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!

What does the “Z” in MAZL, LLC stand for?

Update on the Pending Sale of REcolorado to MAZL, LLC

“Firstly, as noted in our public FAQ, MAZL, LLC, is a private company formed specifically to acquire the MLS service. Joseph E. Burks is the sole and only purchaser of REcolorado. He created MAZL, LLC specifically to execute the Letter of Intent (LOI) and complete the business transaction. There are no other investors.”

Denver Metro Association of REALTORS(r)

Okay, I’m just having a little fun with the title of this post. I don’t think Zillow has anything to do with the sale of REcolorado MLS. But I do want to point something out, and it may be obvious already to some but I don’t know why more people are not talking about it.

One person, in this case Joseph Burks, is about to own the 16th largest MLS organization (by agent count) in the country. I don’t think anyone really understands what the second order consequences of this decision could be. 🍿

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.

“Deal in place…” for REColorado MLS sale to private equity firm

Deal in place to sell REcolorado to private equity firm 

“Shelly Vincent, vice chair of REcolorado, on Monday night confirmed that the owners of the MLS — Denver Metro Association of Realtors (DMAR) and the South Metro Denver Realtor Association (SMDRA) — shared a letter of intent to sell REColorado to a newly formed LLC from outside the real estate space.

The sale could be final in weeks.”

Stephanie Reid-Simons, RealEstateNews.com

Holy shit! But if I’m reading between the lines the deal isn’t done.

So many questions!!

Nice scoop RealEstateNews.com!

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.

SentriLock and NAR deal turns 20

SentriLock Celebrates 20Years as Official Lockbox Solution of the National Association of REALTORS®

“SentriLock began when Scott Fisher, founder and CEO of SentriLock, with his partners, was working on improving the existing lockbox solution used by real estate agents. As the first working prototypes were being assembled, NAR made the decision to respond to member dissatisfaction of having only one lockbox solution and purchased majority interest in SentriLock. SentriLock and its new lockbox made its debut at the NAR Leadership Summit in August 2003 and, with its return to the Summit this year, SentriLock celebrates 20 years as the NAR’s official lockbox solution allowing REALTORS® to “Unlock their potential”.

Scott’s contribution to the industry goes even farther back to PC Access, which was an earlier competitor of mine (Lightning -Easy MLS Access) in the pre-internet days. Many years later Scott and I had a chance to sit down at lunch and talk about the old days of VT-100n, Moore Data, PRC, and BORIS. Congrats.

MRED adds Paragon Connect

MRED adds Black Knight’s Paragon Connect as MLS platform; expands suite of options for brokers

“MRED’s nearly 50,000 subscribers can anticipate gaining access to Paragon Connect in early 2024. The front end will be offered in addition to connectMLS.  

“As the MRED marketplace expands, we want to provide additional choices to our subscribers,” said MRED President and CEO Rebecca Jensen. “Each of the brokerages we serve is unique. Providing multiple ways to access and enter data allows them the ability to better customize their MLS experience.”  

MRED offers over two dozen products and services to brokers located in Illinois and surrounding states. MRED chose Paragon Connect due to feedback from our marketplace.”

Big win for Black Knight. And turning the tables a bit by putting some pressure on dynaConnections.

I was intrigued by Black Knight’s press release titled, MIDWEST REAL ESTATE DATA (MRED) SELECTS PARAGON CONNECT MLS FROM BLACK KNIGHT AS A PLATFORM OF CHOICE.

“Platform of choice”? What’s “Platform of choice”? I really hadn’t heard that term before, and it certainly isn’t on my “Speaking MLS” post but I’m going to add it, here why.

In the parlance of MLS Vendors like Black Knight, “System of Choice” really only meant “search of choice”. The big difference is that with “Platform of Choice” the alternative MLS system (in this case Paragon Connect) also has its own add/edit functionality. Which for an alternative MLS system is great because otherwise agent/members could only enter listings in to the primary/incumbent MLS system. By also allowing add/edit in the alternative MLS system this essentially levels the playing field so that agent members can also input listings in the new MLS system.

Obviously one reason (biggest reason?) MRED is adding Paragon Connect is to make it easier for neighboring MLS organizations to join MRED without the burden of learning a new MLS system. I don’t believe we have seen a situation where an alternative MLS system comes in and then over time takes over as the primary MLS system in regard to usage. I also haven’t seen an MLS organization shut down alternative MLS Systems once they have merged with another MLS/Assn. but I think this would be easier to do.

Paragon Connect has been getting some good reviews, but it’s going to take more than a new UI/UX differentiation to lure existing MRED users to their platform. I have some ideas. But that’s for another post.

CRMLS partners with Local Logic

California Regional Multiple Listing Service (CRMLS) Announces Agreement with Local Logic

“By working with Local Logic, CRMLS continues to expand our mission to provide as much property-centric data to our users by offering the most innovative data solutions,” said CRMLS CEO Art Carter. “Local Logic’s industry-leading data will provide our users with a competitive edge and empower them with incredibly comprehensive information that goes far beyond basics of a property.”

“CRMLS is known for its innovation and providing its users with industry-leading technology solutions to power their work,” said Vincent-Charles Hodder, CEO and co-founder of Local Logic. “We’re so excited to bring the power of our data insights to CRMLS users and clients.”

Local Logic has been on a roll lately. They seemingly have everything related to a property including demographics, location scores, neighborhood profiles, points of interest along with school and climate data. From the press release, this data will be available from CRMLS multiple MLS systems.

MLSListings adds Prospects CRM as a new member benefit

MLSListings Delivers CoreLogic’s Prospects CRM as a New, Included Benefit to its ~17,000 Subscribers

“We are bolstering our agent tech stack by making a top-shelf CRM solution available to our subscribers that offers easy onboarding and time-saving integrations with other CoreLogic solutions, including MatrixTM and the MLS-Touch® mobile app, said Dave Wetzel, President and CEO of MLSListings. “Prospects CRM gives our members a powerful new tool that will help them manage clients in the most efficient and effective way possible.”

Adding a CRM as an MLS member benefit is a relatively new thing. Although C.A.R. recently added LionDesk at a state level. Integrating with MLS client portals seems to be a no-brainer. Interesting to see how far this trend goes.

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