RE Technology launches VScreen Training Videos

Leading real estate technology media site, RE Technology, has partnered with VScreen to create agent training videos from top industry trainers. Arroyo Grande, CA (September 2011) – As a leading technology resource for the real estate industry, no one understands the value of video for websites better than the team at RE Technology. The company has partnered with VScreen, a leader in real estate training video creation and distribution, to improve their website’s home page: www.RETechnology.com. “We’ve published many articles about video on our website,” says Victor Lund, CEO of RE Technology, Inc. “We figured it was time to ‘walk [...]

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 |2018-05-03T21:25:38-07:00June 27th, 2011|Broker Technology Research, Broker-Agent Information, Main category, Technology Evaluation|Comments Off on Online Reputation for Brokers and Agents

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 |2018-05-03T21:25:38-07:00June 25th, 2011|Broker Technology Research, Main category, Technology Evaluation|Comments Off on Googles Next Step in Real Estate Search

Move makes a move into Rentals

It is no surprise to anyone in real estate that the rental market has caught fire. Many MLSs are scrambling to expanded offerings to meet the needs of brokers who have focused on growing their property management business to meet demand. “Nobody wants to own a vacant home,” says Amy Gallagher of Century 21 Hometown. “We represent investors in buying rental property, and attract them with our strong property management business - we capture a side or two of the sale, and an ongoing business relationship that lasts years.” One thing that you can always trust consumers to do is vote with [...]

By |2018-05-03T21:25:56-07:00November 23rd, 2010|Broker-Agent Information, Main category, Strategic Planning, Technology Evaluation|Comments Off on Move makes a move into Rentals

FBS – A Model For Cooperation

Having grown up in the MLS business and seeing it evolve from the days when we replaced books with MLS systems to today, where MLS sales are only made through taking a competitor’s account, I know how competitive the MLS technology landscape is.  Over the past 20 years or so, we have also seen this market mature and with that maturation we have also seen intense price pressure placed on our MLS vendors to the point today where I question whether we have gone too far.  MLS vendors today are the cornerstone of our entire real estate technology industry.  Nothing [...]

By |2018-05-03T21:26:07-07:00May 6th, 2010|Broker-Agent Information, Main category, MLS Insights, Technology Evaluation|Comments Off on FBS – A Model For Cooperation

FBS – A Model For Cooperation

Having grown up in the MLS business and seeing it evolve from the days when we replaced books with MLS systems to today, where MLS sales are only made through taking a competitor’s account, I know how competitive the MLS technology landscape is.  Over the past 20 years or so, we have also seen this market mature and with that maturation we have also seen intense price pressure placed on our MLS vendors to the point today where I question whether we have gone too far.  MLS vendors today are the cornerstone of our entire real estate technology industry.  Nothing [...]

By |2018-05-03T21:26:07-07:00May 6th, 2010|Broker-Agent Information, Main category, MLS Insights, Technology Evaluation|Comments Off on FBS – A Model For Cooperation

RPR – To Join or Not to Join is Not the Only Question!

Since the announcement made by NAR on the formation of RPR and their public rollout at the NAR conference in San Diego, RPR and their proposed business model has been a major topic of conversation in MLSs across the U.S.  Some MLSs seem to think this is an idea long overdue while others have expressed “no interest” while most seem to be somewhere in between with a “wait and see” attitude. c planning session we facilitated for a major MLS the topic of RPR participation was, of course, discussed.  Our approach to the discussion, as with any business issue, is [...]

By |2018-05-03T21:26:15-07:00February 1st, 2010|Broker Technology Research, Broker-Agent Information, Main category, MLS Insights, Product Management, Reports, Sales Advisory, Suveys and Research, Technology Evaluation|Comments Off on RPR – To Join or Not to Join is Not the Only Question!

MARKETLINX LAUNCHES MOBILE MLS AUDIO SEARCH-Press Release

MARKETLINX LAUNCHES MOBILE MLS AUDIO SEARCH –VoicePad Technology Lets Agents “Search Any Home from Any Phone™"– SANTA ANA, Calif., Jan. 11, 2010 MarketLinx, Inc., a leading provider of information technology to the residential real estate industry and a member of The First American Corporation (NYSE: FAF) family of companies, announced today that it has partnered with VoicePad® to offer a mobile audio search tool to its MLXchange™, TEMPO™ and InnoVia™ multiple listing service (MLS) customers. Called VoiceLinx, the solution allows MarketLinx MLS users to hear spoken listing information from any mobile phone simply by calling a local phone number and [...]

By |2018-05-03T21:26:17-07:00January 11th, 2010|Broker Technology Research, Broker-Agent Information, Main category, MLS Insights, Technology Evaluation|Comments Off on MARKETLINX LAUNCHES MOBILE MLS AUDIO SEARCH-Press Release

Real Estate CRM Company seeks venture partner

For the past four years, Technology Concepts, a veteran MLS provider, has been developing a Customer Relationship Management product for the real estate industry.  The company has leveraged their experience serving MLSs, brokers and agents to architect and build one of the industry’s most advanced enterprise level CRM solutions. The product, named Eventus, is operational, installed and has realized outstanding results for the first tier users.  Now that the product is ready for full deployment into the market place, the company is seeking a business partner to fuel marketing and fulfillment.  The company will consider options from company or product [...]

Industry Vet Joins Instanet to Lead Sales

Instanet Solutions, based in London, Ontario recently announced the addition of industry veteran Steve Mapes as their new Vice President of Sales.  Joe Kazzoun, who previously ran the sales group has taken on the position of Vice President, Business and Product Development.  Martin Scrocchi, CEO and owner of Instanet Solutions tells us that growth throughout their product line mandated the change.  “With our growing customer base, the increasing interest in Transaction Management products and businesses wanting to go “Green", the timing to bring Steve on was perfect.  We are also excited because this addition means Joe can focus on customer [...]

By |2009-10-23T12:46:19-07:00October 23rd, 2009|Broker Technology Research, Broker-Agent Information, Main category, MLS Insights, Press Releases, Technology Evaluation|Comments Off on Industry Vet Joins Instanet to Lead Sales

MLSs and Transaction Management – Take Small Steps First

Should your MLS provide Transaction Management services? In our recent study on Transaction Management Adoption, it is clear that many of the component parts of full Transaction Management are being used successfully today by a growing number of real estate professionals. The key point is that they are adopting this technology step-by-step.  Some vendors today offer the different component parts of Transaction Management separately, including: Internet Fax Document Management Online Forms/Contracts Transaction Scheduling/Managment Digital Signature Transaction Management technology makes sense for many reasons.   It provides better service to consumers, reduces risk and helps the environment. The problem, however, is that [...]

Paperless Process Comes of Age in Real Estate

WAV Group has been tracking the adoption of online transaction processing software for several years.   In the 2005 WAV Group Transaction Management Adoption Study, we identified a number of factors that were inhibiting adoption of transaction management solutions and recommended steps to improve adoption.  We are seeing encouraging adoption increases throughout the country. The WAV Group 2009 Transaction Management Adoption Study surveyed over 1700 brokers and agents from 22 different MLSs.  In addition, we worked with major Transaction Management vendors to look at their product adoption trends over the last few years.  The result is a much clearer picture of where online transaction processing stands [...]