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 [...]

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 |2018-05-03T21:25:40-07:00June 1st, 2011|Broker Technology Research, Main category, MLS Insights|Comments Off on The Top 10 Searched Real Estate Markets – April 2011

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 |2018-05-03T21:25:41-07:00May 31st, 2011|Broker Technology Research, Main category, MLS Insights, Strategic Planning, Suveys and Research|Comments Off on When It’s Good To Lose Control

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 [...]

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 |2018-05-03T21:25:42-07:00April 28th, 2011|Broker Technology Research, Broker-Agent Information, Main category, MLS Insights|Comments Off on Apple now the 5th best selling computer brand in the world!

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 |2018-05-03T21:25:46-07:00March 11th, 2011|Broker Technology Research, Broker-Agent Information, Main category, MLS Insights|Comments Off on Products that get adopted keep it simple! Vendors that make them, look and listen.

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 |2018-05-03T21:25:51-07:00February 17th, 2011|Broker Technology Research, Broker-Agent Information, Main category, MLS Insights|Comments Off on Midwest Real Estate Data LLC (MRED) launches Cloud CMA

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 |2018-05-03T21:25:52-07:00February 12th, 2011|Broker Technology Research, Broker-Agent Information, Main category, Press Releases|Comments Off on IRIS Mobile Announces New Mobile Suite

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 |2018-05-03T21:25:55-07:00January 8th, 2011|Broker Technology Research, Broker-Agent Information, Main category|Comments Off on The Realty Alliance Top 20

Technology Company Seeks New Product Manager

WAV Group has been retained to help Courthouse Retrieval System (CRS) recruit a new Product Manager, with knowledge of the real estate and/or banking industry, to work from the company’s Knoxville location, who will oversee development of the requirements and ongoing enhancements for each of the CRS products and also identify new areas for product development.   For more information or to apply for the position please contact Mike Audet at mike@wavgroup.com 716-839-4628, or Marilyn Wilson at 805-473-9119.  The full job description is listed below.         POSITION TITLE: Product Manager REPORTS TO: Chief Operating Officer CLASSIFICATION: Exempt [...]

By |2018-05-03T21:25:55-07:00January 6th, 2011|Broker Technology Research, Broker-Agent Information, Main category, MLS Insights, Press Releases, Product Management|Comments Off on Technology Company Seeks New Product Manager

Creating a Broker Technology Plan – Control, Transparency & Profitability (Part 5 of a 5 part series)

Brokers, large and small, face significant challenges they did not face 20 years ago.  Profit margins have eroded and control over their independent contractors has been minimized.   The consumer has taken on a much more vocal role in the process and is forcing transparency and responsiveness never before experienced.   Some of these challenges are related to technology and the advance of the Internet while others are cultural challenges that have come about through the changing broker/agent relationship.  WAV Group’s new white paper explores the issues behind the broker’s challenge to gain better control and visibility into their companies while re-establishing a [...]

By |2018-05-03T21:25:55-07:00December 20th, 2010|Broker Technology Research, Broker-Agent Information, Main category|Comments Off on Creating a Broker Technology Plan – Control, Transparency & Profitability (Part 5 of a 5 part series)

One Broker’s Case Study – Taking Back Control ( part 4 of a 5 part series)

One Broker’s Case Study- Taking Back Control Brokers, large and small, face significant challenges they did not face 20 years ago.  Profit margins have eroded and control over their independent contractors has been minimized.   The consumer has taken on a much more vocal role in the process and is forcing transparency and responsiveness never before experienced.   Some of these challenges are related to technology and the advance of the Internet while others are cultural challenges that have come about through the changing broker/agent relationship.  WAV Group’s new white paper explores the issues behind the broker’s challenge to gain better control and [...]

By |2018-05-03T21:25:56-07:00November 30th, 2010|Broker Technology Research, Broker-Agent Information, Main category|Comments Off on One Broker’s Case Study – Taking Back Control ( part 4 of a 5 part series)