CRMLS and LionDesk Partner to Provide 96,000 California Real Estate Professionals with Easy-to-Use CRM PlatformCRMLS and LionDesk Partner to Provide 96,000 California Real Estate Professionals with Easy-to-Use CRM Platform

California Regional MLS (CRMLS), the nation’s largest and most recognized multiple listing service, and LionDesk, a leading real estate customer relationship management (CRM) platform, announced today that they have partnered to provide 96,000 California real estate professionals with LionDesk’s CRM platform as a user benefit. This deal marks the first ever agreement between an MLS of CRMLS’s size and a CRM.
All 96,000 CRMLS users now have access to LionDesk’s integrated sales and marketing platform that directly impacts production, time management, and overall business growth for sales professionals and business stakeholders.

This was announced a few weeks ago so I’m a bit late in commenting. I believe this is the first time a CRM has been offered through an MLS provider. And CRM tools have been getting a lot of attention lately. The team at LionDesk , led by David Anderson, have built a very feature rich solution.

What I like about this is that lately I keep hearing about the stark differences between producing agents and non-producing agents. We already know that real estate is such an aspirational business. We need to figure out how to move more people from one or two deals a year to five to ten. Knowing that most business comes from people you know, it’s crucial for agents to grow and understand their SOI (sphere of influence), and that is what a good CRM does.

CORELOGIC SELECTED AS UPSTREAM VENDOR

“More than any other technology firm in the real estate industry, CoreLogic is well positioned to deliver an industry-wide platform at a speed of implementation necessary to secure significant adoption during the coming year,” said UpstreamRE CEO Alex Lange. “Under the terms of the agreement, real estate brokers participating in Upstream will continue to pay the same rates but have access to a wider array of features on the Upstream platform.”

““We anticipate brokers will choose to push listing data into Upstream from their multiple listing platform and distribute data using Trestle as they do today,” said Chris Bennett, executive leader of Real Estate Solutions for CoreLogic. “In the future, brokers will have access to add/edit capabilities and additional features that enhance their data and photos.”

The announcement seems to be a week late. The two above quotes seem to be speaking to two audiences. The former to brokers (cost) and the later (MLS providers/organizations). One big question, if a broker’s MLS vendor isn’t CoreLogic (with Trestle), or if they are in an area with multiple MLS vendors, then what?

Also, if “brokers will choose to push listing data into Upstream from their multiple listing platform”, then how is this “Upstream”?

I’m not sure if the fox is in the henhouse, if there is a henhouse, or who the hens are anymore. I hope CoreLogic got their money upfront. They might want to check UpstreamRE’s references.

Someone call Neil deGrasse Tyson and explain this all to me.

At Inman Connect, the top movers and shakers in real estate come together to learn about the latest technology and explore what’s next for the industry. And in 2019, the hot topics include disruptors like Compass and eXp, the impact of data aggregators on the MLS, and the relevance of franchisers in light of tech centric startup brokerages. So, what are the most interesting conversations happening at the conference this year? And what SHOULD we be talking about? 

Today, Rob and Greg are sharing the highlights of Inman & CEO Connect (live from the lobby of the Marriott Marquis), discussing how the conference focuses on the intersection of real estate and technology and what predictions Inman has gotten right over the years. They speak to Brad Inman’s interview with Rob Reffkin, Ben Kinney’s talk knocking brands like Compass and eXp, and the conversation among brokers, franchisers and tech company CEOs regarding the MLS. Rob asks why no one is talking about Redfin, and Greg predicts when the industry will recognize it as a significant force. 

Then Rob and Greg snag Sam DeBord, Managing Broker and VP of Strategic Growth for Coldwell Banker Danforth in Seattle, to get his take on Kinney’s advice to brokers and the research around stock options and franchise loyalty. Listen in to understand why franchises need to make their value offerings more obvious and easy to use—and learn why Greg believes the mortgage space is ripe for disruption.

What’s Discussed: 

The highlights of the Inman Connect conference in NYC 

How technology has (and has not) impacted real estate

Brad Inman’s interview with Rob Reffkin at CEO Connect
-Leak of Pacific Union acquisition
-Concerns re: data aggregators

Ben Kinney’s criticisms of brands like Compass and eXp

When the industry will recognize Redfin as a significant force

The talk among brokers and tech CEOs around the MLS

The tech community’s struggle re: cooperation and compensation

How Inman called the rise of the iBuyer model 

Kinney’s advice to brokers on prepping agents for a market shift

Sam’s insight on the research around stock options and loyalty

Why franchises need to make value offerings easy to use

Why the mortgage space is ripe for disruption

Connect with Sam:

Sam at Seattle Home

Connect with Rob and Greg:

Rob’s Website

Greg’s Website

Resources:

Inman Connect 2019

The Ben Kinney Team

Redfin Commercial

MIPIM PropTech

Greg’s Post on HouseCanary

HouseCanary

When Software Eats the Real (Estate) World

Steve Murray Real Trends Research

Divvy

I think it’s important to give some perspective to the news that Tom Philips is leaving Bright MLS next month.

The first is that MLS conversions are hard. Extremely hard, especially when you have two cultures (MRIS and TREND) that are so different, wide geographic boundaries, and memberships so large.

Second, the advent of social media has made these types of scenarios even more difficult. When every whack job has a microphone, things can get blown out of proportion real quick.

Third, Tom has been in the MLS business for close to 20 years. He took on an incredibly difficult task (see above). And one thing is very certain, the next person to take his role will certainly have an easier time. Someone always has to be first.

And lastly, and many people forget this point, Bright MLS has been the inspiration for the wave of consolidation we’ve seen in the industry. The fact that MRIS and TREND were doing it meant that many other MLS providers had no excuses left.

So yeah, change is tough. It’s not easy. Mistakes are made. But from my perspective, the future is Bright.

Developing…

Luxury Presence and Lion & Orb Partner To Bring Top-Performing Websites and Marketing Services to Real Estate Brokers and Agents

Luxury Presence provides top-tier website design, development, and maintenance services along with leading-edge digital marketing strategies, including SEO, social media, advertising, and content marketing. The firm currently provides website and digital marketing services to 17 of the top 100 real estate agents and brokerages ranked on the REAL Trends and Wall Street Journal national rankings. Top luxury real estate clients include Jade Mills and ​Hilton & Hyland​.

With its proven public relations strategy and deep industry experience, Lion & Orb will bring increased visibility to Luxury Presence’s quality web design and strategic approach to marketing. Together, the two companies will be creating customized websites, social media marketing and media reports to maximize the visibility, reach and impact of each new campaign for brokers and agents.

I was talking with a few people at Inman Connect NYC last week about that there really is no clear leader in broker and agent websites. I think marrying a publicity service and a well designed website makes a ton of sense, especially with Audie Chamberlain’s, CEO of Lion & Orb, deep contacts.

MetroList Expands to Nevada County

“The Nevada County Association of REALTORS® (NCAOR) is looking forward to joining theMetroList®  family,” said Susan Walker, President of the Nevada County Association of REALTORS®.  “This partnership will bring a higher standard of tools and technology to our members and to serve our clients,” said Walker.
 
The Nevada County Association of REALTORS®, formed in 1935, has operated as an independent MLS and will be transitioning its MLS operations to MetroList in May 2019. NCAOR will operate alocal MetroList Administrative Center at the Crown Point Circle location to fulfill all MLS relatedservices for Nevada County real estate professionals creating a seamless multi-county service.
 
“We are pleased to expand our geographic market area and deliver MLS services to our neighbors in Nevada County”, said Bill Miller, CEO of MetroList Services, Inc. “As the largest MLS in NorthernCalifornia, MetroList provides a robust offering of products and value-added benefits to help oursubscribers grow their real estate business.”

#consolidation