
• Click the Select a project drop-down and select New Project
• On the New Project page, fill in the required information
  • Project name: Accept the default or enter a customized name (e.g. My Website Maps)
  • Project ID: Accept the default ID
  • Billing account: Select a billing account for the project (if you only have one billing account, you won’t see this option)
  • Location: If you have an organization you want to link your project to, click Browse and select it, otherwise choose No organization
• Click Create (see screenshot below)

Step 4: Enable Maps Javascript API within the Project

• Click the menu button and select APIs & Services -> Library
• On the API Library page, locate Maps and click VIEW ALL or find Maps Javascript API in the list
• Click Enable on the next page. Now that you have enabled the Javascript Maps Library in your new Google project, the next steps will show you how to generate the API key that we will use.

Step 5: Generate a Google Maps API Key

• Click the project drop-down and select the project you just created
• Click the menu button  and select APIs & Services -> Credentials
• Click Create Credentials -> API Key
• The API-key-created dialogue displays your newly created API key
• Click Close. Your new API key is listed under API keys

If you want to watch Google’s videos, here they are:

Create a billing account

Enable your API key

Generate an API key