Will Zillow Win The MLS Data Aggregation Wars

A new war over data management has broken out among America’s largest technology firms, and no clear winner is in sight. To begin, it may be best to level set around what data aggregation is. For brokerage firms or technology companies that leverage MLS data in software, they are pulling MLS data feeds. When you are pulling more than one feed, you are aggregating MLS data. Brokerage firms and software companies that have hired WAV Group to streamline their data aggregation systems know that we have always focused on the three leading firms that have been aggregating MLS data for [...]

By |2018-05-03T21:23:11-07:00July 21st, 2016|Broker-Agent Information, MLS Insights|0 Comments

The Davos of Real Estate Journalism

Have you ever wanted to have the opportunity to really get to know the journalists who cover real estate for the Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, Washington Post, Inman, Bankrate, CBSMoneywatch, HousingWire, REALTrends, or the key real estate editor at your top metro newspaper? Would you like to get a sense of how they view real estate markets, mortgage finance, real estate technology and the other topics?  How do they get their information?  What do they think are the paramount issues facing real estate consumers and the real estate industry? Above all, how can you contribute to their coverage as an [...]

By |2018-05-03T21:23:11-07:00July 20th, 2016|Main category|0 Comments

How Much Does It Cost to Recruit an Agent?

The National Association of REALTORS® hosted a Power Broker Roundtable and their recent topic was about agent recruiting and training. What I really like about the large broker roundtable is that you typically get some relatively pure information. I think that is the case here. The roundtable members for this discussion included representatives from some of the finest brokerage operators in America – Nick D’Ambrosia, Broker of Record, The Long and Foster Companies; Lennox Scott, CEO of John L. Scott Real Estate Seattle; Chad Ochsner, Broker/Owner of RE/MAX Alliance Denver; and Linda Sherrer, President and CEO of BHHS Florida Network. [...]

By |2018-05-03T21:23:11-07:00July 20th, 2016|Broker-Agent Information, Marketing|1 Comment

20 Years and Counting: Still Waiting For Digital Real Estate Transactions

In the 1990s, it was called disintermediation. In the 2010s, we are calling it disruption. Back then, we talked about a “new paradigm” that would alter the real estate business forever. Now we talk about “new business models” doing the same. The names may have changed, but the bottom line is this: I am still waiting for digital real estate transactions to be a common practice, not the exception to the rule.   What has really changed? Next month in early August, like many of my colleagues, I am heading to Inman News Real Estate Connect in San Francisco. It’s [...]

The Confident House Hunter: A Better, Different Way to Buy

It was a sunny day on beautiful Bainbridge Island two years ago when I met with Dylan Chalk. It was at the New Rose Café, a nearly secret lunch spot hidden among the plants and outdoor sculptures at the historically significant Bainbridge Gardens. Dylan had an idea for a new book about home buying and he was seeking my professional counsel, as well as my writing, editing – and eventually – promotional skills. As a member of the National Association of Real Estate Editors (naree.org) for more than a couple of decades, I have received enough books about buying a [...]

New Real Estate Marketing Solution Delivers Tech Plus Talent

No longer do mid-size brokerages and agent teams have to struggle to deliver a competitive online experience to their customers and create marketing solutions for their agents. Boston Logic has an ace in hole for them–a new hands on support service staffed by top real estate tech pros for the fraction of the cost of a full-time employee. See the full press release below: BOSTON, Mass. (July 19, 2016) – Boston Logic, the technology platform that powers enterprise brokerages nationwide, announced the launch of Ace, a powerful technology solution that ties together a brokerage or team’s website, online lead generation, [...]

By |2018-05-03T21:23:11-07:00July 19th, 2016|Marketing|0 Comments

RealtyUSA joins the Howard Hanna Family

Two of the nation’s top real estate firms have entered into a definitive agreement for RealtyUSA (over 23,000 transactions) to join the Howard Hanna family of companies (over 66,000 transactions). Merle Whitehead of RealtyUSA will remain with the firm and operate all of the Hanna company business interests in New York. Congratulations to both of these firms on their transaction, among the largest seen in our industry since the HomeServices acquisition of Fox and Roach. Mr. Whitehead will continue to serve as Chairman of the Broker Public Portal. The event also recognizes that Howard Hanna extends their share of ownership [...]

By |2018-05-03T21:23:11-07:00July 19th, 2016|Main category, Press Releases|0 Comments

Register Now For The RESO Fall Conference

RESO Fall Conference: October 24-26, 2016 Nashville, TN RESO Conferences have become a CAN’T MISS event for MLSs, Brokers and Technology Partners. The 2016 Fall Conference is no different. Join the industries leaders, movers and shakers, and your peers for a look into the future of real estate standards. Three ways to enjoy of the 2016 Fall Conference: Participate in a variety of Workgroups Contribute to the future of standards Join the NEW Business/Broker Track Learn how to grow your business using RESO Standards Attend the Technology Track Learn about the future of RESO and Web API Register now to receive [...]

By |2018-05-03T21:23:12-07:00July 8th, 2016|Main category|0 Comments

Congratulations Steve Brown – President Crye-Leike Residential

WAV Group has enjoyed the awesome experience of working with many of the Leading Real Estate Companies of the World and The Realty Alliance firms. Chief among them is Crye-Leike, REALTORS® – among the 20 largest firms in America. The firm promoted its General Manager to President this week. Steve Brown has been an integral part of the company and its growth since joining the firm in 1980. Under the wing of CEO Harold Crye, Brown has developed into one of the most versatile and experienced executives in the real estate industry, long serving the firm as General Manager and [...]

By |2018-05-03T21:23:12-07:00July 8th, 2016|Main category, Press Releases|0 Comments

CRM Impact on Recruiting and Retaining Agents

WAV Group has deep experience supporting real estate brokers on the selection and adoption of Customer Relationship Management (CRM) for their agents. Sometimes the best business strategy is a simple one. All research points out that successful real estate agents have 500 or more legitimate prospects in their CRM and they actively communicate with those prospects with a customer for life philosophy. Bearing this in mind, a broker or manager can better understand customer value of agent recruiting and retention. If you have been in the industry a long time, you may know the story of Intero Real Estate in [...]

By |2018-05-03T21:23:12-07:00June 27th, 2016|Broker-Agent Information, Clients, Main category|0 Comments

CoreLogic Nails “Inman Innovator Award” Nomination with Trestle

One of the most coveted honors in real estate is the Inman Innovator Awards from Inman News. Just being nominated is a huge honor and CoreLogic just scored a nomination for Trestle. Andrea Brambila, Deputy Editor of Inman News, who adroitly covers the MLS industry, recently wrote about Trestle:“CoreLogic unveils a marketplace for real estate data; New tech gets agents closer to ‘plug-and-play’ tools.” Her 3 takeaways nail why this product is getting such a heavy-duty buzz before it’s officially launched: The new Trestle dashboard from CoreLogic will offer brokers, MLSs and tech companies a marketplace to purchase MLS and CoreLogic data. Brokers and [...]

By |2018-05-03T21:23:12-07:00June 20th, 2016|Main category, Press Releases|0 Comments

Upstream Nominated for Real Estate Innovation Award

UpstreamRE™, a collaborative venture between real estate brokerages, has been nominated for the coveted Inman Innovator Award. The Inman News Innovator Awards are given each year to recognize and celebrate industry innovation and accomplishments. Over the past year, Upstream has been forging forward and capturing Inman News headlines with the nomination of their Board of Managers, selecting Realtors Property Resource® as their vendor, and hiring industry veteran Alex Lange as president and CEO, and announcing the Alpha launch of the application in their first five MLS markets: MLS Listings of San Jose and Northern California, NorthstarMLS in Minnesota and Western [...]

By |2018-05-03T21:23:12-07:00June 20th, 2016|Press Releases|0 Comments