Bill Lyons pitches Revestor to "the Sharks." Revestor emerges from ‘Shark Tank’ with fresh ideas

Revestor emerges from ‘Shark Tank’ with fresh ideas

It sounds like every entrepreneur’s dream: You’re invited to pitch your idea for a real estate tech startup on a nationally televised reality show, to a panel of judges that includes business luminaries like Barbara Corcoran and Mark Cuba...
By Matt Carter | Friday, May 24, 2013
Muzzled image via Shutterstock. More transparency and debate would only strengthen NAR

More transparency and debate would only strengthen NAR

Social media has changed everything — even the National Association of Realtors. And there isn’t any way for NAR to take it back. I wasn’t at NAR’s midyear meeting in Washington, D.C., an annual event where the association’s board o...
By Teresa Boardman | Thursday, May 23, 2013
thesweeten TheSweeten matches remodeling projects with specialists

TheSweeten matches remodeling projects with specialists

Marking another attempt to introduce consumer-professional matchmaking into the real estate industry, theSweeten aims to pair people eyeing renovations or remodeling projects with vetted contractors who are the most qualified to execute them. The sit...
By Teke Wiggin | Thursday, May 23, 2013
Stress image via Shutterstock. 5 steps to tame your daily to-do list

5 steps to tame your daily to-do list

Is your to-do list out of control? It is if you’re working at full capacity and can never complete everything on it. Taming your to-do-list can be easier than you realize provided that you know what to do, and it’s ......
By Bernice Ross | Thursday, May 23, 2013
Underwater image via Shutterstock Nearly half of all US homeowners with a mortgage still ‘underwater’ in Q1

Nearly half of all US homeowners with a mortgage still ‘underwater’ in Q1

Despite rising home prices early in the year, a significant portion of U.S. homeowners with a mortgage — about 44 percent — still owed more on their home than it was worth or didn’t have enough equity to move at the ......
By Paul Hagey | Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Canadian flag image via Shutterstock. Zoocasa moving to referral model

Zoocasa moving to referral model

Canadian property search portal Zoocasa is obtaining brokerage licenses in order to secure listings data, but instead of hiring its own agents the company will provide referrals to other brokers. Zoocasa relaunched today with listings in the Greater ...
By Inman News | Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Zilbert Realty International’s store. Photo courtesy of Zilbert International Realty. Taking a cue from Apple, brokerage builds real estate ‘store’

Taking a cue from Apple, brokerage builds real estate ‘store’

In a time when some brokers question the value of brick-and-mortar offices as technology allows their agents to work in the “cloud,”  one brokerage has decided to go big, and build a real estate retail space at its office. Zilbert ......
By Paul Hagey | Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Realogy_FWD Realogy picks 15 companies as finalists for innovation summit

Realogy picks 15 companies as finalists for innovation summit

Real estate brokerage and franchise giant Realogy Holdings Corp. has selected 15 emerging technology companies from about 100 that applied to compete for a $25,000 cash prize at the Realogy FWD Innovation Summit. The companies selected to present the...
By Inman News | Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Screen shot of VHT Studios interactive floor plan. Most @properties listings will feature interactive floor plans

Most @properties listings will feature interactive floor plans

Real estate brokerage @properties will use interactive floor plans and high-resolution photos to market listings online at no additional charge to sellers on all homes listed at $500,000 or more. The Chicago-based brokerage said it plans to extend th...
By Inman News | Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Tumblr Tumblr acquisition may validate blogging site for business pros

Tumblr acquisition may validate blogging site for business pros

On its “10 a.m. Special” Tumblr page, The Corcoran Group showcases one jaw-dropping listing every day. The posts are bursting with a colorful mixture of new media that includes clickable photos and graphics, embedded videos and invitation...
By Teke Wiggin | Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Detail from map-based search results on Redfin.com using map data from Google. Are maps obliterating your visual branding efforts?

Are maps obliterating your visual branding efforts?

Maps and real estate websites seem to go hand in hand. It only makes sense, I suppose. Everyone wants to know where the house is, what the neighborhood is like, how far it is from stuff, and so on. A ......
By Gahlord Dewald | Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Seller financing image via Shutterstock. Seller financing: an untapped resource for real estate agents

Seller financing: an untapped resource for real estate agents

While the residential real estate market is generally believed to be improving nationwide, some of the residual effects of the Great Recession still affect the ability of real estate agents to facilitate home sales. Emerging employment opportunities ...
By Jenifer Walton | Wednesday, May 22, 2013
realtors_insurance_marketplace NAR to help members meet ‘Obamacare’ health care mandate

NAR to help members meet ‘Obamacare’ health care mandate

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act — “Obamacare” — mandates that all Americans have health insurance or pay a penalty starting next year. Recognizing that many Realtors, as independent contractors and small-busines...
By Inman News | Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Idaho image via Shutterstock. Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate gains foothold in Idaho

Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate gains foothold in Idaho

Realogy Holdings Corp. franchisor Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate is expanding into Idaho with the addition of brokerage 43° North Real Estate to its franchise network. The Boise-based brokerage company is now doing business as Better Homes and...
By Inman News | Tuesday, May 21, 2013