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Two Ohio MLSs to form single database Premium Content

By Glenn Roberts Jr., Thursday, September 4, 2008.

Two regional multiple listing services in northeast Ohio, owned by separate groups of Realtor associations, have announced plans to combine property information into a single, shared database.

The Centralized Real Estate Information Service (CRIS), with offices in Canton and Akron, and the Northern Ohio Regional MLS (NORMLS), based in Independence, are planning to launch the combined database on Jan. 14.  more...

Staging home for sale worth the cost

By Paul Bianchina, Thursday, September 4, 2008.

If you're selling your home, you obviously want to get it sold quickly and for the highest amount possible. One very important strategy to keep in mind is staging, which is simply the process of arranging the inside of your home so that it shows off to its full potential.  more...

Cool real estate Web tools Premium Content

By Bernice Ross, Thursday, September 4, 2008.

At Real Estate Connect, Brian Boero, Dustin Luther and Kelly Roark outlined 90 different ways you can use technology to improve your business. Today's column hits the highlights.

Agents today face numerous challenges when it comes to technology. Which solutions really work? How can I convert more leads from the Web? What do I need to do to motivate visitors to return to my site repeatedly?  more...

Mortgage rates down on economic news

By Inman News, Thursday, September 4, 2008.

Rates for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages for the week ending Sept. 4 averaged 6.35 percent with an average 0.7 point, down from 6.40 percent last week and 6.46 percent a year ago, Freddie Mac said in its weekly Primary Mortgage Market Survey.

Mortgage rates eased following release of economic data that suggested consumer spending may slow, said Frank Nothaft, Freddie Mac vice president and chief economist.  more...

Anyone been 'burned' by their Realtor?

By Inman News, Thursday, September 4, 2008.

Editor's note: The following is a reader comment in response to the Aug. 27 Inman News story, "Study sets benchmarks for customer service":

" ... I'm less concerned about the quality and meaning of the awards than I am about customer service in the industry. As Susan [Krancer] points out, 80 percent isn't really much to brag about.  more...

Price declines spread to more markets

By Inman News, Thursday, September 4, 2008.

More markets are seeing home price declines, but the severity of the declines appears to be moderating, according to a quarterly forecast of mortgage risk compiled by First American CoreLogic.

A "moderating trend" in price declines over the last two quarters "indicates that the house price rate of decline is slowing down, a first step toward the bottoming out of price declines," First American CoreLogic's third quarter CoreMortgageRisk Monitor concludes.  more...

Appraisers say oversight is lacking

By Matt Carter, Thursday, September 4, 2008.

Some regulators who oversee appraisers are taking issue with an Associated Press story that characterized oversight of the industry as "crippled" and "ineffective" despite an overhaul of the system after the Savings and Loan crisis.

But four other groups that represent appraisers themselves said the story -- the product of a six-month investigation -- underscores the need for better enforcement of existing laws.  more...

RE/MAX gets a boost from Google Premium Content

By Glenn Roberts Jr., Thursday, September 4, 2008.
Screenshot from Remax.com

On its introductory page, Google Analytics offers up a variety of case studies -- several are real estate-related -- to show how companies are using its online statistical tools to better understand Web traffic and to drive site improvements.

From a major overhaul of real estate franchise company RE/MAX's Web site to increased traffic for a luxury apartment rental site based in Barcelona, Spain, the case studies offer up examples of ways to tap into the power of visitor stats.  more...