Where Real Estate Gets Its Dirt

Larson/Sobotka announces promotion of Mitch Skinner

Congrats Mitch!

Full Press Release Below:

Larson/Sobotka PLLC announces promotion of Mitchell A. Skinner as member of the firm

Minneapolis, September 20, 2012: Larson/Sobotka PLLC, the Minneapolis-based law firm that serves multiple listing service, REALTOR® association, and brokerage clients around the U.S., announced today that Mitchell A. Skinner is now a member of the firm, which is an equity position roughly equivalent to that of a “partner” if the firm were organized as a partnership. Skinner provides copyright, trademark, and technology and licensing counsel to the firm’s clients.

According to firm member Elizabeth S. Sobotka, “Over the last 18 months, Mitch has led the firm’s MLS data licensing and vendor contracting practice. He has become the foremost practitioner in these types of transactions on behalf of MLSs.” The firm’s managing member, Brian N. Larson, emphasized Skinner’s commitment to the real estate industry. Skinner is providing pro bono counsel to the Real Estate Standards Organization, and for the second year he is a member of the organizing committee for the Council of Multiple Listing Services Legal Seminar in Boston, MA on September 26, 2012, where he will also be presenting on current strategic issues and vendor relations.

Skinner received his J.D. from the University of Minnesota cum laude and is admitted before the Minnesota Supreme Court and the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota. Prior to joining Larson/Sobotka, Skinner practiced general litigation in Minneapolis. Larson/Sobotka focuses its practice on e-commerce, databases, web branding issues, and rule-making for online communities.

Vendor Alley adds 1000watt Index

I’ve always wanted to put together a comprehensive list of all the software solutions available for real estate. Well thanks to 1000watt Consulting‘s new Index, I don’t have to! There are so many things I love about this site, its comprehensive, its design, and the simplicity, it’s just great. One quibble I’ve had in the past was there was no way for me to advertise or highlight my apps on the site. Well a few weeks ago 1000watt added the ability to do just that.

I’ll let you go to the site and find out the details for yourself, but needless to says it’s an easy, low cost way to get your app noticed. And I’ll be helping out that exposure by adding a new Page to Vendor Alley, called Real Estate Apps, that will link to the 1000watt Index directly.

American Taliban

Today made me think of the dangers of religious fanaticism abroad, and at home. Here’s a quote.

“Mark my word, if and when these preachers get control of the [Republican] party, and they’re sure trying to do so, it’s going to be a terrible damn problem. Frankly, these people frighten me. Politics and governing demand compromise. But these Christians believe they are acting in the name of God, so they can’t and won’t compromise. I know, I’ve tried to deal with them.
…..
The religious factions that are growing throughout our land are not using their religious clout with wisdom…. I’m frankly sick and tired of the political preachers across this country telling me as a citizen that if I want to be a moral person, I must believe in ‘A,’ ‘B,’ ‘C,’ and ‘D.’ Just who do they think they are?… I will fight them every step of the way if they try to dictate their moral convictions to all Americans in the name of “conservatism.”

– Barry Goldwater, (1909–1998), five-term US Senator, Republican Party nominee for President in 1964*, Maj. Gen., US Air Force Reserves, author of The Conscience of a Conservative.

Never forget.

ARMLS names new CEO

Matt Consalvo
Congratulations to Matt Consalvo on his new position as CEO of ARMLS! Matt was previously serving as the interim CEO after Bob Bemis left the CEO spot to join Zillow.

CMLS 2012 Agenda Released

CMLS is announcing the agenda for their annual conference, being held in Boston this year and hosted by Kathy Condon of MLSPIN. It looks jam packed full of goodness!

I’m also very excited to be the moderator a the “Publish Syndicate or What?” panel. My panelists will include:

Matt Dollinger,Trulia.com
Luke Glass, ListHub
Andy Woolley, Homes.com
Tom Hurdelbrink, Northwest MLS

UPDATE: [Bob Bemis from Zillow with join our esteemed panel!]

Be sure to mark your calendars.

See full press release below:
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CMLS2012 – Agenda Released for September’s CMLS2012 Boston Conference
S
hrewsbury, MA (September 6, 2012) – In less than three weeks, the annual gathering of multiple listing services known as CMLS will take place in the Hub of the Universe, otherwise known as Boston, MA. In keeping with the positive news regarding national homes sales, the conference theme, “Today’s challenges, tomorrow’s triumphs,” is fitting. This year’s keynote speaker, Jon Gordon, bestselling author, speaker, and guru to Fortune 500 companies and sports franchises, promises to echo that theme, getting the conference off to a positive, energetic start. Nationally acclaimed economist and public speaker, Elliot Eisenberg, PhD., will also be on hand for day two to provide an informed and entertaining economic update. If real estate is truly the engine that drives the economy, he will certainly let us know how that engine is running.

This year, CMLS and MLS PIN are pulling out all the stops, booking industry superstars like Brad Inman of Inman News and John Tucillo of the Florida Association of REALTORS® to tackle the home price index question. “We have placed a good deal of thought into this year’s agenda,” says MLS PIN CEO Kathy Condon. “Everyone who attends will come away with something worthwhile and relevant to what is occurring in our industry today. We have chosen dynamic, expert presenters to discuss everything from home financing trends to today’s tech powered real estate.” You will also get a bird’s eye view of the industry with Ann Bailey’s Industry Update, and learn, via legal expert Marc Manos, if MLS organizations can still protect against data piracy, or if the “cows are out of the barn.” And don’t miss out on an informative legal update hosted by attorneys John Rees, Chris Osborn, and legal expert, Brian Larson.

Since all work and no play makes us, well, dull conference attendees, we’re planning a fabulous welcome reception with an amazing view from the Top of the Hub at the Prudential Center Skywalk, as well as Upper Deck Trolley Tours, exciting door prizes and surprises to make this conference a memorable one.

This is the largest event of its kind for the MLS industry, providing invaluable information and unparalleled networking. Although registration has surpassed our expectations, CMLS2012 in Boston still has plenty of room for more attendees. For a full preview of the conference agenda, go to http://www.councilofmls.com/cmls2012-agenda/. If you’d like to join us, head to www.cmls2012.com to register today. If you’d like more information on the conference itself, contact Sarah Carlton at 919-459-2070, or for information on sponsoring contact Melissa Lindberg at 508-845-1011.

Council of Multiple Listing Services (CMLS) is the premier forum and resource for Multiple Listing Services.

MLS Property Information Network (MLS PIN) is a privately REALTOR® owned multiple listing service with approximately 29,000 participants and subscribers throughout New England, which manages a comprehensive database of nearly 50,000 listings for sale. It is the largest MLS in New England, and one of the largest in the nation.
SOURCE: MLS Property Information Network, Inc. (MLS PIN)

For additional information, please contact:
Melissa Lindberg
MLS PIN Director of Marketing, Communication & Outreach 508-845-1011 ext. 7121
mlindberg at mlspin dot com

RESO is gaining traction

CLICK TO ENLARGE

MOVE, Inc acquires TigerLead for 22 million in cash.

Move, Inc. Acquires TigerLead Solutions LLC

“Used by thousands of agents nationwide, the TigerLead platform provides real estate professionals a powerful solution for capturing, cultivating, and managing buyer and seller leads. For brokers and teams, the platform also provides an enterprise-class lead management system that gives 24/7 visibility into the entire team’s lead follow-up performance. This unique platform provides a potent closed-cycle system that combines strong Search Engine Marketing (SEM) expertise with a sophisticated IDX platform and lead management system to help agents generate “Smarter Leads,” leads that are delivered with unique insights such as how many times a user has returned to the site to search, price ranges and the amount of times homes are viewed.”

I’ve read mostly positive reviews about TigerLead in agent forums, but don’t know much about their business. 22 million is a great payday for to co-fouders Howard Tager, Art Sawyer, and Adam Ingersol

Errol Samuelson explains a bit more about TigerLeads at Move Trends…

Move Acquires TigerLead

“Additionally, the TigerLead platform delivers deep insights into the consumer’s “DNA” – insights like how many times a user has returned to the site to search, price ranges and amount of times homes are viewed. This key information and analytical data can help real estate professionals take that next step in enhancing relationships and connections via a deep understanding of consumer wants and needs.”

This seems to me to be a response to Zillow’s $10 websites. They are changing the conversation/value proposition by adding a system/platform to REALTORS that give insights to consumer behavior, not just a cheap website. It’s not just traffic, but traffic plus business intelligence.

My question is, how this will integrate with MOVE’s Top Producer CRM system.

Rob Overman has notion to start his own software company.

This is interesting news to start out the RESO conference, which is kicking off in Chicago this week.

Word on the street is that Rob Overman is leaving his new gig at ShowingTime and starting his own software company dubbed, “nōshun”, pronounced “notion” I assume.

http://www.noshun.net

Details are sparse but I’ll updated when I hear more. Or perhaps Rob might post a little confirmation/clarification in the comments.

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