Industry Interviews

Russell Shaw - An interview.

REPORTER’S NOTE: There are many people that we can interview for Real Estate Industry Watch. There are very few as colorful, fun and most important, as successful and experienced as Russell Shaw. REIW’s Eric Blackwell caught up with Russell (via phone) at the Star Power Seminar in Orlando Florida. This has been my favorite conversation to date.

Russell Shaw is a real estate success story. He and his team have closed over 500 sides in a single year. They year over year continue to be among the best of the best in the real estate business. His experience is proven and his smarts come from the street and years of experience.
Read more »

Marketing

Activerain Gathering MLS IDX Feeds

Real estate social media site Activerain recently announced some new features that they are making available through a subsidiary called Realtysoft.  Essentially, Activerain is gathering MLS IDX feeds from across the United States and Canada, and providing the repackaged data back to real estate agents for use on their websites,  blogs, etc.  This service is currently being provided “free”.

This is likely to be a limited time offer - as Activerain is in the profit generation business (as is any company of course).  It remains to be seen how Activerain intends to turn a profit (or benefit) from providing this service.   There are a variety of profit models that they could utilize.  Some possibilities include:

Selling of ad space - most likely to real estate agents

Exportation of the MLS IDX data to another site that they own  (similar to what they did with Localism) - followed by charging of agents for being the “local expert”

Combining the MLS IDX data feeds from the various regional MLS systems - into a national listing aggregation site ala Realtor.com - and then either selling featured ad space, or even charging referral fees to real estate agents for leads generated through the national site

Charging agents annual/monthlydues for the use of the service

etc

The list goes on and on with the possibilities.  Once Activerain gathers sufficient MLS IDX feeds from across North America - the field is really wide open for how they intend to generate revenue from its use.

The most likely route of course is to charge real estate agents in some form or fashion.  Whether it be straight forward on the front end (monthly fees), or somewhere on the back end (referral fees for leads, or featured ad space), real estate agents are the most likely candidates to be the profit generator for Activerain.

[Side note:  which is somewhat ironic I think....real estate agents give away something to Activerain for basically free, and then Activerain takes what was given to them, repackages/markets it and then charges the very real estate agents to make a profit, what was given to them in the first place.  Really doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me from a real estate agent perspective, but anyway...]

Currently, Activerain has IDX feeds from local MLS systems in the following states:

Alaska, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin  -  and Ontario Canada

They have announced that COMING SOON, they will have the following additional states:

Alabama, Deleware, Iowa, Kentucky, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Washington - and Alberta Canada

Franchise Watch

New Real Estate Technology Benefits Consumers

A new real estate technology recently became available to benefit consumers.  Essentially, a consumer would drive past a home they like.  They enter a code on their phone, and within a few moments, the details of the home are sent to them via text message.  The message also includes some quick links to either contact the listing agent on their cell phone, or send them an email.  It should provide a good alternative instead of conventional paper-flyers that are placed at homes for sale.  And unlike some other systems, where the following day the customer may not recall the specific details of the property they like - using this system the customer will have a “record” of the property details stored on their phone until they delete it.

RE/MAX / Buffini offer new training


Real Estate Marketing Ideas / Trends

Activerain Gathering MLS IDX Feeds

Real estate social media site Activerain recently announced some new features that they are making available through a subsidiary called Realtysoft.  Essentially,... 

January 3, 2009

Can you Market @ 100 MPH?

Mitch Ribak is an interesting guy in the real estate business. These days, not many people can say that they have a team of 20 some odd agents and employees, in... 

June 22, 2008

Do lighted signs bring more buyers?

According to some real estate professionals, they do! The new trend in lighted signs extends the hours that drive by traffic will stop, see the sign and call on... 

May 3, 2008


NAR Watch

REALTORs look for positive changes

The National Association of REALTORs (NAR) annual convention is kicking off this weekend.  At the forefront, REALTORS are looking for positive changes for the economy... 

November 7, 2008

National Association of REALTORs Supports Economic Bailout

Not surprisingly, the National Association of REALTORs (NAR) supports the economic bailout currently packaged as the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008... 

October 3, 2008

REALTORs demand Health Care Reform

In a recent survey, most REALTORs polled expressed concern regarding the current health care that is available for most small businesses is lacking and insufficient. ... 

June 16, 2008


Real Estate Industry Headlines

Activerain Gathering MLS IDX Feeds

Real estate social media site Activerain recently announced some new features that they are making available through a subsidiary called Realtysoft.  Essentially,... 

January 3, 2009

Real Estate Supra Key Reaches 25 million mark

What has become the standard for many persons in the real estate industry, is the real estate Supra key which has reached the 25 million mark in production over... 

November 7, 2008

Retailer Target May Get Into Real Estate Business

Nearly everyone is familiar with the shopping chain giant.  Retailer Target may get into the real estate business (sort of).  A prominent investor has proposed... 

October 30, 2008


Real Estate Blog Watch

Sarasota Association of REALTORs Actions are Questioned

An enlightening article on recent Sarasota Association of REALTORs (SAR) actions are questioned.  The Sarasota Association of REALTORs recently acquired a ruling... 

October 22, 2008

Home Sales Are Up in Some Areas

A bit of good news that not everything in the real estate world is negative.  Home sales are up in some areas.  Overall, if you compare August 2008 to July 2008,... 

October 10, 2008

Real Estate is Local

The old saying “real estate is local” definitely applies.  And the story definitely goes to show that while some areas of the country are getting creamed... 

September 27, 2008


Real Estate Technology Review

New Real Estate Technology Benefits Consumers

A new real estate technology recently became available to benefit consumers.  Essentially, a consumer would drive past a home they like.  They enter a code on... 

October 23, 2008

Apple recalls millions of iPhone 3G power adapters

Friday, Apple recalled ALL of the iPhone3g phone adapters sold since mid July, as reported in this press release. According to Computerworld Magazine, analysts estimate... 

September 20, 2008

Instinct and Apple iPhone - REALTOR level ease of use!

Most technologists put the iPhone in a class by itself and CRINGE when people bunch it with products like the iPhone…justifiably so. The iPhone is becoming... 

July 30, 2008