Real estate conference ventures to cyberspace

OpenMLS, an open multiple listing service that features property information from the real world and the three-dimensional virtual world of "Second Life," has announced the first-ever Real Estate Metaverse Conference and Expo, scheduled Oct. 26-28.

"Second Life" participants are represented by characters called avatars and can use a virtual-world currency that can be traded for real-world dollars. Participants can buy and sell real estate, and can design and build homes. Coldwell Banker is among the companies that have hung out a virtual shingle in "Second Life."

Registration for this virtual conference is free and open to "Real Life and Second Life Real Estate Agents, Associations, Brokers, Builders, Buyers, Consultants, Developers, Educators, FSBOs, Investors, and Realtors," according to an announcement at RealEstateMetaverse.net.

The conference sessions and presentations will reportedly "explore the connections between real life and second life real estate; buying, selling, and developing virtual land; cross-marketing for real estate in the virtual and real worlds; and a host of other topics."

As an incentive to participate, OpenMLS is offering a free 512-square-meter vacant lot in Larkspur Landing to "one lucky avatar from our guest list." (Note: That's a plot of cyberspace in "Second Life," not actual, real-world property.)

Conference organizers are seeking sponsors and exhibitors.

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