Where Real Estate Gets Its Dirt

Zillow Pro for brokers reaches 200 partners and why this matters.

There is such a paradox out there in the narrative about Zillow (Trulia, Realtor.com, etc.) and brokers. Do they love Zillow or do they hate them? Maybe I’m being too general, maybe the question should be split between big brokers and smaller brokers. But where do you draw that line?

But Dan Troup seems to love them, and it sounds like for good reason.

Zillow Pro for Brokers Program Surpasses 200 Partners

“Dan Troup, director of technology for RE/MAX of Michigan, said: “We are participating in Zillow Pro for Brokers because it is the right thing to do for our associates and their clients. The program allows our Brokers to maintain complete control of their listing data, while ensuring their clients’ listings receive the best exposure on Zillow’s mobile apps and website. We have been very impressed with the capabilities and results from partnering with Zillow.”

When you add Zillow’s milestone to the recent hubbub about The Realty Alliance and MLS providers to me the narrative is starting to get clearer. I think the real issue is that over the years brokers have lost control over their agents. The ironic thing is these same “agent centric” models were created by the brokers(RE/MAX, KW, etc.)

Some brokers are embracing this change, while others (driven by fear) are not. Perhaps instead of threatening and pointing fingers at others many brokers should take a good look in the mirror. As the saying goes, “Haters going to hate, players gonna play.”

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Listing Syndication Cage Match…not really

Matt Cohen has a great (if not wonkish) post about the ListHub / NAMLS kerfufel. With input from Luke Glass, from ListHub and Kipp Cooper from North Alabama MLS (NAMLS) Matt does a good job of getting down to the nitty gritty of things. Good read for anyone wanting a better understanding of the situation.

Methods of Real Estate Listing Syndication: Point – Counterpoint

After reading the post I came away with feeling that the issues that NAMLS has don’t really warrant creating something new from scratch. While Kipp has some genuine concerns I would think to work within the system, instead of outside, would be a better tactic. My guess is that he has some brokers/agent that have never understood how ListHub works, and that lack of understanding leads to fear.

That being said you have to look at this as a wakeup call for ListHub. Luke calls the 4 main concerns about ListHub “myths”. Telling someone they are wrong is not a good way to start a conversation.

Nextdoor, a social network for neighborhoods, raises 60 million.

I’ve written about Nextdoor before. No revenue yet, but these guys now have 90 million in the bank and Zillow’s co-founder Rich Barton on their board. I like the idea here, connecting online with your neighbors. Seems a little counter intuitive (why not just say hello instead?). But with everyone as busy as they are it seems that making a connection online is great way to start a relationship (online neighboring?). Here’s a quote from their CEO Nirav Tolia.

“And Mr. Tolia says Nextdoor is adding members at a healthy clip and believes it can fill the information void left by the erosion of local newspaper readership and local television viewing. The company is also attracting classified ads, robust discussions on its message boards about everything from crime to local businesses and services, and becoming a forum for neighbors to meet one another.”

Today is Bob Hale Day.

The city of Houston has proclaimed today, October 25th, 2013, Bob Hale Day!

bob hale day

And I thought that every day was Bob Hale Day! Congrats Bob! #bobfest

Russ ask’s “Can you live without the MLS?”

c_v10i21_coverGreat and timely article about the value of the MLS, featuring our very own Russ Bergeron! It speaks mostly to syndication and “pocket listings” but is very relevant to the recent discussions regarding the role of MLS providers. I think this quote from Russ is very succinct…

“‘While many agents appreciate the rules of the MLS, many do not necessarily believe any group should be legislating how a broker serves a client. And Bergeron agrees. “MRED has no interest in controlling the business model of any broker. Our job is to ensure that there is compliance with our rules,’ he says.”

CMLS 2014 – The Video

If you left Boise early you most likely missed the video highlighting next year’s CMLS 2014 Annual Conference. So well done (Great job Tracy and Art!)

Can’t wait to welcome you to my hometown!

CMLS 2013 a recap with photos

What got lost in the brouhaha on the last day of CMLS 2013 was what an awesome conference it truly was.

My hats off to Greg Manship of Intermountain MLS and Jay Gordon of Willamette Valley MLS. They along with both their staff pulled off an incredible event. I should also thank Sarah and the CMLS BOD of directors. All of us were a little worried about holding the event in Boise, ID. Turns out we didn’t have to worry, Boise is awesome and everyone showed!

I’m told the attendance reached over 580 participants, which is huge! While the buzz on the last day was the most talked about it the overall event was fantastic. The side conversations and networking were as compelling as the sessions. And I think I had 2 hours worth of “10 Minute Martinis”.

The publicity around the broker panel along with the location (Huntington Beach, CA) should make next year’s conference break all records in attendance.

I took some pictures at the event you can check out here on the Vendor Alley Flickr Site. Enjoy!

Vendor Alley Flickr Feed – CMLS 2013

“No deadline was set”

In case you missed this from the Realty Alliance Facebook Page.

“October 14th: If you are expecting to hear word of a huge initiative today, you listened to the (incorrect) message of the online speculators, not the actual message we delivered to CMLS conference participants.”

October 8th: “Blogs take guesses and get it way wrong. And that’s okay. Floating ideas and potential scenarios can be a constructive exercise.
Let us be clear: No deadline was set. TRA is not acting alone. Solutions being considered have been vetted and are not self-destructive to brokers. TRA stands fully behind, with no amendment or apology, the presentation made at CMLS at the request of CMLS.
Brokers will continue to try to work with MLSs (even after October 14). But, the industry now has options that are feasible today that were not realistic a short time ago. If local and national policy/practices don’t change in support of the industry they are to serve, brokers will have no choice but to exercise those options. That’s not a threat, it’s a business reality. Decisions this fall will be about launching “phase one.” There still is time to work together to solve these issues and shift MLSs to being resources for brokerages instead of being competitors to brokerages.
Specific concerns have been published, so MLSs have what they need to address these locally with their stakeholders. Not all the items on the list are problems in every market, but most every MLS is creating conflict with one or more of those practices/policies/attitudes. And, some of these issues create real potential for intervention by federal authorities if not fixed.
The general gist of these issues lists and the broker message have not changed in several years — these are not new news.
It is a shame there wasn’t more listening and more attention to broker concerns before last Friday and that there hasn’t been more meaningful two-way communication before this week. And, why have MLSs waited until the industry had started down a road that could offer alternatives before getting serious about bridging the gap?
All that aside, we remain hopeful for constructive conversations and self-evaluation in the coming days and weeks.”

Big Broker Brinkmanship

“Am I not destroying my enemies when I make friends of them?”
-Abraham Lincoln

The disconnect or “hatred” big brokers have for MLS providers is something I’ve heard for years, and years, and years.

“Leveling the playing field”, “not your role”, blah, blah, blah.

Unfortunately this is the same narrative that’s also reflected in our current national politics. Shut it down. Whether its Obamacare, or MLS public facing websites. I want my way or just Shut It Down!

They give their list of demands and set a deadline. “Brinkmanship” is the new term of the day.

Well last week, whether intended or not, The Realty Alliance (TRA) got the attention of the MLS community. On stage Craig Cheatham, CEO of The Realty Alliance (talk about a tough gig!), delivered his message, “You’ve got 10 days”. After this tense panel discussion the hallways outside of the general session were smattered with MLS execs making hasty calls back home.

“Bullshit posturing” was my first take. But this time, I’m hearing, it will be different. The Realty Alliance is going to do something, not just talk the talk, but walk the walk!

But from my eyes I don’t see anything that can’t be fixed. And they need to be fixed by working with MLS providers not against them. Because if they decide to work against MLS provider I see disastrous consequences for TRA and will only serve to make MLS Providers “more powerful than you can possibly imagine.”

TSA, here’s your nightmare scenario. The scuttlebutt I hear is you are planning of pulling out of IDX from local MLS providers and then provide your own quasi-MLS.

Here’s the consequences.

agent pick up1. You will lose a ton of talented agents. Agents, like most people, hate change. It won’t matter if your solution is better. They hate change. I know many franchisors that are literally licking their chops. Knowing, if you do this, it will create a HUGE recruitment opportunity for them.

2. Your quasi-MLS solution will fail. This is not your core competency. This will be a huge distraction to you just as the real estate market is recovering. A distraction, I might add, that your competition will not face. First rule of getting out of a hole you dug is to stop digging!overhead

Business man in suit3. When you fail you will have to go back to your local MLS providers with your tail tucked between your legs. That smile on the MLS execs face as you come walking in the door is hiding the thoughts crossing his/her mind, “Who’s your Daddy now bitch?”

So what’s a big broker to do?

Stop listening to the consultants you’ve hired. Stop drafting new business plans. Go sell a ton of real estate. You have the MLS community attention. Take advantage of it.

Don’t lose this opportunity.

You only have 6 days!

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