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Jan

30
2009

The rise of 'a la carte' real estate

By Inman News, Friday, January 30, 2009.

A number of factors will change business models and practices in real estate services, but how those models and practices will be changed is much more difficult to predict. Obviously the march of technology development and growing consumer technology proficiency will continue to increase the level of disintermediation between more and more consumers and various types of real estate services professionals.  more...

A 'reason to show up' for MLS training

By Inman News, Friday, January 30, 2009.

Re: 'Broker: MLS training goes too far' (Jan. 29)

Dear Editor:

It's sort of a damned-if-you-do, damned-if-you-don't problem. In my experience, out-of-state companies that join MLSs around the country do so as a marketing tool to "help" their clients purchase property anywhere without dealing with a different Realtor, referral fees, split commissions, etc.

Sounds good. The problem is that each state has its own unique laws governing the sale of real property.  more...

Jan

27
2009

Investors needed to pick up the slack

By Inman News, Tuesday, January 27, 2009.

Re: 'Banks to unleash flood of REOs' (Jan. 26)

Dear Editor:

I found this article to be quite interesting. However, I must take issue with the premise that the "way out" is to get these homes fixed up and into the hands of new homeowners. While this premise represents an ideological panacea, it doesn't quite reflect reality.  more...

Jan

26
2009

2015: Real estate agent of the future

By Inman News, Monday, January 26, 2009.

Editor's note: Inman News enlisted the insight and creativity of our readers in the Roadmap to Recovery editorial project, which seeks a path forward for the real estate industry. Click here for details.

By Saul Klein

What skills will the real estate agent of the future require?  more...

Jan

23
2009

Reducing the real estate body count

By Inman News, Friday, January 23, 2009.

There is no question the real estate industry will contract as a result of this current global financial crisis. That won't be a bad thing. Unlike the talk from U.S. automakers, we are not in danger of losing an industry.

Fewer agents, managing brokers and real estate companies might very well serve the overarching necessity of reinventing the current real estate model. Our partner in this endeavor will be the consumer, who will exercise his or her right to choose who they do business with and what that experience will look like.  more...

Real estate, Wal-Mart and customer service

By Inman News, Friday, January 23, 2009.

Re: 'Barber pole branding' (Jan. 22)

Dear Editor:

I have fought the battle while under the big brands and I agree that people follow them mainly for the same reason people love to shop at Wal-Mart.

They know what they are going to get, where they are and the cost to use them. It might not be the very best quality, but they know what they will get.  more...

Jan

22
2009

MLS should be national, public

By Inman News, Thursday, January 22, 2009.

Re: 'Experts predict major change for MLSs' (Jan. 9)

Dear Editor:

Why the real estate industry does not have a nationwide multiple listing service in the U.S. shows the small-minded, egocentric thinking that is the hallmark of our industry. The build could be financed on a per-capita assessment of all members of the National Association of Realtors, and administered by an elected or appointed board of directors chosen based on technical expertise.  more...

Old real estate model requires surgery

By Inman News, Thursday, January 22, 2009.

I am so tired of hearing real estate professionals say, "We need to work on our image, convince the public it is a great time to buy and prove to them we are worth our commission." They want to keep pumping life into last century's model, but it is way past CPR help. "The World is Flat" (see Thomas L. Friedman's book by that name) so deal with It!

Real estate professionals need to face the real issues:  more...

Jan

21
2009

Reinventing the title industry

By Inman News, Wednesday, January 21, 2009.

The title industry is in the midst of re-establishing its image and the value it provides to real estate transactions. The industry has made technological advancements in the title production and the closing processes. Reviewing staffing levels including management will always be a required budgetary process.

However, the following elements of the current business model warrant change, to be more cost effective in providing quality service and a profitable bottom line.  more...

Don't reinvent MLS 'wheel'

By Inman News, Wednesday, January 21, 2009.

Re: 'CALMLS plans to acquire one or more MLSs' (Jan. 16)

Dear Editor:

As a longtime Realtor I have been an advocate of one statewide MLS for several decades now but it always amazes me how various groups come up with new ideas and seem to ignore work already done. In Southern California we saw the merger of the Long Beach board with the West Orange board in the 1980s. This gradually evolved into MLSAlliance. (CARETS has also sprung up.)  more...

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