Reinventing MLS Services

Greetings folks!

The real estate industry is replete with procedures, processes and business models that have evolved during the 20th century. Some of these processes are necessary, however many are arcane. What's clear is that in the 21st Century the "walled garden" of real estate information is gone. Consumers have unparalleled access to real estate information. This fact alone has changed the nature of the real estate "game".

MLSListings - the MLS service for San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, San Benito and Monterey counties - has recognized this massive power shift. Behind the scenes it has reinvented itself. It has evolved from an organization that wrote properietary, "one size fits all" MLS search software to an organization that is dedicated to serving the needs of a complex and changing real estate industry while providing maximum service to real estate buyers and sellers as well.

Earlier this year, MLSListings rolled out its "PERKS" service - a "best of breed" partner program in which MLSListings negotiates free or significantly discounted services on behalf of its subscribers.

Tomorrow, June 1, MLSListings is rolling out a third party search service on top of its MLS back end system. MLSListings' subscribers will be able to use the Tarasoft Matrix(r) software as well as the Realist tax data search software. It will mean that MLSListings supports 3 front ends to its MLS system.

For MLSListings' subscribers, this means that there is another set of information tools that they will have to support their clients in a more comprehensive way.

For consumers, it means that real estate agents using the MLSListings service will be able to provide more detailed and more comprehensive information so that they can make better home buying/selling decisions.

21st century real estate demands the best possible tools and services to help brokers, agents and consumers. MLSListings is doing just that - by reinventing itself and leading the MLS industry as well.

Best regards,

Jim Herrera

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For purposes of full disclosure, I am in charge of Subscriber Outreach for MLSListings.

FLASH: $8,000 First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit Can Now Be Applied Toward Purchase of FHA-Insured Home http://ping.fm/iMnDz

A New Way To Look At Marketing

I thought I'd start this week with a brief video I discovered on the web. It describes the way Coors does marketing. The message here is that you should look for ... well ... you'll just have to watch the 3 minute video ;)




We need to really look after our clients. Because clients are demanding, knowledgeable and increasingly sophisticated. How are you looking at the market's unarticulated needs and unconscious behaviors? Are you looking?

Let me know what you think.

Free Hugs

Hi there!

It's been a couple of weeks since I last posted. Sorry about that. I intend to get back to providing great information about transparency in real estate; and how we can all make a difference in our world.

To start, I'd like you to watch the video below. It made me smile. It makes me remember how simple it is to help people have a better day.





I'm sure you can find one thing to help somebody today. Even if it's "just a hug".

Let me know what you think.

Jim

_____________________

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New blog post: What's a good Buyer's Agent? Please post your comments on the blog. http://ping.fm/yhpEM

What's A Good "Buyer's Agent"?

As an MLS professional, I have the privilege of working with many brokers and agents in the Silicon Valley. The real estate professional's ideal situation is one in which they have a listing (that is, they represent the seller) and they can also represent a buyer who wants that same house. This "double-ending" practice can cause potential conflicts of interest. While CAR has forms which agents must complete to disclose this type of transaction, a buyer may not understand what this means.

With that caveat, as a buyer I'd like to list a few things that I would request of an agent representing me.

First and foremost, this is not a "deal". I don't buy houses for a living so I'm probably not experienced in this type of transaction. This is one of the most important personal and financial decisions I can make. If you're more interested in "closing escrow" than in representing me, then you should take the opportunity to bring in partner who can assist me.

As a buyer's agent I'm looking for you to oversee:
• create a comparative market analysis for my potential new home
• explain to me the market conditions and the neighborhood conditions
• all deadlines in the contract
• all inspections, including home and pest inspections
• the appraisals (and be able to discuss with me the reasons for the valuation)

Additionally, I want you to help me with:
• identifying my needs in a new home. (In fact, if you have a method for doing that, you'd get bonus points!)
• scheduling property showings
• get me the latest new listings to me electronically: via email, text message and cell phone.
• getting additional listing information from listing agents (e.g., seller's disclosures)

You should also:
• help me find the right mortgage company
• sit with me and the mortgage broker to explain the mortgage commitments
• prepare a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA)
• explain to me in plain terms, what a CMA is, why you selected the properties in the report and how this affects the offer WE will make)
• review home inspection reports with me
• assisting me in presenting repair lists for sellers
• negotiate for me on all of these issues.

I know this is a lot of activity, but I'm paying for this experience.

For agents out there, it will be interesting to hear your opinion. For consumers, I'd definitely like your opinion.

This week is about planning new marketing strategies and developing analytics for NorCal real estate pro's. What are you doing for others?

Happy birthday Kelly! You'll always be my special delivery. Miss you. Love you

I'm creating a new way to produce statistics for our clients at MLSListings. It's fun to design a simple, yet flexibile mechanism.