Fidelity National Information Services facing Blackstone Buyout

The details of the buy out are largely unknown, but here is the press coverage today from Peter Lattman from the Wall Street Journal.  To be clear, FNIS is really no longer a company.  Fidelity split the business into FIS and LPS a number of years ago.  This press release refers to assets controlled by FIS and does not impact LPS - the company behind the Paragon, reINsight, rDesk and other real estate and banking technology services.     Blackstone in Talks on $10 Billion Deal By PETER LATTMAN Blackstone Group LP and other investors are in talks to acquire financial-data-processing [...]

By |2010-05-06T21:46:38-07:00May 6th, 2010|Main category|0 Comments
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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|0 Comments
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Worst Technology Bug Ever

On this day in 1937, the world was stunned by a sudden accident that would change the way most people viewed how safe they were. And, like many other such cultural shocks of the past it occurred in New Jersey. At the time people were vesting a great deal of comfort and trust in technology and the folks who professed to understand (and provide) that technology. So, on this day in 1937 friends, family, and even radio reporters gathered to witness the transatlantic arrival of the best airship ever built. Its passengers had been given histories most comfortable and luxurious [...]

By |2018-05-03T21:26:07-07:00May 6th, 2010|Main category|0 Comments
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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|0 Comments
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MRED sets to launch RE Technology to members

MRED Provides RE Technology as Newest Member Benefit Date: 5-4-10 Arroyo Grande, Ca- April 19, 2010: Midwest Real Estate Data (MRED) announced today it is launching RE Technology, as a new member benefit, RE Technology is an online portal that provides vendor directories, product reviews and user ratings of real estate technology products all in one easy to use location. The site will be available to every MRED subscriber directly from the MRED homepage. “We believe RE Technology will help our agents succeed through better understanding and utilization of available technology products.  In the past information was limited and agents [...]

By |2018-05-03T21:26:07-07:00May 4th, 2010|Main category|0 Comments
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New Ways to Leverage MLS Data

It is an exciting time for Multiple Listing Services.  The announcement of REALTOR® Property Resource by NAR has spawned many debates and several new programs allowing MLSs to leverage local property information in many new ways.  The programs are exciting, but are evolving quickly and thus can be a bit confusing and even overwhelming at times. In an effort to help every MLS understand the unique values of each of the programs now available, the Council of Multiple Listing Services (CMLS), commissioned WAV Group to complete the attached evaluation.  Ideally, the paper will assist each MLS and their governing boards [...]

By |2018-05-03T21:26:07-07:00April 30th, 2010|Main category, MLS Insights, Our Company, Reports, Sales Advisory|0 Comments
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Rapattoni becomes Mac compatible

WAV Group performs dozens of strategic planning sessions for MLSs each year.  As part of our strategic planning sessions, we survey members on satisfaction with the MLS system.  One of the chief complaints among MLS Participants and Subscibers across all surveys is the desire to have Apple computers supported my MLS systems. LPS, Marketlinx, FBS, and now Rapattoni have all been focused on achieving this functionality.  Rapattoni issued a press release confirming their support of Mac based browsers this morning.  This is great news for MLSs who are delivering data services on the Rapattoni platform - a move that is sure [...]

By |2018-05-03T21:26:07-07:00April 29th, 2010|Main category, MLS Insights|0 Comments
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The HP Palm

Contrary to rumors about Levono buying Palm, it was announced today that HP will purchase the struggling cell phone provider.   HP and Palm, Inc. (NASDAQ: PALM) today announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which HP will purchase Palm, a provider of smartphones powered by the Palm webOS mobile operating system, at a price of $5.70 per share of Palm common stock in cash or an enterprise value of approximately $1.2 billion. The transaction has been approved by the HP and Palm boards of directors. The combination of HPs global scale and financial strength with Palms [...]

By |2018-05-03T21:26:07-07:00April 28th, 2010|Main category|0 Comments
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Want Raving Fans? Try Picking up the Phone!

I was inspired to write a post today after being placed on hold for what seemed like FOREVER with my bank.  Why is it that “modern” customer service standards call for requiring customers to go through a series of qualifying steps and button pushes before even being able to wait in line to get our questions answered or our problems solved? Once I reached the bank, I was then transferred to yet another queue and placed on hold again!   All in all my experience with them lasted for over 2 hours!  What a nightmare. While generally I have a good [...]

By |2018-05-03T21:26:08-07:00April 28th, 2010|Main category|0 Comments
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Real Estate and Microsoft Docs for Facebook

Real Estate has a love hate affair with documents. According to research performed by the WAV Group, The real estate industry has consumes about 1 Million trees per year in real estate transactions. There are a pile of companies offering transaction management and storage solutions adapted to the needs of real estate agents and brokers.  They are all fine products that can save hundreds of dollars a month in document storage fees while creating a better experience for the consumer in their transaction. In a move that smacks Google Docs in the face, Microsoft entered the fray of online document sharing with their [...]

By |2018-05-03T21:26:08-07:00April 28th, 2010|Main category|0 Comments
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And the Hits keep Coming – REALTOR.com tops the Hitwise charts again!

And the Hits keep Coming - REALTOR.com tops the Hitwise charts again! When I reviewed the latest Hitwise results it reminded me again of a phenomenon that continues to  amaze me - Realtor.com. According to Compete.com REALTOR.com had over 6.4 million unique visitors last month and in the peak season will likely repeat last year’s performance with over 9 million unique visitors. That is an amazing amount of traffic - enviable by every major brand in America. Just for perspective, Ford.com receives only 1.3 million unique visitors. Coca-Cola.com receives less than 500,000 unique visitors per month according to compete.com and [...]

By |2018-05-03T21:26:08-07:00April 26th, 2010|Main category|0 Comments
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Marketing 101 for Real Estate Companies

Do you have a marketing and advertising department?  For most MLS, Associations and Brokerages today, the answer is NO.  For the largest companies, the answer is Yes.  Marketing and Advertising is typically the first “Cut Back” made by an organization facing uncertain economic times - but is also the most fundamentally destructive place to try and reduce costs in your business, especially for real estate Brokers. Studies show this is the reason why large companies gain more market share durring cyclical economic recessions and small companies fade or disappear. If you are of the ilk to appreciate and agree with this position, here are a couple of solutions for [...]

By |2018-05-03T21:26:08-07:00April 26th, 2010|Broker-Agent Information, Main category, MLS Insights|0 Comments
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