Where Real Estate Gets Its Dirt

Looking for a new gig?

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – Mid-Carolina Regional Association of REALTORS®

“The Mid-Carolina Regional Association of REALTORS® is seeking a dynamic Chief Executive Officer to drive strategic growth, member engagement, and operational excellence in the heart of Pinehurst, NC—a world-renowned golf destination and luxury second-home hotspot.

Chief Executive Officer
Mid-Carolina Regional Association of REALTORS® (MCRAR)
Pinehurst, North Carolina

Ready to lead in one of the most beautiful and stable real estate markets in the country?

Home to the USGA and 40 golf courses in just 15 miles, Pinehurst offers an unmatched lifestyle with a real estate market fueled by affluent second-home buyers and a deeply rooted sense of community.”

The find out about this job or post a job, please visit the Giant Steps Job Board.

Doorify invests in BPP

Doorify MLS Joins Broker Public Portal as Strategic Investor

“Our investment in Broker Public Portal is a clear signal of Doorify MLS’s commitment to technology sovereignty in real estate,” said Matt Fowler, CEO of Doorify MLS. “By taking ownership in this broker- and MLS-controlled platform, we’re ensuring our industry retains vital control over its technology infrastructure and data. Our core mission is to provide consumers with the most comprehensive MLS search experience, directly connecting them with the local experts – their agents and brokers. This investment fortifies a platform truly built by the industry, for the industry, fostering genuine engagement between consumers and real estate professionals.”

The tech that Dan and his team have put together in such a short amount of time is pretty amazing. And I was especially impressed by this statement from the release:

“With this addition, the strategic investors in the Broker Public Portal are comprised of 44 brokerages and 48 MLSs, serving 1,047,000 agents.”

There seems to be a lot of opportunity out there. The tough part is just fitting all the pieces together. Fortunately, Matt and his team have no shortage of ideas, and with his background at Solid Earth I’m confident they will be a perfect strategic partner.

Rechat and new AI kids

Rechat Doubles Revenue, Triples Customer Base, Grows Team and Introduces New Tools

“Celebrating its 10th year in business, Rechat is redefining how real estate professionals work by integrating AI across every part of the transaction. The platform offers a fully connected experience from lead to close, combining CRM, marketing automation, design, digital advertising, and smart transaction management into one single interface. With over 16,000 users, 75% average CRM adoption and expanding partnerships with top national brokerages, Rechat is setting a new standard for how agents engage with clients and grow their business.”

I see two (maybe three) camps forming:

  1. Existing software vendors/solutions adding AI into their products
  2. Native AI solutions—those built with AI first and foremost in mind
  3. And recent vendors who have either scrapped their existing products or gone all in on AI.

Rechat looks like they’re getting a few things right. I’m especially impressed with their team. I’ve chatted with Rechat founder and CEO Shayan Hamidi and seen him speak. I also worked with Shaun Harkley at Lone Wolf, he’s a solid sales leader. And of course, newly added Audie Chamberlain is one of my favorite people in the industry.

The new kids seem to be chasing the same things the old kids were chasing: the elusive “all-in-one” product. Maybe Rechat’s “Super App” is a better path. And I wonder if AI is the key to actually making that happen?

T3 Sixty says Bright MLS is #1

Bright tops 2025 MLS rankings

“Who’s No. 1? For the first time since T3 Sixty began its rankings, there is a new player in the top spot: Bright MLS, with 101,000 members. Bright has moved into the position formerly occupied by California Regional MLS, which drops to No. 2 with 99,000 members, followed by Central Florida-based Stellar MLS with 81,453.

The shift at the top aligns with the bigger picture nationally, where every part of the country saw a drop in the total number of MLS subscribers — except the South Atlantic region (up 0.4%). That area is covered in part by Bright MLS and has seen ongoing population growth.”

The difference in subscriber count is just 2,100. I’ve said this before, but what Clint Skutchan does with T3 Sixty is an incredible asset to the industry. The RE Almanac sits on my desk and serves as an important reference every week.

NorthstarMLS adds UtahRealEstate.com’s reDataExport tool

UtahRealEstate.com’s Newest Company, reDataExport, Signs NorthstarMLS as its First Customer

“Founded in January 2025 by UtahRealEstate.com, reDataExport aims to transform real estate data distribution by providing an efficient platform to supply real estate information to those who need multiple listing service (“MLS”) data for research, statistics, and analytics. MLSs across the nation often receive requests from government agencies, universities, economists, and research companies that need access to specific MLS data for market research and legislative analysis. With the reDataExport product, NorthstarMLS will be able to license data to these types of entities and provide the data without having to give full access to their MLS system, ensuring the confidentiality and data integrity of the MLS system”

Love these types of solutions. Simple, solves a problem, and easy to implement. I bet it’s pretty inexpensive too. Might be an easy way for others to support MLS led tech. I’m sure either Brad or Casey would love to chat.

Ocusell and Restb.ai partner to enhance FMLS listings

Ocusell Partners with Restb.ai to Enhance FMLS Listings with Built-In AI

“This partnership embeds Restb.ai’s advanced computer vision technology directly into Ocusell, giving agents and brokers powerful time-saving tools while maintaining the highest standards of accuracy and reliability,” said Hayden Rieveschl, CEO and Founder of Ocusell.”

This space is heating up.

Hobson’s Choice

The Truth Behind the Private Exclusive Listing Shell Game

“The term “Hobson’s Choice” indicates something that provides the illusion of choice but is not a real choice. And that would most accurately describe the “consumer’s choice” the real estate industry spends so much time discussing. Various theoretical reasons are presented for the choice that Refkin suggests consumers want. Those reasons for choosing a private exclusive listing have been easily addressed by the real estate industry for over 100 years with the existing rules set. In this new model, consumers are introduced to the program through manipulation disguised as concern and counseling, which contradicts the obligations of agency under which most real estate practitioners receive their licenses.”

Can’t believe this is the first time I’ve linked to Bill Lublin’s excellent blog.

Listing Input via voice is now live at MetroList thanks to Lundy

Voice is Here: MetroList Agents Streamline Listings with Lundy-Powered App

“MetroList agents are now collecting property data on-site with the new voice-controlled app, capturing property details instantly and accurately by simply speaking as they walk through the home. Once agents experience the speed and convenience of this technology, there’s no going back. The app intelligently interprets spoken descriptions, automatically populating listing fields and reducing manual data entry. This allows agents to collect more complete and descriptive data in less time, enhancing the quality and searchability of listings across the platform.”

I never really thought that doing listing input via a mobile device was that practical. I just thought it might be too cumbersome to “type” that data on a phone. But this new voice stuff by Lundy is pretty slick.

Denne Evans to step down as CEO of CMLS

Denee Evans to Step Down After 10 Transformative Years Leading CMLS

“Leading CMLS has been the honor of a lifetime,” said Evans. “Together, we’ve built something lasting—an organization that supports, elevates, and connects the MLS community like never before. I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished and confident in what comes next. While I’ve decided not to renew my contract at the end of the year, I remain fully committed to supporting a smooth transition and continuing our momentum through 2025.”

It’s amazing to look back over the past 10 years and see everything that’s happened in our industry. Denee certainly had her work cut out for her. I imagine this will be a well-deserved break for her and her family.

But as we all know, this is the “Hotel California”, so I’m sure we’ll see Denee again.

Thank you, Denee, for all you’ve done for the industry.

CRMLS helps agents showcase the power of the MLS

The Value of Representation

“Your clients may not always see the behind-the-scenes effort you put into delivering an exceptional real estate experience. The expertise, dedication, and tools you leverage—especially your connection to the MLS—are key to providing outstanding service. “

I love this. It reminds me of the Making the Market Work campaign that CMLS and 1000watt put together, but this effort feels more localized and broader in the range of assets being delivered. It’s designed to be easy for agents to incorporate into their listing presentations or social media campaigns.

What I especially appreciate is that CRMLS is both talking the talk and walking the walk. CRMLS CEO Art Carter and General Counsel Ed Zorn have long been leaders in championing the value of the MLS, and they’re backing up that commitment with real tools their members can use to demonstrate that value.

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