Broker Technology Research Archives

Online Reputation for Brokers and Agents

In real estate, QSC is the leader in Agent Ratings, but today, Facebook is raising the bar and having an impact on the online reputation of agents and brokers. Facebook is big, really big. In fact, it is the most heavily trafficked website in America. It is bigger than Google! And it has an impact on your broker and agent brand – especially if you do not have a facebook page. Although Google is the leader in search, Facebook is catching up and they have partnered with Microsoft Bing to deliver search results that are informed by your friends. When [...]

By Victor Lund|2018-05-03T21:25:38-07:00June 27th, 2011|Broker Technology Research, Broker-Agent Information, Main category, Technology Evaluation|Comments Off

Googles Next Step in Real Estate Search

Google Real Estate Last July, search and technology giant, Google announced an agreement to acquire ITA Software for around $700 Million. ITA software is a company that cut its teeth in the travel industry powering websites like Orbitz and Kayak. Google has been struggling with supporting consumers in real estate search for many years. They have had many fits and starts, including Google Base. With Google Base, the company tried to aggregate listing data and sort it out. Google Base was a failure and they shut it down. Now with ITA Software, Google may be back on track with [...]

By Victor Lund|2018-05-03T21:25:38-07:00June 25th, 2011|Broker Technology Research, Main category, Technology Evaluation|Comments Off

Franchisor IDX issues continue

MLS System providers have been working hard on rapidly delivering a solution to support the NEW NAR policy for Franchisor IDX guidelines that is in place between June 13th and the NAR convention in November. Franchise Organizations lost the privilege extended to them at the last NAR meeting that permitted them to display broker listing data that would link to a franchise broker website. This is called Indexing. Non-Franchise brokers do not feel that the Franchisor – who is a third party and not an MLS member, should have these privileges. IDX data had previously been restricted to MLS Participants, [...]

By Victor Lund|2018-05-03T21:25:38-07:00June 22nd, 2011|Broker Technology Research, Main category, MLS Insights|Comments Off

Broker Opt Out
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Broker Opt Out

Broker Technology Research, How to Make Strategic Planning Really Work in your MLS, Main category, MLS Insights

Broker Opt Out

Broker Opt Out Buttton The practice of MLS data licensing gives rise to new questions in our industry. The question before us today is: What does Broker Opt-Out mean? WAV Group reached out to a variety of respected industry executives to get an answer to this question. None were able to cite a rule or a legal case that outlined a definition. Moreover, none were able to produce a definition in their MLS rules and regulations. As such, our industry faces a new opportunity. MLSs may define Broker Opt-out and Broker Opt-in as it relates to data licensing as [...]

By Victor Lund|2018-05-03T21:25:39-07:00June 17th, 2011|Broker Technology Research, How to Make Strategic Planning Really Work in your MLS, Main category, MLS Insights|2 Comments

The Top 10 Searched Real Estate Markets – April 2011

Real Estate SearchWhich real estate markets are getting the most Web traffic? Realtor.com recently released its rankings for April, which reveal the most searched-for markets at its site. Most Popular Real Estate Sites WAV Group decided to research what the most popular destinations for property search are in these markets. In 4 out of the top 10 Markets, Realtor.com is the most popular real estate site. In 3 out of the top 10 Markets, Zillow.com is the most popular real estate site. In 2 out of the top 10 Markets, the MLS website is the most [...]

By Victor Lund|2018-05-03T21:25:40-07:00June 1st, 2011|Broker Technology Research, Main category, MLS Insights|Comments Off

When It’s Good To Lose Control

Business leaders can plan and set strategies but the real key to whether these plans are executed successfully is what their organization does after the plan is released. Do they embrace the plan? Do they start strong and then slip back to their old ways? Do initiatives kick off with great promise and then lose momentum? Do you find yourself having to continually push the plan rather than seeing full engagement by your staff? Do you find that some of your staff get on board while others resist change? Here’s the truth! […]

By THE WAV GROUP|2018-05-03T21:25:41-07:00May 31st, 2011|Broker Technology Research, Main category, MLS Insights, Strategic Planning, Suveys and Research|Comments Off

Making a Change Requires Some Tension

We have always been big believers that most change occurs as a result of some “pain”. While we all would like to create change in our lives for positive reasons, and we certainly do at times, a good deal of “major” changes in business and personal lives come about as a result of pain or some “tension” in our lives. It’s the old aspirin vs. vitamins story. We know we should take vitamins; they are good for us right? But, if you have a really bad headache or muscle ache you are most likely going to take something for it more [...]

By THE WAV GROUP|2018-05-03T21:25:41-07:00May 31st, 2011|Broker Technology Research, How to Make Strategic Planning Really Work in your MLS, Main category, MLS Insights, Our Services, Strategic Planning, Suveys and Research|Comments Off

Apple now the 5th best selling computer brand in the world!
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Apple now the 5th best selling computer brand in the world!

Broker Technology Research, Broker-Agent Information, Main category, MLS Insights

Apple now the 5th best selling computer brand in the world!

According to a study released by Canalys today, Apple fueled the 7% growth of the computer market in Q1, 2011. According to Canalys, pad shipments reached 6.4 million units worldwide. Apple accounted for 74% of these shipments, while other vendors struggled to bring competitive products to market. Canalys expects that next quarter will see a significant change in the market, with products appearing from Acer, Asus, LG and RIM. This continued growth suggests that the iPad and other pad devices are here to stay. They seem to be moving past devices that are purely for games and entertainment and into [...]

By Marilyn Wilson|2018-05-03T21:25:42-07:00April 28th, 2011|Broker Technology Research, Broker-Agent Information, Main category, MLS Insights|Comments Off

Products that get adopted keep it simple! Vendors that make them, look and listen.

Over the past few weeks I have been doing a lot of work with both vendors, brokers and agents evaluating different technologies. In some cases this involved helping vendors improve their products and on the other side involved helping brokers and agents choose new products. Something that hit me over and over again in both cases was the fact that our industry has over engineered products over and over again. Why? Because we don’t really listen to what users want. We think we know better. We understand all of the complex features that need to be included in websites, and [...]

By THE WAV GROUP|2018-05-03T21:25:46-07:00March 11th, 2011|Broker Technology Research, Broker-Agent Information, Main category, MLS Insights|Comments Off

Midwest Real Estate Data LLC (MRED) launches Cloud CMA

The following press release from Midwest Real Estate Data, LLC announces they are now offering Cloud CMA to their 40,000+ members. Cloud CMA allows user to blend data from multiple sites such asGoogle, Zillow, education.com, Walk Score, and Yelp to create customized presentations. Cloud CMA is web based so it can be launched from any computer or mobile device with web access. Midwest Real Estate Data LLC (MRED) launches Cloud CMA LISLE (February 16, 2011) - Midwest Real Estate Data LLC (MRED) has announced that W&R Studios’ Cloud CMA product is now live and fully integrated with its connectMLSTMsystem. All [...]

By THE WAV GROUP|2018-05-03T21:25:51-07:00February 17th, 2011|Broker Technology Research, Broker-Agent Information, Main category, MLS Insights|Comments Off

IRIS Mobile Announces New Mobile Suite

Press Release from Iris Mobile: Iris Mobile Enhances the Mobile Solutions for Today’s Real Estate Market Rolling Meadows, Illinois - February 14, 2011 - Iris Mobile Corporation, announced today that it has released an enhanced version of its suite of real estate mobile marketing solutions that includes text-messaging, web-to-mobile, QR codes, branded mobile apps, and branded mobile web marketing. Iris Mobile’s real estate product, Iris Listings, is currently available to REALTORs in Northern and Central Illinois and is growing its MLS partnerships. The enhanced Iris Listings now offers QR codes mobile marketing built seamlessly into the existing text-messaging marketing platform. [...]

By THE WAV GROUP|2018-05-03T21:25:52-07:00February 12th, 2011|Broker Technology Research, Broker-Agent Information, Main category, Press Releases|Comments Off

The Realty Alliance Top 20
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The Realty Alliance Top 20

Broker Technology Research, Broker-Agent Information, Main category

The Realty Alliance Top 20

WAV Group Research launched WIN Reports in 2010. On a monthly subscription basis, we provide detailed market reports for MLSs and Brokers on consumer property search dynamics in their market, and contrast that with dynamics from markets around the country. Below you will find a few snapshots of The Realty Alliance Broker Traffic Report. Although we track all members of The Realty Alliance, what follows is a Top 20 summary. Of Particular note, Howard Hanna Real Estate has the most visited brokerage website in America. Congratulations to the team at Howard Hanna for overtaking the leading position formerly held by [...]

By Victor Lund|2018-05-03T21:25:55-07:00January 8th, 2011|Broker Technology Research, Broker-Agent Information, Main category|Comments Off