Stewart renews esignature provider relationship with Silanis Corp

**Press Release** Silanis Technology Inc. today announced that Stewart Information Services Corp. will extend the use of Silanis’ ApproveIt electronic signature platform for its internal operational processes. The real estate information and transaction management company expects its internal processes to benefit from significant time and cost reductions, as has its settlement and title services since integrating Silanis’ solutions in 2004. “Early results from a cross-section of Stewart offices have demonstrated that a closing can be conducted in as few as 15 minutes when the consumer has had access to SureClose® and the eSignature solution,” said Travis Wright, president and director [...]

By |2018-05-03T21:26:10-07:00March 29th, 2010|Main category|0 Comments

MLSs form Non-Profit to purchase top level internet domain

Some of the Nation’s leading MLS (Multiple Listing Services) have banded together to apply for a top level domain name.  They are proposing to purchase .mls as an alternative to .com, .net, or .org for organized real estate.  The .MLS offering will present opportunities for MLSs, Associations, Brokers and Agents to differentiate themselves from the abundance of third party websites on the internet today.  The company is a non-profit association founded by Arizona Regional MLS (ARMLS), Austin Board of REALTORS (ACTRIS), Carolina Multiple Listing Services (CMLS), First Multiple Listing Service (FMLS), Metropolitan Regional Information Systems (MRIS), Midwest Real Estate Data (MRED), Multi [...]

By |2010-03-29T20:44:59-07:00March 29th, 2010|Main category|0 Comments

CAR responds to criticism from Inman News

This week, Inman News Ran a story about the challenges that calREDD is facing with their new installation in Lake County California.  For those of you not familiar with the California, this is the county north of Sonoma County, about 1.5 hours north of San Francisco (depending on traffic).  The color chosen of the Inman news article did not paint calREDD in a very favorable light.  As some of you are aware, calREDD is not an MLS system, they are a new Statewide MLS - with their own rules, regulations and MLS system.  Conversions of this magnitude are never easy or [...]

By |2018-05-03T21:26:12-07:00March 29th, 2010|Main category|0 Comments

Top 50 Most Powerful Players in Real Estate

Business Week announced their picks for the top 50 most powerful people and companies in Real Estate today. Dave Liniger from RE/MAX and Richard Smith CEO of Realogy andVicki Cox Golder, current president of the National Association of REALTORS are among the list for this year. They are in powerful company with Barack Obama, Barney Frank, Ted Turner and many other noteworthy government and private sector officials. I find it somewhat disappointing that there were only two residential brokerages mentioned while there were several homebuilders mentioned and countless others in sectors around the industry.  I would have loved to have seen at least [...]

By |2018-05-03T21:26:12-07:00March 28th, 2010|Main category|0 Comments

Real Trends Launches Top 100 List for Canadian Brokerages

Real Trends, well known for their annual Top 500 Brokerages list for the United States market is launching a new program called the Top 100. For the first time, REAL Trends is now composing the rankings of the leading residential realty firms in Canada. This program can be used as a great marketing tool for brokerages in their local marketplace to demonstrate their leadership, vision and business success. […]

By |2018-05-03T21:26:12-07:00March 26th, 2010|Main category|0 Comments

Second Porch raises $1 Million for Facebook App

Most of us in the Real Estate Technology space understand that building applications for Facebook is a pretty interesting strategy for real estate.  Roost just launched a Facebook application and a pile of IDX vendors have Facebook applications.  The Roost and IDX applications all serve to allow consumers to search for property from a Facebook page. Imagine my surprise when I learned that Second Porch recently closed on a round of $1 Million in Angel funding to promote rental houses on Facebook.  Take a look at this press release and let us know what you think. […]

By |2018-05-03T21:26:12-07:00March 19th, 2010|Main category|0 Comments

Keller Williams is not number 1 and RPR is more connected on Twitter than Trulia

Marketing spin can sometimes get out of control – especially with social media.  That recently happened to Keller Williams, who make a claim as the Number 1 Real Estate Company.  Obviously Keller Williams agents and franchisors were thrilled to learn this.  They went about the internet on Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, and Blogs announcing their new stature to the world.  As it turns out, they are Number 1 in the number of friends they have on Twitter and Facebook among four national franchise competitor brands who are close to Keller Williams in associate count on a particular date and time according [...]

By |2018-05-03T21:26:12-07:00March 17th, 2010|Main category|0 Comments

MLS Execs – Tired of getting interrupted all day?

Sean Silverthorne, Editor of the Harbard Business School’s Working Knowledge shares some interesting perspectives about how to get the most out of your work day. I hear often from MLS execs that they just don’t have enough time in the day to get their key strategic priorities done. They get consumed with the day to day operation and the little details that can eat up hours of their day. Read Peter Bergman’s example here – it will probably sound all too famiiliar. ” “Hey, I see your door is closed, but can I interrupt you for just a second; its [...]

By |2018-05-03T21:26:12-07:00March 16th, 2010|Main category|0 Comments

LANDMARK DEAL CREATES INTERNATIONAL MLS

It was reported today in Overseas Property Professionals that a group consisting of Immobel, NAR, FECEPAC and others are collaborating on a project to create an international MLS system for Central America. LANDMARK DEAL CREATES INTERNATIONAL MLS FECEPAC, Immobel, NAR, FNAIM, Central America, Caribbean, MLS, portals, Google, Enormo, ICREA, Worldproperties, A landmark agreement is to create an international multiple listing system (MLS) for Central America, bringing the concept of a genuinely global listings exchange a step closer. Through a deal with real estate technology provider Immobel, the Central American and Caribbean real estate association, FECEPAC will make its members property [...]

By |2018-05-03T21:26:12-07:00March 14th, 2010|Main category, MLS Insights|0 Comments

Will Move follow Pandora to success

Move Inc, the operators of REALTOR.com and a list of many quality products and services to the real estate industry has had a rough ride.  In total, they have lost over $2 Billion dollars in their history, and were profitable for two years.  On the surface, this sounds like pretty poor performance, but nothing could be further from the truth.  They have accomplished some outstanding milestones and could be close to hitting a home run.  All of the ingredients are in place.  They have the largest consumer audience with strong advertiser support, the most data, and significant agent/broker sales revenue. Music streaming company Pandora faced [...]

By |2018-05-03T21:26:13-07:00March 10th, 2010|Main category, MLS Insights|0 Comments

The iPads are coming! The iPads are coming!

  OK, early adopters get ready! Who will be the first in your circle to get a new iPad? Having moved to the Mac world myself last year, I am ready to go! I find myself sounding like a paid ad whenever the topic of Mac comes up, but in truth, when I get on a PC now, it drives me crazy! I love my Macs. PRESS RELEASE iPad Available in US on April 3 Pre-Order on March 12 CUPERTINO, Calif., March 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Apple® today announced that its magical and revolutionary iPad will be available in the US [...]

By |2018-05-03T21:26:13-07:00March 5th, 2010|Main category|0 Comments

Looking for a job in real estate? Go to Vendor Alley!

Looking for a job in real estate?  Vendor Alley has just announced a great new tool for real estate technology companies, associations, MLSs and others to post their job openings. Becuase of Vendor Alley's "candor" and "calling it like they see it" tone, it attracts a broad and diverse audience of readers.  The blog often becomes the topic of conversations at conferences because it often says what everyone wants to say, but won't. We just posted a job for the EVP position for the Orlando Regional REALTOR AssociationMLS.  Go and check it - who knows you might find a new [...]

By |2018-05-03T21:26:13-07:00March 4th, 2010|Main category|0 Comments