Where Real Estate Gets Its Dirt

Industry Relations Podcast: Why Real Estate Needs Separation of Church and State

What’s it like being a technology company in the world of real estate and MLS? And why does it seem like there needs to be some “separation of church and state.” in real estate? Join Rob and Greg in this episode of Industry Relations as they chat with Stuart White, CEO at Realtracs. They delve into the tech side of real estate and why Realtracs is paving the way in treating MLS members. To see how Stuart and his team are leading real estate tech visit them at Realtracs.

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This podcast is produced by Two Brothers Creative 2023.

Katie Smithson on RENEW podcast

Great interview of Katie on Lauren Martin’s (of RentSpree) RENEW podcast. I had no idea Katie was so well-versed in the lift capacity of forklifts! Also, check Denee Evans’ interview.

HAR partners with Lundy for an innovative home search tool

HOUSTON ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS COLLABORATES WITH LUNDY INC. ON AN INNOVATIVE HOME-SEARCH TOOL

“This groundbreaking collaboration will extend the well-known HAR.com brand to the Alexa platform powered by Lundy Inc.’s innovative Finding Homes technology. Utilizing the power of technology built with OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Lundy Inc. will onboard HAR as its first MLS system to benefit from its advanced AI and machine learning capabilities. This revolutionary technology will enable a more efficient and personalized home search experience, transforming how consumers interact with real estate data and HAR’s vast listing inventory.

“The powerful combination of voice technology, AI and HAR’s MLS data will make it easier than ever to access property information,” said HAR Chair Cathy Treviño with Side, Inc. “We believe this cutting-edge tool will allow consumers to experience a whole new way of navigating the real estate market and quickly connect with agents during the home buying process.”

This seems different from Lundy’s home search for the blind tool. Can’t wait to hear a demo.

Everybodys doing it

UtahRealEstate.com and the New Mexico Multiple Listing Service Partner to Share Data and Services

In addition, NMMLS will be able to showcase Utah listings on their growing website, realestateofnewmexico.com, and NMMLS members will eventually have access to the many MLS software tools and services provided by URE. The exposure of listings on both websites will help listing agents in these states receive more leads directly from the consumer.

According to Brad Bjelke, CEO of UtahRealEstate.com, “This new partnership shows what is possible when forward-thinking organizations focus on giving their members and the consumer the best data and services available. At URE, we build technology in-house, and we have the ability to implement technology partnerships quickly. As our organization continues to expand across state borders, we see tremendous opportunities to help eliminate data confusion and replication in areas where multiple MLSs operate. We also see the great potential in having our software and services reach agents across the nation. We are looking forward to having the data of two neighboring states come together.”

Funny enough I didn’t have New Mexico and Utah on my bingo card.

CRMLS inks deal with NorthStarMLS for new SSO/Dashboard solution

California Regional MLS (CRMLS) and NorthstarMLS Enter SSO Agreement

“This announcement marks the start of an evolution for NorthstarMLS with our mission of providing a collaborative marketplace of real estate data, tools, and services at the forefront,” said Tim Dain, NorthstarMLS CEO. “We believe that MLSs like NorthstarMLS and CRMLS have similarities that can and should benefit both MLSs and the customers we serve.”

CRMLS and NorthstarMLS have begun to work together to implement the necessary changes required to convert NorthstarMLS onto CRMLS SSO. The SSO integration is expected to launch later in 2023 within the new REcenterhub dashboard that CRMLS has designed and developed from the ground up.”

The trend continues as more MLS organizations are taking over their own tech stacks and in some cases like this one, successfully sell them to other MLS organizations who have the same/similar needs. MLSAligned so far is only interested in serving its owners, and other MLS-owned initiatives that are barely holdings on.

One thing is for certain, if MLS organizations are going to do this successfully they are going to need to invest in a good sales team.

The end is nigh?

Andrea Brambila for Inman News: Bombshell multibillion-dollar commission suit now a class action

“In a serious blow to the National Association of Realtors and major real estate franchisors, potentially millions of homesellers can ask to be reimbursed for billions in commissions they paid to buyer agents between 2015 and 2020 as a result of a federal court ruling on Wednesday.”

Welp, here we go. I’ve been holding off writing about this in the hopes I come up with some sort of positive spin. But I don’t have one. After reading the judge’s memo, it seems she has her mind made up. And I’m afraid all the nuances of our business are going to be lost to someone who wants to take the advice of someone who says…

“…in more competitive markets, the increasing use of the internet has reduced consumer costs, highlighting how increases in the number of consumers using the internet to book air travel and to trade stocks has been accompanied by corresponding decreases in commissions for travel agents and stockbrokers.”

Buying a house ≠ Buying a plane ticket

Buying a house ≠ Buying a stock

And Zillow can’t smell the cat.

Listing Bits Podcast: Pooling Resources & Expertise Among MLSs – with Betsy Hanson of Markt

From a vendor’s perspective, small MLSs are the most challenging to work with. And that’s no surprise, seeing as how they have fewer resources than the big players in the space.

So, how do we support MLSs with fewer than 400 members in keeping up with NAR rules, for example? Is there a way MLSs might share marketing, support, and compliance services in a way that makes the market work better for all involved?

Betsy Hanson is General Manager and General Counsel at Markt, a multi-MLS service organization focused on pooling resources and expertise to serve MLSs, brokers, and agents. 

On this episode of Listing Bits, Betsy shares her journey from an executive assistant at a small association to her current role at Markt, describing how she avoids the attorney’s reputation as the Department of No.

Betsy offers her take on what organized real estate is missing about the life and times of an ordinary REALTOR, why the average agent doesn’t understand the lawsuits facing the industry, and how those lawsuits might change the way we do things moving forward.

Listen in to understand how Markt works as an MLS back-office provider and learn how Betsy and her team are uniquely positioned to help MLSs of all sizes with local market delivery.

What’s Discussed:  

Betsy’s journey from an executive assistant at a small association to General Counsel at Markt

What differentiates the role of executive assistant from that of the chief of staff

How Betsy avoids the attorney’s reputation as the Department of No

Betsy’s experience teaching English in China between undergrad and law school

What organized real estate is missing about the life and times of an ordinary REALTOR

Why the average REALTOR-on-the-street doesn’t know about the lawsuits facing the industry

How public perception of REALTORS remains positive despite lawsuits around compensation

Betsy’s predictions re: how the lawsuits facing organized real estate might play out

How Markt began as a way for MLSs to pool support resources and create efficiencies

Markt’s potential to solve the challenge small MLSs face in keeping up with NAR rules

Connect with Betsy:

Markt

Email betsy@themarkt.com

Resources:

Notorious ROB

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REsides first to launch Inspectify

RESIDES IS FIRST TO MARKET WITH ADVANCED INTEGRATION WITH INSPECTIFY

“Inspectify leverages its proprietary software to customize and integrate the data found within a home for individuals, institutional investors, and iBuyers well beyond the scope of a traditional property inspection. For non-institutional buyers, Inspectify’s streamlined approach and concierge-level service save hours typically spent searching for inspectors and coordinating schedules and access. Through the platform, buyers can instantly book inspections and receive repair estimates.”

I’m seeing a lot more of these “marketplaces” type business models lately. I think these will do great if they can get participation.

Omni MLS partners with Lone Wolf to bring transaction management solutions to Latin America

Latin America’s Omni MLS partners with Lone Wolf to provide a complete transaction suite as a member benefit

“Omni Multiple Listing Service (“Omni MLS”) is pleased to announce that it will provide Lone Wolf Transactions (zipForm Edition) (“Transactions”) and MLS-Connect® from Lone Wolf Technologies (“Lone Wolf”) as benefits to their over 4,000 members. Omni MLS members will now have access to a complete real estate transaction experience that features specific Omni MLS forms to help standardize contracts both within Omni MLS and throughout the region—potentially reaching nearly 1.2 million real estate professionals.”

Love being a small part of these ground breaking deals. Major kudos to Jessica Richardson of Lone Wolf and Ross Buck of Omni MLS for their persistence of getting this to market! ¡Felicidades!

NorthstarMLS discontinues Homesnap Pro license

From an email to members: NorthstarMLS discontinuing MLS wide license for Homesnap Pro in March

“NorthstarMLS was an early champion and is a current supporter of Broker Public Portal (BPP), an initiative spearheaded by brokers and MLSs to provide a new option for public display of listings. BPP and technology vendor Homesnap entered a joint venture that facilitated BPP’s introduction of Homesnap Pro. At that time, NorthstarMLS added Homesnap Pro as part of its subscriber offerings. 

In 2022, Homesnap and BPP ended their joint venture. Given this change, the NorthstarMLS Board of Directors decided to discontinue offering Homesnap Pro effective March 20, 2023. “

Me thinks there is more to this story than what is being said…

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