Word on the street this deal went down last week. The Texas firm seems to specialize as a turn around company. Developing…
Super excited about this news. Through the use of the Cloud CMA API program 7 MLS vendors now have deep integration with Cloud CMA and their respective MLS system. These include FBS’ flexmls, Rapattoni MLS, Dynaconnection’s connectMLS, RMLSweb, IRES MLS, Discover MLS and now Paragon!
Full press release below:
Cloud CMA now offers deep integration with the Paragon MLS system.
Allows seamless one-click access to all Cloud CMA reports
HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. – Nov. 11, 2011 – Web software company W&R Studios announced today a joint marketing agreement with LPS MLS Solutions and the completed integration of Cloud CMA with LPS’ Paragon MLS system.
Cloud CMA will now be available as an option to all Paragon subscribers and was recently launched with the Contra Costa Association of REALTORS®, Bay East Association of REALTORS® and East Bay Regional Data Inc., which combined serve more than 14,000 Paragon subscribers.
Cloud CMA is an online report generator and offers real estate professionals the ability to create custom comparative market analysis (CMA) reports, buyer tours, property reports and flyers. Paragon subscribers will have the option for “one-click” access to all Cloud CMA report sets.
“We love the way LPS’ Paragon team implemented the Cloud CMA integration,” said Greg Robertson, co-founder of W&R Studios. “Cloud CMA users can now generate great-looking reports in a matter of a few minutes.”
According to Glenn Christoph, MLS systems director for the Contra Costa and Bay East Association of REALTORS®, “Our users can create a variety of new reports using Cloud CMA. It’s also very easy for them to generate any report by just sending an email, even from their smartphones.”
“Cloud CMA offers a perfect solution for our customers looking for an enhanced CMA product with a lot of great, easy-to-use features that perfectly complement Paragon,” said Bob Morse, vice president of MLS Sales for LPS MLS Solutions.
About W&R Studios
Founded in 2008, W&R Studios is a privately held web software company located in Huntington Beach, California. W&R Studios focuses on creating the next generation of Web-based software solutions for the real estate industry. By providing a “less is more” approach to software design, elegant user interfaces, and using the latest in agile programming, W&R Studios’ software applications are at the same time powerful, yet accessible to everyone.
About Lender Processing Services (LPS)
Lender Processing Services, Inc. (LPS) is a leading provider of integrated technology, services and mortgage performance data and analytics to the mortgage and real estate industries. LPS offers solutions that span the mortgage continuum, including lead generation, origination, servicing, workflow automation (Desktop®), portfolio retention and default, augmented by the company’s award-winning customer support and professional services. Approximately 50 percent of all U.S. mortgages by dollar volume are serviced using LPS’ loan servicing platform, MSP. LPS also offers proprietary mortgage and real estate data and analytics for the mortgage and capital markets industries. For more information about LPS, visit www.lpsvcs.com.
# # #
For more information:
W&R Studios
Greg Robertson
714.240.3895
greg at wrstudios dot com
Lender Processing Services:
Michelle Kersch
904.854.5043
Michelle.Kersch at lpsvcs dot com
SOURCE: Lightning | Twice – The official blog of W&R Studios
The 2011 Vendor Alley Awards
It’s just about the time of year when you start reading “top 10″ lists of 2011. I thought I would start a new tradition here at Vendor Alley and rattle off my choices for top companies and people in the real estate industry for 2011.
I call them “The Vendys”.
1. The “Bob Hale” Award
The reason I call this the “Bob Hale” award is that it seems Bob is listed every year as one of the top influencer/innovators in the industry. So think of it as “besides Bob”, who really made a difference this year in the real estate industry. : )
And the winner is….Merri Jo Cowen
I’ve been a part of CMLS for many, many years and while other board presidents have set the stage for CMLS to take a larger role in the MLS community Merri Jo has been the catalyst to make those goals happen. It’s been a pleasure to have a front row seat to how CMLS has changed over the years and Merri Jo has been a huge part of that success.
2. Best new real estate technology/product. -Nest
What happens with the inventor of the iPod focuses his attention on real estate? Magic.
Runner up- I have to say that I really love Realtor.com’s iPad app.
3. Top MLS Provider. – MRED, LLC
All you need to do is take a look at the pressroom of MRED, LLC to see the transformation happening at MRED.
4. Top MLS Vendor – TIED: LPS and CoreLogic.
My basis for this was the CIVIX lawsuit. While I believe NAR painted themselves in to a corner with the settlement it was these two MLS vendors who stepped up and wrote the really big checks.
5. Top Real Estate Portal – Zillow
Their spectacular IPO and recent acquisition of Diverse Solutions only shows they are here to stay and poised to dominate.
6. Best new real estate vendor. – Goomzee
I’ve had many discussions with their CEO, Mike Sparr, and he is one of the new players that “gets it”.
7. Top company to watch – RED -Real Estate Digital
After a bold management buy-out, these guys are just getting started.
8. Most improved company – Inman News
The conferences are better, their site is better, Agent Reboot, InmanNext, the list goes on and on. Tim, Alice, Chris, and Katie and the rest of the team has done a spectacular job and can’t wait to see what’s next.
9. Best industry blog – 1000watt Blog
If I can’t pick VendorAlley.com then 1000watt Consulting gets my vote. Brian, Marc and Joel, offer equal doses of spot on analysis and inspiration all wrapped up in a beautifully atheistic and great writing.
10 Best company blog – RPR
While I have been known to poke some fun at these guys you can’t argue what a great job they do with their blog. One small quibble, I can’t view videos on my iPad.
11. Top MLS Provider CEO – Art Carter
Art Carter turned the fiasco that was California Association of REALTORS failed state-wide MLS effort (calREDD) into in the the largest MLS in country. I don’t think he’s done yet.
12. Best Industry Conference. – CMLS
Like with all my picks I’m a little biased but CMLS’ annual conference keeps getting bigger and better.
13. Best Real Estate Franchise – Keller Williams.
Sure their consumer facing website sucks but in the world of real estate franchisors its all about agent count and these guys are winning.
Well that’s it. Am I a “kiss ass”, “spot on”, “not even close”? What say you?
Happy Birthday Andy!
Please join me in wishing Andy a happy birthday!
Homes.com may be up for sale
Chairman and CEO of Landmark Media, Frank Batten Jr., owner of Dominion Enterprises and newspaper publications, recently stated that he still plans on selling the company’s business units. Dominion Enterprises is the parent company of Homes.com.
According to an article in the Richmond-Times Dispatch:
” ‘Our commitment to our shareholders is that at some point we will sell our businesses, as it makes sense,’ said Frank Batten Jr., son of the late Frank Batten Sr. and the chairman and CEO of the former Landmark Communications Inc., now Landmark Media Enterprises LLC.
Batten spoke about the history of the family business and his own entrepreneurship as part of the Robins School’s Executive Speaker series.”
“At September 30, 2011, CoreLogic had cash of $138.7 million. During the third quarter, the Company acquired Tarasoft Corporation, a leading provider of Multiple Listing Service systems software to the real estate industry for $30.3 million and also retired a pension-related note of approximately $17.0 million.”
http://www.sys-con.com/node/2047785
Guess who’s buying drinks in Anaheim?
Zillow acquires Diverse Solutions
Holy Zhit! Looks like Zillow had that IPO money burning a hole in their pocket! I hinted about this deal last month via Twitter but decided not to publish since I didn’t have a second confirmation.
$7.8 million in cash and stock, nice.
Big congrats to Justin! Big question, how will MLS providers react to this deal?
http://www.zillow.com/blog/2011-11-02/zillow-acquires-diverse-solutions/
UPDATED: Wurzer has some good perceptive on this deal: FBS Blog
These new stickers features the quote first made famous by Michael Hayes, “Never Go Big On The First Night“. It also features a partial Vendor Alley logo on its side (of course).
Just as before if you want one for yourself you have two options:
1. If you see me at an event/trade show/conference/lobby bar just ask.
2. Just send a self addressed stamp envelope to:
Vendor Alley Sticker Offer
123 Main Street
Suite 201
Huntington Beach, CA 92648
First come. First serve.
I was out at the ARMLS’ LEARNaTHON in Phoenix last week and was able to interview Chris Heagerty, their Director of Communications among other things. Bob Bemis has a phenomenal team and I’m super impressed how well produced their events are and the number of agents they attract. At LEARNaTHON we had 4 sessions, each about an hour long, where we could really educate interested members about Cloud CMA. Chris was kind enough to speak to me about how they put together their events. My hope is that other MLS providers might be inspired to try something similar. Thanks Chris!
