“The National Association of REALTORS® is considering a change in the association’s MLS policy aimed at creating greater cooperation between brokerages within MLSs. The “Clear Cooperation Policy“ proposal is straightforward: Brokers who are MLS participants must share listings with other brokers in the MLS if those listings are being publicly marketed. NAR is seeking member feedback on the policy before the association’s Multiple Listing Issues and Policies Committee addresses it at the REALTORS® Conference & Expo in San Francisco this November “
I’ve been asked about my thoughts on this draft. What I can say is that I think this draft policy is a great first step. While nothing is perfect we need to start somewhere and the way 8.0 is drafted I think is smart and thoughtful.
I’ve been pretty steady on my opinions about pocket listings and how they can hurt the industry. In my opinion, except in rare circumstances, the practice needs to stop.
I had a great conversation with Michael Wurzer on Listing Bits about this issue that if you haven’t listened to it yet you should. Michael is a bit more sanguine about the issue, but thoughtful as ever.
I about to start recording a Industry Relations podcast (which I hope to have ready before CMLS) with Rob Hahn this morning where we will duke it out over whether MLS Policy 8.0 goes far enough. Wish me luck!
“Remine, a fast-growing technology company that serves over 1,000,000 real estate professionals through more than 50 Multiple Listing Services (MLSs) announced today that it has launched a modern MLS system to replace those offered by legacy vendors. The new system, called “MLS by Remine” is expected to launch in early 2020 with several MLS partners.
MLS by Remine is offered alongside Remine Agent Pro, Remine’s existing suite of tools, data, and workflows real estate professionals use to engage clients in their real estate journey. The new system is also modular, meaning an MLS can adopt the full stack, from database to APIs, or implement just the layer they require, including Remine’s world-class front-end or Remine’s Add/Edit module. MLS by Remine can also be run in parallel with a legacy system to ease transitions. “
The team at Remine have been busy. Remine announcing they are launching an MLS System is not exactly news but my first impression was “hell yeah!”, a new MLS system? Bring it on. That is only going to force competition and make everyone better. And if Remine holds to their word of keeping their MLS system open to 3rd party integrations then the entire industry will benefit. One quibble I do have is with the naming convention “MLS by Remine”? MLS? This industry has got too many definitions for the word MLS already, now you name an MLS System, MLS? You see where I’m going here?
They mention MLS by Remine will “launch in early 2020 with several MLS partners.” It’s not clear whether those MLS organizations are committing to converting to MLS by Remine as their single platform , or as a “system of choice” solution. If Remine is successful in getting a larger MLS organization to fully commit to converting, and the conversion goes smoothly, you are going to see a whole lot of shaking going on.
Further down the press release you see this.
“Remine also offers a public portal option for MLSs that adopt MLS by Remine, and maintains a public facing site at Remine.com that connects consumers with agents already using Remine through their MLS.”
I haven’t seen the “public portal option” yet. But I did poke around the recently redesigned Remine.com that is now a consumer portal.
I’m not sure of the strategy here, there seems to be no active listings, just public record data mashed with Google Street Views. Even with the “Match with an agent” messaging the site gives off a weird FSBO like feel. Plus having the owner name front and center really seems creepy AF. Maybe they have something else planned but competing with Zillow, the other portals or chasing windmills like Homesnap seem to be akin to fighting a land war in Asia.
Part of Remine’s recent announcements is their new mascot, “Gia the Giraffe”. I think a giraffe is a perfect metaphor for Remine.
Remine currently offers Agent Pro, Enterprise Pro, Printing Services, Add/Edit module, MLS Public Portal, CMA (360 no less!), Credit Reports, a Consumer Portal, and now a full MLS System. I’ve also heard of a transaction manager in the works and I wouldn’t be surprised to hear of other products in the pipeline, or I missed a few. That’s a lot. But the guys at Remine are a confident, and have a “we can do it all” attitude.
But Remine should be smart and not to stick their neck out too far again, although I do realize that’s pretty difficult when you’re a giraffe.
