Brokers and MLSs formulate concerns over new IDX recommendations

There is a work group that recommends changes to NAR’s MLS Policy Committee on changes to the policy. This work group recently submitted suggested changes that, if adopted, would enable RSS and other electronic means of syndicating listings to third parties. Brokers and MLSs alike are very concerned about the potential infringements on the copyrights of brokers and MLSs, and the potential for law suits from home sellers. Broker participants are legally liable for the listing content as outlined in the listing contract with the seller. The broker takes on the legal responsibility for the listing through the contact. Moreover, the convents [...]

By |2018-05-03T21:25:43-07:00April 18th, 2011|Broker-Agent Information, Main category, MLS Insights|Comments Off on Brokers and MLSs formulate concerns over new IDX recommendations

IDX Data Use Workgroup Submits Recommendations

I just received a copy of the Report of Recommendations of the IDX Use Work Group of the Multiple Listing Issuse and Policies Committee. I have had a blur of calls from The Realty Alliance, Leading RE, MLSs and Franchises alike today. There are many significant concerns. At the heart of the recommendations is the new rule that IDX listing content may be distributed by RSS or other electronic means (anyway you want) to any third party without any restrictions what so ever. Brokers and Agents still have restraints on the use and display of the data on their own [...]

By |2018-05-03T21:25:44-07:00April 15th, 2011|Broker-Agent Information, Main category, MLS Insights|Comments Off on IDX Data Use Workgroup Submits Recommendations

LPS going to bat for Franchise Organizations

In an op ed column released today, LPS suggests that NAR’s MLS Policy Committee made a poor choice in forbidding Franchises (like Century 21, Coldwell Banker, RE/MAX, Keller Williams, et al) from allowing them to display advertising around IDX listings. Here is the article   Why the NAR’s IDX Policy Kills Competition By Shiraz Vartanian With the publication of the NAR Handbook on Multiple Listing Policy in January of this year, the National Association of REALTORS policy has changed to now allow national franchisors to index IDX listings on their Websites. While this is a positive development - and one that [...]

By |2018-05-03T21:25:44-07:00April 13th, 2011|Main category|Comments Off on LPS going to bat for Franchise Organizations

Driving Technology Engagement

For more than a year now, WAV Group partners have been operating RE Technology. RE Technology is designed to operate inside of an MLS System supporting the role of offering education and information about technology products available to real estate professionals. The site is free to MLSs and Associations, and they may offer it to their members at no cost. Companies may list their products in the directory at no charge. WAV Group partners and other qualified contributors volunteer their educational writing for the daily publication. Today, RE Technology reaches 587,000 agents and expansion continues. The cost of operating the site is offset [...]

By |2018-05-03T21:25:44-07:00April 13th, 2011|Main category, MLS Insights|Comments Off on Driving Technology Engagement

Council of MLS released their annual benchmarking study today

The Council of MLS released their annual MLS benchmarking study today. You can download it for free from the CMLS website at CouncilofMLS.com. The survey involved the participation of 141 of the nations’ leading MLS providing services to more than 750,000 agents and brokers. The survey provides an update of the key issues facing MLSs today - great data. Be sure to take a look and share it with your staff and board of directors.  

By |2018-05-03T21:25:45-07:00March 31st, 2011|Main category, MLS Insights|Comments Off on Council of MLS released their annual benchmarking study today

MLS Mobile Game Changer – Smarter Agent

Mobile Search has been a keynote service by MLSs now for many years. The first platform that saw significant adoption was Most Home (now called Kurio). With the emergence of the smartphone, the Mobile Search industry has sprouted mobile search companies like weeds. RE Technology has a list of80 companies providing mobile applications. The typical business model for MLSs purchasing mobile applications is a fee per member per month. Some service providers offer a basic version and a pro version for those who want to generate non-dues revenue. Today, Smarter Agent looks to change all of that. They are launchiing [...]

By |2018-05-03T21:25:46-07:00March 24th, 2011|Broker-Agent Information, Main category, MLS Insights|Comments Off on MLS Mobile Game Changer – Smarter Agent

Do your homework before switching MLS providers

It was March 29th, 2010. CalREDD, the for profit MLS division of the California Association of REALTORS had fallen on hard times. After getting a number of Associations to switch MLS providers and join their new MLS, they were putting out fires everywhere. On a good note, they had reported that REALTOR organizations representing 120,000 REALTORS had signed letters of intent to join CalREDD, but every installation was complex and ridden with issues. To review the state of affairs, check out this post here. Since those early days, much has changed, and much has stayed the same. On a positive note, [...]

By |2018-05-03T21:25:47-07:00March 11th, 2011|Main category|Comments Off on Do your homework before switching MLS providers

The next horizon for real estate websites

Whats next for real estate? Back in the olden days, just after the MLS book lost its appeal and was replaced by the MLS - a rather interesting new product launched for agent and broker websites called IDX - internet data exchange. The idea behind it was that broker participants of an MLS could display the listings of other participating brokers on each other’s websites. This led to an explosion of broker websites. Everyone has one. After awhile, democratically minded MLS boards gave consideration to the agents and extended IDX privileges to them in most markets, as long as the [...]

By |2018-05-03T21:25:50-07:00March 4th, 2011|Broker-Agent Information, Main category, MLS Insights|Comments Off on The next horizon for real estate websites

CoreLogic launches Partner InfoNet at Bankers Conference

Many Associations and MLSs are investigating data licensing options with the National Association of REALTORs REALTOR Property Resource(RPR) and CoreLogics Partner InfoNet. WAV Group has been keeping an eye over on the banker side of the industry where the licensed data will be sold as a service. Today at the Mortgage Bankers Association National Servicing Conference, Elaine Therrien of CoreLogic announced zip-code level valuations powered by MLS data. The story was covered by John Prior of HousingWire. Not sure of the pricing yet. Will keep you posted. LPS is the vendor of record for RPR offering for this type of data service. [...]

By |2018-05-03T21:25:50-07:00February 23rd, 2011|Main category|Comments Off on CoreLogic launches Partner InfoNet at Bankers Conference

Yardi takes over listing syndication of California Regional MLS

CRMLS, formerly MRMLS and participant in the Los Angles Data Sharing initiative “CARETS” has announced a partnership with Yardi Systems division, Point2. Under the partnership, Point2 will syndicate CRMLS lsitings on behalf of all 23 member associations and their 26,000 agent members. Point2 has indicated that they syndicate to 60 web portals. WAV Group favors listing syndication when done properly, and both Yardi(Point2) and Move (Listhub) are looking to clean up many of the issues that have not been addressed since the practice was first deployed by Threewide (Listhub). Syndication solves a real issue by removing the challenges to getting [...]

By |2018-05-03T21:25:51-07:00February 16th, 2011|Broker-Agent Information, Main category, MLS Insights|Comments Off on Yardi takes over listing syndication of California Regional MLS

CoreLogic’s Infonet tops 140,000 participants

According to a press release released today, CoreLogic’s Infonet program now has agreements in place to serve over 140,000 participants throughout the United States. Today they announced that five multiple listing services (MLSs), representing more than 19,000 real estate professionals, have joined the Partner InfoNet revenue-sharing program. The new agreements include the program’s first in Florida and bring the total number of real estate professionals who are participating in Partner InfoNet to more than 140,000 and more than 400,000 listings. The new MLSs are: Regional MLS, Inc. of Palm Beach; North Carolina’s Fayetteville Association of Realtors, Inc.; Central Virginia Regional [...]

By |2018-05-03T21:25:52-07:00February 15th, 2011|Main category, MLS Insights|Comments Off on CoreLogic’s Infonet tops 140,000 participants

Indexing is Scraping – Here is the Proof

I constantly find myself in arguments/debates about indexing vs. scraping of real estate listings from websites. Despite my blue face, the debate goes on. In an effort to provide evidence that indexing is scraping, I have created this summary and video that will provide evidence of my case. The importance of this discussion is to key into two conflicting issues related to MLS rules and regulations. Specifically, the MLS rules and regulations for IDX websites indicate that the website must try to prevent scraping, but indexing by recognized search engines is ok. I say potato, potato. They are the same [...]

By |2018-05-03T21:25:52-07:00February 12th, 2011|Broker-Agent Information, Main category, MLS Insights|Comments Off on Indexing is Scraping – Here is the Proof