Where Real Estate Gets Its Dirt

Onboard Informatics closes office.

OBI

I just heard that OnBoard has closed or is closing it’s Ft. Lauderdale offices. The status of the employees at that office is unknown at this time.

The Ft. Lauderdale team was primarily responsible for building an IDX aggregation system and had developers who were also working on their fabled Lifestyle Search Engine (LSE). Many of the Ft. Lauderdale team members were former eNeighborhoods employees. eNeighborhoods currently handles IDX services for remax.com, coldwellbanker.com, century21.com, and era.com.

This is in concert with the news that OnBoard has entered a “strategic partnership” with Cyberhomes. Which states “Onboard Informatics has chosen Cyberhomes as its MLS listings feed aggregation partner. ”

So if I’m reading the tea leaves correctly OnBoard decided that it was easier to buy than build this technology. The move also comes on the heels of the “departure” of Rob Hahn.

Seems like OnBoard is scrambling. It was always puzzling to me why they wanted to build a national IDX aggregation system from scratch. I’m sure they found out quick that it’s not so easy.

The bigger question is the fate of the employees they hired to implement their strategic mistake.

  1. We certainly appreciate your always-kind & thoughtful coverage of our company. Since you are so interested, I’d like to clarify a couple of things.

    Today we have announced a partnership with Cyberhomes, and they will be provided us with MLS data feeds. The demand for our LLE and other integrated products outstripped the our ability to scale MLS coverage internally. You are right, aggregating a national network of MLS feeds direct from the MLS has proven a daunting challenge that we feel we can better accomplish through this partnership.

    On the positive side, this is a win for our clients eager for the products, service & expertise we’re well known for. By focusing on the continued build-out of our Lifestyle Listings Engine and integration of the industry’s best content with listings, we are able to provide unique value to our clients.

    On the down side, we will be parting ways over the next several months with an excellent team of professionals in the FL office. To a person, they have proven to be hard working & dedicated individuals and we regret that we’re parting ways.

    As far as your other assessments of our company & it’s strategy, well I’ll leave that to our clients and partners to judge.

    Thanks again Greg for your concern for interest & concern.

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