Where Real Estate Gets Its Dirt

The Queen’s Gambit

Annie Ives, CEO of VestaPlus

San Diego MLS Selects VestaPlus to Increase Data Integrity and Add AI Compliance with Checkmate

“The removal of offers of compensation from MLS represents a watershed moment of change for our industry,” Annie Ives, the CEO of VestaPlus, said in a statement. “As an MLS operator and vendor, it is vitally important that we implement new compliance tools that will enable the transition for real estate agents and brokers in the best possible way. We are anxious to partner with our MLS peers to implement these services for the benefit of our industry professionals.”

Annie Ives, CEO of VestaPlus

I’ve been working with a lot of MLS organizations that have been branching out into the vendor space. It can be humbling. You build a solution that really helps your MLS solve a big problem. The natural thing to think is, “I bet other MLS orgs have this same problem.” So you go to market. And that’s where the fun begins.

It’s hard to find a way to win. You need to have the right pieces in place. For Annie Ives, I think a key part is having a timely solution, and the addition of some key talent. Enter Kelly Robinson. It’s great to see their continued success together. The recent announcements of Staten Island and SDAR switching to Checkmate are good wins, and I’m hearing there are several other announcements ahead. It’s great to see Annie’s persistence pay off.

VestaPlus’s Checkmate adds new partner

VestaPlus™ and Staten Island Board of REALTORS® Collaborate to Propel Real Estate Data Compliance with Checkmate™

“Sandy Krueger, CEO of Staten Island MLS, said “Data integrity is the key to the service we provide to our subscribers and the consumers they serve. We look forward to enhancing our services using Checkmate™ and we are pleased with the working relationship we have already established with VestaPlus™.”

Annie Ives, CEO of VestaPlus™, shared, “We are excited to support Staten Island MLS with their goals of enhancing MLS data accuracy and streamlining internal processes.”

SIBOR and VestaPlus

VestaPlus is making some moves!

ARMLS adds Cloud CMA as a member benefit

Lone Wolf Technologies partners with Arizona Regional MLS

“In any market, and especially in one where buyers and sellers may not be entirely sure of what they can expect, it’s imperative for real estate agents to be able to demonstrate that they know and understand what’s happening,” said ARMLS’s James Marcus in a statement. “With this new Cloud CMA benefit from Lone Wolf, our agents will have a key resource in showing clients the expertise that will set them apart from the competition.”

ARMLS

What I think a lot of people forget is that Cloud CMA can be used as a lead generation tool. Congrats to Lone Wolf and ARMLS.

3 Major MLS organizations partner with Trackxi

Trackxi Partners with 3 Major MLS’s in California

This partnership ensures that Trackxi’s cutting-edge deal and task tracking platform will be available to all members of these prestigious associations. Real estate professionals can now efficiently manage their deals from start to finish, streamlining workflows and enhancing transparency to clients and partners. Agents and teams can now cut down up to 90% of their time on routine tasks and communications while significantly enhancing their professionalism at the same time. 

“We are committed to providing our members with innovative products and resources to help them thrive in today’s real estate market,” said DaVina Lara, CEO at bridgeMLS. “We believe that Trackxi’s platform will be a valuable asset to our members, allowing them to manage their deals more effectively and deliver exceptional service to their clients.”

Trackxi

Wonderful tool that is so necessary right now. Not only does it help agents be more productive and mindful but also helps them demonstrate their value to their clients. Congrats to Vijay and the rest of the Trackxi team.

IRE acquires BoomTown

Inside Real Estate Announces the Acquisition of BoomTown

“I’m thrilled to welcome BoomTown to the Inside Real Estate family!” said Joe Skousen, CEO, Inside Real Estate. “I commend Grier and the BoomTown team for what they have built and accomplished with their clients over the past 15 years. Our companies share a common DNA that is focused on driving real results for every client, every day. Together, we will deliver an unmatched experience for every user from single agents, to top performing teams and mega teams, to robust national enterprise brands. Our #1 job is being a tech partner to our clients – this combination reinforces that commitment.”

This has got to be a huge deal. But I can’t help but wonder how much bigger it would have been if they closed a year ago.

Housing Wire acquires REAL Trends

HW Media Acquires REAL Trends to Combine Two of Real Estate’s Most Powerful Media Outlets

“HW Media, publisher of HousingWire, FinLedger, and producer of Engage Events, today announced it has closed on the strategic acquisition of REAL Trends, the residential real estate industry’s leading report that ranks the performance of the top U.S. brokerage firms.

REAL Trends will continue to publish the REAL Trends 500, The Thousand, and Website Rankings reports on an annual basis, as well as produce the Gathering of Eagles and DealMAKERS events. Together with HW Media brands HousingWire and FinLedger, the company will reach over 11 million real estate, mortgage and fintech professionals each year”

Looks like Steve will continue with his M&A advisory business. So far I’m not such a big reader of Housing Wire (although I am a subscriber), it has a lot of focus on the mortgage industry and less on the residential real estate space, but I have seen that start to shift a bit.

I can imagine it’s hard to get that mix of news right. I do hear good things about HousingWire’s CEO Clayton Collins and I can imagine he is thinking a lot about this. I know from my perspective that I have little interest in what’s happening in the mortgage banking or title industry, and I think that is the same for the majority of real estate agents. But as new business models evolve it might be more important for company leaders to be educated on all facets of the real estate transaction.

Congrats to Steve, I can’t remember a time when there wasn’t a REAL Trends, and it’s great to see his legacy survive.

Deal to acquire CoreLogic gets sweeter

CoreLogic Target Of Takeover Effort, Gets New, Bigger Offer

???? Developing…

Elm Street Technology Secures Strategic Investment

Elm Street Technology Secures Strategic Investment By Aquiline Capital Partners

“Elm Street Technology offers a simplified platform called Elevate, for real estate technology and marketing services, that aims to provide a single vendor and point of contact to maximize business leads. The Elevate platform is currently used by tens of thousands of real estate agents, teams and brokerages across the United States. It offers a variety of seamlessly integrated tools including IDX websites, lead generation services, CRM, email, social, text and blog marketing automation, recruiting and retention campaigns, and more, all backed by zealous support and education teams.

“Aquiline is the perfect partner to help Elm Street Technology accelerate its growth strategy,” said Prem Luthra, President and CEO of Elm Street Technology. “With Aquiline, we will be able to broaden and accelerate our sales and marketing capabilities, enhance product development and increase our focus on strategic acquisitions that will allow us to better service the increasing demand for technology to automate and streamline the day-to-day activities of the busy real estate professional.”

Still a lot of appetite for real estate technology companies out there. Congrats to Prem and his team as they continue to grow.

FMLS signs exclusive deal for appraiser members

FMLS Reaches Exclusive Agreement to Provide DataMaster as a Free Member Benefit to Georgia Appraisers and Reduces Appraiser Membership Fees

“DataMaster is considered the gold standard for appraisal data management, and FMLS is the only MLS in the state with this exclusive partnership,” explained Jeremy Crawford, President and CEO of FMLS.

“We’re also going to reduce appraiser membership fees for accessing tax data, and add free, state-approved CE classes for appraisers. In addition, FMLS is expanding appraiser access to statewide tax data in all 159 counties and reducing lockbox key fees while removing the requirement to pay fees in person,” Crawford concludes.

Sounds like a great deal for appraisers. Congrats to DataMaster and FMLS.

REColorado to provide white-labeled version of MLS-Touch to members

REcolorado To Provide Brokers New Premium Mobile App

“MLS-Touch is more than just mobile access to the MLS. It’s a complete toolbox with live market stats, hotsheets, comparables, and a unique feature called ‘’Brand and Share’’ that allows brokers to add their own brand information including logo and matching colors, and share the REcolorado app with their clients,” said Staci Wood, vice president and chief product officer at REcolorado. “It also includes Realist tax data and has powerful contact and client relationship management features.”

Upon launch, the REcolorado app will be available to REcolorado subscribers at no additional cost and with no upselling. Looking forward, the app offers the ability to integrate listings from additional MLS organizations.

REColorado

There are so many great solutions out there for MLS organizations now. Congrats to REColorado and Prospects Software.

Sponsored By Lone Wolf