MLSListing What's New

May 2012 – Proxio Offers 30-day Trial as California Continues to Lure Foreign Buyers

cfarrell — Tue, 15 May 2012 20:36:23 +0000

While the U.S. real estate market still is in recovery mode, buyer interest in homes here – particularly in California – from far-flung countries like China, Russia and India continues to build. These clients typically have cash in hand and their focus is on higher-end properties. Points of fact:

The Chinese, now the second-largest foreign buyers of homes behind Canadians, account for $7.4 billion of sales in the 12 months ended March 2011, up 24 percent from the previous 12 months, according to the National Association of Realtors.

Over the past four years, Russians and other citizens of the former Soviet Union have signed contracts to buy more than $1 billion worth of residential real estate in the United States, according to estimates from lawyers and brokers.

California is among the “Top 10 Hot Spots for Global Buyers,” according to an Inman News Special Report issued in March 2012.

Global Marketing Platform
The challenge for agents and brokers who want to capitalize on this movement is in getting their listings in front of these prospective buyers and bridging the language barriers. Proxio is the leading global marketing and networking platform, connecting over 400,000 real estate agents across more than 132 countries and in 19 languages. As a referral networking resource, ProxioPro enables real estate professionals everywhere to find and make connections with other professionals with similar specialties, languages, designations, geographic focus, and more, regardless of language or geography.

Proxio’s patented technology translates listings into 19 languages, including Simplified and Traditional Chinese, Hindi, Arabic, Russian, and Spanish. All listings are automatically syndicated to worldproperties.com, where thousands of international buyers look for homes every day.

Free 30-day Trial for MLSListings Subscribers Beginning in May
MLSListings has integrated with Proxio and is offering its members a 30-day free trial of this exciting technology beginning in May. Brokers simply need to opt-in using the “Broker Center”, under the “Listings Opt-in” tab, and sign up for Proxio (the paid service starts at just under $9/month). Listings are automatically uploaded and translated, so you don’t need to enter your listings twice to reach buyers in more than 120 countries. You can watch a short video here, or visit the Proxio product page in MLSListings subscriber portal to find out more about how Proxio works.

May 2012 – Cloud Technology Comes to Comparative Market Analysis

cfarrell — Tue, 15 May 2012 20:28:51 +0000

With people on the go now more than ever, access to data 24/7 has become expected, not just desirable. It’s no different for agents who need important market intelligence and property-specific data at their fingertips whether they are in the office or in the field. Cloud CMA, or cloud comparative market analysis, is an easy way to generate impressive, detailed reports that can help you win more listings and write more offers. These reports blend MLS data with other content from top websites, such as Google, Yelp, Zillow and Walk Score and agents can get these reports simply by sending an email.

Cloud CMA is not just about accessing information – it’s about creating personalized reports and flyers. There are dozens of themes, fonts and styles to choose from and these can be applied to CMA reports, buyer tours, property reports and even flyers. And there is no limit to the size and number of reports you can create. Best of all, Cloud CMA is free to try and there is nothing to install. It’s one more “app” offered to members of MLSListings. Learn more and sign up today.

May 2012 – HomeFinder.com Shines a Spotlight on an Individual Listing

cfarrell — Tue, 15 May 2012 20:26:43 +0000

Looking for ways to make your listing stand out? Why not create a web site just for that property! HomeFinder.com helps you do this by not only building the site using your existing MLS listing so there’s no data entry, but also offering search engine and social media optimization to help clients find your listing. Agents can get their listings on the first page of Google and easily share their single property website on Facebook and Twitter. You can create a unique domain, such as the street address, and all your listings will be enhanced on HomeFinder.com for additional exposure.

Single property websites allow you to more effectively and strategically market a seller’s property, and they send a message to prospective clients that you do business using leading-edge tools. Homefinder.com is a new and unique service, and it’s available through MLSListings to members at a discounted price. To learn more, go to the HomeFinder page on MLSListings online portal.

May 2012 – MLS Apps: PERKS Gets a New Name, Same Great Business Building Benefits

cfarrell — Tue, 15 May 2012 20:21:23 +0000

As an organization providing MLS services and technologies to California real estate professionals, MLSListings has worked hard to bring the very best products and services to its subscribers under the banner of “PERKS.” These low-cost, and often free, offerings have helped agents build their business by improving their client service and enhancing their marketing efforts.

Now, PERKS is becoming MLS Apps to better reflect the idea behind these valuable applications and today’s technology-centric environment. We’ve streamlined the offerings to those of greatest value and organized them by business function, making it easier to review and take advantage of them.

There are thirteen different products available and these changes will make it easier for you to find what you need. Many agents are paying for these through other vendors when they can be accessed at considerable cost savings – and in many cases, for free – through MLSListings. Explore our new site starting May 21 and see what you might be missing!

May 2012 – MyInfo Enhancements Help Agents Put Their Best Face Forward

cfarrell — Tue, 15 May 2012 20:12:08 +0000

Real estate is a relationship business and clients want to make a connection with their agent, so having a robust profile is crucial when making that first impression. Beginning in early June, MLSListings’ MyInfo will allow agents to begin expanding their current profile with more detailed information, direct prospective clients to their social media sites like Facebook and LinkedIn, and even bring their profiles to life with a short video which can be produced by MLSListings’ team at the discounted price of $50.

When you log onto pro.mlslistings.com you will find new fields: NRDS ID number, which is provided to each agent by the National Association of REALTORS®; links to social media profiles, including Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter; and a video profile. Once activated, these fields will be visible immediately to other agents in-system, and are slated to be published to our public website www.mlslistings.com later this year.

Users are encouraged to begin adding their profile information in the months ahead to take advantage of this additional marketing opportunity. Editing instructions will be available in the Training and Support sections of portal.mlslistings.com. If you elect to create a video, contact Mark Messimer to get yours in production and take advantage of the discounted rate.

In a competitive marketplace, having resources that can showcase who you are and how you position and differentiate yourself can make the difference when clients search for an agent. Make sure you are doing everything you can to maximize your best marketing asset – your profile!

May 2012 – Matrix Unveils Exciting Updates in Response to Subscriber Requests

cfarrell — Tue, 15 May 2012 20:02:57 +0000

Matrix, MLSListings’ in-house listings search system introduced in November of last year, will roll out new updates in June in response to subscriber input. Designed to make the system more user-friendly, these enhancements address a number of areas that help make searches and reports easier and of greater value:

Improved navigation: less clicks to get to the most used features

Updated map features: expand your search parameters using the map itself. No need to change screens.

Enhanced display/report print features: truly one-page print out of agent page display, simplified display selection page, Client Full now has property history and photo rollout sections

“With any new system, there always are features that can be tweaked once users have a chance to work with it,” said Jim Harrison, President and CEO of MLSListings, Inc. “We received some great feedback and suggestions from our members about how we could improve Matrix to better serve their needs and this June, we’re looking forward to bringing the latest set of updates online.”

With MLSListings’ Matrix system, subscribers can search listings, manage their clients, and generate reports and statistical data. The system has a mobile application, Matrix Mobile, that enables agents to take these important features on the road, providing access to customized Matrix settings from wherever you are:

Email listings to clients and BCC yourself

Add listings to a Cart

Track and view multiple listings in your Cart

Email all listings in the Cart to a client

Search properties, agents, and offices

View your Saved Searches

View all Contacts in Matrix

Stay tuned to What’s New to learn more about Matrix and the system enhancements coming in June. To provide additional feedback, contact MLSListings customer service.

RE Source Newsletter April 19, 2012

vgaerlan — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 23:24:28 +0000

Click here for the full issue.

April 2012: Are you ready for Nationwide Open House Weekend, April 28-29?

vgaerlan — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 22:55:03 +0000

Realtors across the country are preparing to take advantage of one of the biggest promotional weekends in the industry to showcase their listings, promote the benefits of home ownership and engage in valuable face-to-face dialogue with buyers and sellers. The 2012 REALTOR® Nationwide Open House Weekend takes place April 28-29 and MLSListings offers its members special features to make the most of this opportunity:

Special Advertising Rate in Bay Area Papers: MLSListings has negotiated a 25% discount of advertising rates for member agents and brokers with Bay Area News Group (BANG) in their 11 Bay Area newspapers during Nationwide Open House Weekend. To take advantage, contact Aaron Ruthnick with BANG.

Full-Featured Open House Search: MLSListings’ full-featured Open House search for subscribers on pro.mlslistings.com, combined with the auto-email capabilities, can deliver open homes tailored to your client’s specifications directly to their inbox. Click here for the How To about running a customized Open House search in Matrix.

Time is running out so make your plans today to capitalize on one of the most talked-about weekends of the year!

April 2012: MLSListings Appoints Broker Penelope Huang to its 2012 Board of Directors

vgaerlan — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 22:24:31 +0000

Penelope Huang, a 23-year veteran real estate broker and principal of RE/MAX Distinctive Properties in Menlo Park, has joined the MLSListings Board of Directors.

Penelope, a native of South Africa, built her business from the ground up, beginning in 1992 when she opened Taylor & Huang Properties. Over the years, she expanded her staff and in 2009 incorporated and became part of the RE/MAX international network; in 2010, she opened RE/MAX Distinctive Properties in downtown Menlo Park. She has become a community leader there and politically active in helping to foster the vibrancy of the downtown area and preserve Menlo Park’s residential neighborhoods.

As an MLSListings board member, Penelope joins 16 of the area’s most successful and influential real estate professionals in shaping the policies, products and services needed by the organization’s membership and the real estate community. In addition, their role is to advance new initiatives for professional services that benefit both agents as well as the public in their search for homes for sale, and in home selling services.

MLSListings is a REALTOR-owned, broker-governed organization and its Board of Directors reflects the diversity of the community it serves. Three seats are appointed by shareholder organizations, four seats are held by brokers representing offices with less than 50 agents, four seats are held by brokers representing offices with 50-399 agents, and four seats are held by brokers representing offices with 400 or more agents. Each board director has a voice and a vote.

April 2012: VirtualTourCafe offers a way to make your listings stand out. Attend a free class to learn how to make this application work for you!

vgaerlan — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 21:49:50 +0000

There are a number of virtual tour products on the market but VirtualTourCafe, an online Do-It-Yourself virtual tour service brings your listings to life and gets them into the hands of buyers using social media, smart phones and video channels. It offers the advantage of real time data so your listings reflect the most current information and the application itself is easy to set up and use. Best of all, you can try it out for free because MLSListings subscribers receive a free basic subscription with their membership!

Other stand-out advantages with VirtualTourCafe:

Offers integrated data exchange with MLSListings
QR codes and Mobile Smart Tours can be automatically created for you
Integrated social media and social networking
Agent and broker branding are available
Choice of more than two dozen tour themes, background music and narration
Full 360-degree and partial panorama support, with free panorama stitching software, Ken Burns Effect (zoom, pan) on all images
Has the highest quality, full-screen high definition
With the premium plan you can get a YouTube-style video and e-flyer

With VirtualTourCafe you can create a virtual tour, an e-Flyer and a You Tube-style video in less than 15 minutes! Learn how by attending a free class put on by VirtualTourCafe where you can receive hands-on instruction and get your questions answered about how to make this product work for your business. Upcoming classes have two ways to attend:

Live Onsite Seminars: (four options to choose from)

Monday, April 16 – 9:30am
Monday, April 16 – 11:00am
Tuesday, April 17 – 2:00pm
Monday, April 23 – 11:00am

Location: MLSListings Sunnyvale HQ MAP

Register: Email Tim@virtualtourcafe.com

Online Webinar: (view from the comfort of your office)

Thursday, April 19 – 11:00am

Register: Click here to register online