Where Real Estate Gets Its Dirt

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.

Webinar: Leading the Leap: Redefining Real Estate in the Age of AI

Lots of good podcasts and webinars lately. This one looks interesting, it’s from Lundy, the guys doing real estate voice search on Alexa.

“Something big is coming to the world of real estate… 🏡 Join us for an exclusive look at the LundyAI Core at 2pm PT on April 11th, hosted by our CEO Justin Lundy and Stellar MLS . We’re leading the leap and redefining real estate in the age of AI.”

LundyAI Core

You can sign up here => Leading The Leap

MetroList adds voice search to popular MLS portal, MetroList.com

MetroList Unveils Revolutionary Voice-Activated Real Estate Search Platform for Consumers

“MetroList CEO Dave Howe highlighted the significance of this launch: “This isn’t just an enhancement—it’s a transformative leap forward in real estate technology. We are thrilled to offer the convenience of voice-enabled commands, setting a new standard for property search in the real estate industry.”

Heath Craig, Co-Founder of SaleCore, echoed this sentiment: “Partnering with Lundy on this project has been a natural fit. MetroList’s commitment to innovation aligns perfectly with our vision for the future of real estate technology. We’re excited to see the industry embrace this powerful new property-search tool.”

Pretty rad. When I just asked for a zip code, the experience was super fast and kind of magical. Pretty cutting-edge if you ask me, and it’s great to see an MLS organization like MetroList launch this type of innovation. It shows what good partnerships with vendors can create.

Minor quibbles:

Search requests beyond zip codes with more criteria (beds, baths, price range) take a bit longer.

I couldn’t get it to work on my Safari browser, but it did work on Google Chrome.

When I click the microphone button to start talking, the icon does change color, but I think the button state needs to more clearly indicate that it is in the “on” mode.

Similarly, when you click the microphone to turn it off and start searching, there is no status message to indicate that it is processing your search request. This can feel a bit odd, especially if the search results are not immediate.

Also, in every search I did with a price range, it asked me to repeat the price range.

Lundy, and the best product I didn’t see at CMLS 2022

I had been contacted by Shelley Fowler (yes, that Shelley Fowler) a few months back about some new tech I had to see. But “seeing” the tech wasn’t quite right. It was something different. The company is Lundy and they were working on an app aimed at “bringing data accessibility to your MLS”. Shelley arranged an introduction with Lundy’s founder Justin Lundy.

Basically, the app which they are now calling “Finding Homes” works with Alexa to help people who are blind or visually impaired access real estate data. Apparently, 12 million people over 40 years old in the US have vision impairment. 1 million are legally blind

Now there have been other products using Alexa for real estate, Voiceter Pro comes to mind. The difference with Lundy’s product is there are focusing on helping the blind and visually impaired, not a supplemental search tool.

Flash forward to CMLS 2022. Shelley once again greeted me to come to their booth and asked me to put on an eye mask and some noise-canceling headphones. Kinky!

With the mask and headphones on, they demonstrated on an iPad how blind people use “screen readers” on websites. It was terrible! The computer voice says stuff like “upper navigation”, “side bar-side bar”, and “vertical navigation bar”. Basically what I called “HTML out loud”. Just awful.

When that demo was over I was then asked to give Alexa a simple command, something like (I can’t remember exactly what I said) “Alexa, property details of 123 Main Street….” And voila! The device gave me an overview of the property without all the “HTML out loud” junk. I could ask it other simple questions, like “what is the lot size?”, “how many square feet”. Sweet!

I have to say, the way they demonstrated the app was really cool. It gave you an excellent way of understanding the problem they are trying to solve.

I will also say that while their focus may be targeting the blind and the visually impaired the experience they created is super well done. So well done they might have a bigger market than they think.

I believe they launched or are about to launch with Stellar MLS, MetroList, and a few others. You should visit their site to find out more.

FMLS launches Lundy’s “Finding Homes” assisting the blind and visually impaired with home search

FMLS Introduces New Technology to Assist Blind & Visually Impaired Individuals Access to Listings in Georgia and Beyond

“The technology app is called “Finding Homes” and works with Amazon’s Alexa to help visually impaired homebuyers and sellers access FMLS real estate listings. Through the app, consumers can ask questions via Alexa, such as “provide property details of 111 Main Street in Atlanta, Georgia, or how large is the lot.” The data from FMLS listings are delivered in complete sentences using the voice of Alexa.”

“Alexa, find me a home below a million dollars in Buckhead”

“Alexa?”

“Alexa?”

“Alexa?”

About Me


I have been building, writing about, and arguing over real estate technology since 1992. Vendor Alley is where I do the writing.

Work with me Read the latest

1992
First real estate software company
4 / 3
Companies founded / exits
500K+
Agents who used Cloud CMA
2007
Vendor Alley launched
2
Podcasts, one with Rob Hahn

Start here

Read Vendor Alley
Real estate tech news with a point of view, most weekday mornings since 2007→ Hire Giant Steps
Strategy and advisory for MLSs, associations, and the vendors who sell to them→ MLS Reset 2027 Feb 22 to 24 · Scottsdale
The independent conference for MLS leaders and the companies that serve them→ The Art of the CMA, 2nd edition
Win more listings with better CMAs. Signed copies here, or on Amazon→ Industry Relations podcast
Rob Hahn and me on the politics and power moves of organized real estate→ Listing Bits podcast
Interviews with the people building real estate technology→ Book me to speak
Board industry updates, agent events, emcee work. Live or Zoom→ Giant Steps Job Board
Real estate tech jobs. People find work here, and tell me about it at conferences→ Sponsor Vendor Alley
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One email when I publish. Nothing else→

The short version

Greg Robertson has spent his career at the intersection of residential real estate and technology. He co-founded W+R Studios, the company behind Cloud CMA, the comparative market analysis tool more than 500,000 agents have used to win listings. Lone Wolf Technologies acquired W+R Studios in December 2020. Cloud MLX, another W+R product, won Inman’s Most Innovative Technology award in 2016.

He is one of the industry’s longest running independent voices: founder and writer of Vendor Alley since 2007, host of Listing Bits, and co-host of Industry Relations with Rob Hahn. He wrote The Art of the CMA, now in a fully updated second edition, and publishes the annual CMA Survey. Today he co-runs Giant Steps Advisors with his longtime partner Dan Woolley and co-hosts the MLS Reset conference. He lives in Huntington Beach, California.

What I’m working on

Giant Steps Advisors

Strategy for MLS organizations and REALTOR associations trying to figure out what comes next, and go-to-market help for prop tech vendors trying to sell to them. Dan Woolley and I started it after the Lone Wolf deal because we couldn’t stop caring about this industry. giantstepsadvisors.com

MLS Reset

The conference I co-host with the PRESTA Team. Two days of MLS executives, association leaders, and vendors in one room with no trade association agenda. MLS Reset 2027 is February 22 to 24 at the Scottsdale Plaza. mlsreset.com

The Art of the CMA

The book for agents and brokers on using the comparative market analysis to win listings, price with confidence, and prove your value. The second edition adds a chapter on AI. It pairs with the annual CMA Survey I run with Lone Wolf. Signed copies or Amazon.

Two podcasts

Industry Relations with The Notorious ROB , Rob Hahn, on the fights that shape organized real estate. Listing Bits, where I interview the people building the tools agents actually use.

Speaking

I do a handful of talks a year for MLSs, associations, brokerages, and vendor teams. Live or on Zoom, keynote or emcee. Email me with the date and audience.

  • Industry UpdateWhat your board of directors needs to know this year, without the jargon
  • Listing Presentation MagicFor agents: the CMA as a persuasion tool, not a printout
  • The CMA Is Dead, Long Live the CMAKeynote on pricing, AI, and what the agent is actually for

Boards and investments

I serve on the boards of REcore and the Greater Las Vegas MLS. I have invested in a few startups I may write about, and I’ll disclose it when I do: eWebinar (automated webinars), Tuesday (a social network for MLSs and agents), Lundy (inclusive property search), and okood (real estate investing).

What people say

“Best actionable real estate book I’ve read. Quick read, very informative, and I highly recommend. Not your usual (and typical) real estate book.”Amazon review, The Art of the CMA
“Binge listened to just about every episode. Love the interviews, nerdy humor and thought-provoking dialogue. Hands down one of the best real estate podcasts.”Apple Podcasts review, Industry Relations

Find me

Based inHuntington Beach, California

Thanks for visiting. Yes, the consulting firm is named after the Coltrane record.
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MIBOR names Shelley Specchio new CEO

picture1MIBOR Announces Shelley Specchio as new CEO

““The nationwide search for our new CEO presented us with many excellent candidates, and the decision was not easy,” said Roger Lundy, 2016 MIBOR president. “Shelley was the clear choice with her impressive background, knowledge and her respect for the real estate industry. I know that the MIBOR staff and membership will be well served with her proven dedication to the industry and promoting the REALTOR® brand.”

“It was really the people,” said Specchio when asked what drew her to the organization. “Of course, I knew MIBOR through the sterling reputations of Steve Sullivan, Tom Renkert and Chris Pryor in the national arena; the opportunity to be a part of that culture was compelling on its own. It was when I met the volunteer leaders whose commitment and dedication to MIBOR was demonstrated in so many ways throughout the process, that I knew my own enthusiasm and skill would complement an already vibrant organization.”

Northern Nevada Regional MLS (NNRMLS) is a fountainhead of MLS talent. Think about it, Merri Jo Cowen, Chris Carrillo, and Sean Murphy are just a few names I can think of. And now Shelley.

Shelley is one of the true leaders in our industry. One of her most positive strengths is that despite all her many accomplishments she is very humble and is always willing to sit and listen and try to understand everyone’s viewpoint. That’s pretty rare nowadays. Kudos to MIBOR and congratulations to Shelley.

Sponsored By Lone Wolf Technologies