Greetings!   

As co-sponsors of this year's CMLS, we join the many who have congratulated Phil Tedesco and the team at the Tuscon Association of REALTORS� for an amazing job hosting the event. We had a great time, learned a lot and enjoyed seeing and meeting many of you. We look forward to seeing you next in Anaheim in November, during NAR.

For NAR, please let us know soon when you would like to meet with our team, at
[email protected]. And, if you happen to wander the show floor, do drop by and say hello to our sales crew at the Point2 booth (#255), right by the NAR Pavillion.  

This month we're pleased to share news about new partnerships with EXIT Realty and with California Association of REALTORS's REBS subsidiary. The REBS deal might just be the kind of new member service and revenue opportunity we could discuss at our next meeting.

Of course we also have more thought from Saul Klein on what MLS 5.0 might look like, and Bernice Ross joins us again with another great article, on management style. We welcome new clients, update you on our syndication network and, we present you with our latest happy bird humour, without which this newsletter would not be complete. 

If there is anything in particular that you would like to see us cover in future newsletter issues, please let us know at [email protected]

MLS and Association Services

Point2 

 

Welcome To Our Newest ClientsClients

 

We welcome the following MLSs and Associations that have recently joined the Point2 Network:

 

Reelfoot Regional Association Of REALTORS� (TN)
Barstow Association Of REALTORS� & MLS (CA)

REALTORS� Association of Lake & Sumter Counties (FL) 

     
Point2 Listing Syndication for MLS/Associations Now on FacebookClients

Social media is important to us, just as it is to you. We want to let everyone know that Point2 Listing Syndication for MLS/Associations is now on Facebook!  We'd like to invite you to come see our new page by clicking here.

 

Please be sure to "Like" our page and pass along to other MLS/Associations who may also benefit from this new resource. We appreciate your support.

 

Also, don't forget to follow us on Twitter! 

 

Point2 and EXIT Realty Enter Syndication and Approved Supplier AgreementPoint2PropertyManager 

 

EXIT International has just joined the Point2 syndication network. Meaning,  agents and brokers will hear more about the benefits of syndication and get encouraged to engage even more. If they are already part of an MLS that is a Point2 partner, well, this just makes it as easy as 1, 2, 3 to participate, if they already haven't. That's because they'd already be on your syndication dashboard. As part of our partnership with EXIT, Point2 products will also be promoted within the franchise. We will also participate at Exit Realty Conventions. Our first event is in Nashville, October 26-29, 2011.

      

C.A.R. Products Subsidiary REBS Selects Point2 to Power Clarus PropertyManager™MLSCertified 

 

The Point2 Property Manager platform will form the underpinnings for the Clarus PropertyManager™ product launched this month. REBS will market the software to REALTOR members in California and nationwide. Point2 will support all future product development and provide customer support to Clarus PropertyManager™ subscribers.

If you are interested in offering to your members your very own property management solution, please contact us at
[email protected].

MLS 5.0.... The MLS of the Future (Part 14)MLS5.0

  

Local, Regional, State, or National MLS


By: Saul Klein, Senior Vice President, Point2

October 2011

 

Real estate is local, but technology today will allow for great economies of scale, lower prices for a better MLS tool, user-defined experience and more. In the past, each MLS or, locale, had their own idiosyncrasies, definitions and terms, all "essential" to that particular local MLS. Today, with so much information available beyond the MLS, do all of those different fields remain necessary, in light of the benefit that can be derived from creating standards...not technology standards, but standard terms?

 

Is there a technology solution that would allow for the mapping of data so that every local MLS can retain all of its information fields? There is a data dictionary of sorts, similar in concept to what was referred to as DXM (Data Exchange Method) during the REALTORS� Information Network Project (RIN) back in the mid 1990s, but it is not a necessarily easy task and this solution would likely take longer.

 

Some fear that someone with access to listing information in their area will invade their territory and carpetbag some business. In light of this fear, those concerned want to attempt to keep the listing information proprietary to their respective MLS participants and subscribers. But the next generation of home buyers, sellers and REALTORS� won't stand for it. They will insist on more transparency and freer flow of the listing and marketing information.

 

The real benefit in boundary-less access to information is in the ability to provide information to one's relocating client, not the ability to sell a home down in San Diego to a buyer from Los Angeles. A Los Angeles broker would be able to provide information to their customer and refer them, better armed with knowledge about the San Diego market, to a San Diego broker.

 

Great advances are being made to regionalize or share MLS data in mega markets in California and also in other areas of the country. These efforts are steps in the right direction.


What's your opinion? Please write to
[email protected].

 

Saul Klein is Senior Vice President, Point2, author of MLS 5.0 - The MLS of the Future Whitepaper, a licensed real estate broker in California for the past 33 years and 1993 President of the San Diego Association of REALTORS�.  Saul created NAR's e-PRO� Technology Certification Program in 2001 and NAR's Web 2.0 & Social Media Course in 2009. Saul has been providing strategic planning and leadership programs to the industry since 1994 and is a 1972 graduate of the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis.

  

What's Your Leadership Style: Control or Engagement?EffectiveMeetings

Guest Contributors:

Bernice Ross and Byron Van Arsdale, copyright 2011

 

Are you an engaging leader or is control more your style? While a strong leader uses both styles, the engagement approach normally generates the best results.

 

When it comes to leadership styles, the Control Model is the most common. The Control Model places the focus on the leader's needs as opposed to focusing on participant needs.

 

The challenge with the control model is that it mirrors the traditional classroom lecture situation. Adults, and especially Gen Y's, dislike lectures where they're expected to listen and defer to an expert's superior wisdom. The shift from control to engagement is important because it lays the foundation for creating trust.

 

To illustrate this point, imagine that you are leading a meeting where you must announce a fee or dues increase. You know that there will be serious resistance.  What would you do to best handle the situation?

 

The person who uses the control model will take the position: "Just live with it. It's raise the fees or close the doors." This often creates resentment because most people want to have a say in this type of decision, even if they can't change the decision.

 

In contrast, the engagement model allows the leader to surface concerns and alternative solutions.

 

"We had to make a difficult decision between making major cuts in our services or raising our fees by 10 percent. We are going with the ten percent fee increase. What are some ways that we could trim expenses or increase revenues so that we can avoid future fee increases?" 

 

When participants engage in the process, they own it. Best of all, this approach may surface new ways to improve your organization's effectiveness while reducing costs as well.

 

Need more tips on how to lead effective meetings? Visit www.LeadGreatMeetings.com for more ideas on how to improve your leadership skills.

 

Syndication Partner UpdatesSyndication

Here is the latest update to the Point2 Syndication Network, as at October 20, 2011: 

    Live Partners

      

    1. Adicio.com 
      1. http://homes.myrecordjournal.com/realestate/search 
      2. http://homes.capecodtoday.com/realestate/search  
    2. Backpage.com (manual Partner)
    3. CLR Search
    4. Clickable Directories, Inc. 
    5. ConsumersGuideToRealEstate.com  
    6. Craigslist (manual partner)
    7. DataSphere (LandWatch.com and ResortScape.com)
    8. eBay (manual partner)
    9. eBay.ca (manual partner)
    10. FNRES (Cyberhomes)
    11. Foreclosure.com
    12. FrontDoor.com
    13. Google - Adwords options available
    14. Homefinder.ca (Canada Only) 
    15. Homefinder.com
    16. HomeGain.com 
    17. HomeHippo.com  
    18. HotPads.com
    19. HouseHitz.com 
    20. HousingBlock.com
    21. Real-Buzz.com by Immobel.com  
    22. JunoDomains.com
    23. Kazork
    24. LakeHomesUSA.com 
    25. MBG Partners, LLC (Mexico Buyer's Guide)
    26. MilitaryFSBO.com
    27. Mitula Canada
    28. Mitula US
    29. Mitula Mexico
    30. Mitula France
    31. Mitula India
    32. Mitula Portugal
    33. MoveThatBlock.com  
    34. New York Times
    35. NicheInvestments/MHBay.com 
    36. Oodle
    37. Ovlix.com 
    38. PCS Real Estate Services
    39. Point2Homes.com
    40. Propertyfeast.com 
    41. PropertyShark.com
    42. Proxio 
    43. R2RRealEstate.com  
    44. RE605.com 
    45. Real Estate Active 
    46. RealEstateChannel.ca 
    47. RealTown
    48. RealtyShowcase.tv 
    49. RealtyPin.com (Formerly know as YourNewHome.com)  
    50. RealtyStore.com/Ultraforeclosures.com
    51. Relocation.com
    52. RentCompass.com 
    53. StreetSeed.com 
    54. Trader Corporation (homeTRADER.ca)
    55. Trovit.S.L. (United States, Canada, Argentina, Mexico, Columbia)
    56. Trulia.com
    57. Vast
    58. Zillow / Yahoo! Real Estate
    59. Zoocasa (Canada plus launching into US markets with New York scheduled for release Oct. 24)

Recently Removed Sites:

CampusHomeOnline.com (site no longer in operation)

 

Recently Suspended Sites:

Listingfree.com

VivaReal Latin American Network

Bilingual Marketing Group


Shout it Out!

 

Have you come across a great property portal that made you scream

"Our Listings Need to be HERE!"?

 

Tell us about it!  We would love to see what we can do. Please contact your Account Executive or email us at  [email protected] with your suggestions. 

 

Humor of the Day! 


        

Point2 Wants To Advertise In Your Publications 

 

Have a great member publication or internal website Point2 can sponsor and advertise in? We'd love to discuss the opportunity.  

 

Additionally, if you are looking for custom content or materials on syndication or online marketing for distribution to your members, we would be more than happy to work with you and your organization to provide relevant, high impact handouts.

 

Just let your Account Executive know.   

 

About Point2  
Point2 (www.Point2.com), a Yardi Systems, Inc. (www.Yardi.com) brand, provides online marketing and lead management software to real estate professionals in North America and many countries around the world,  as well as property management solutions for medium to small size organizations managing up to 1000 units.

More information about Point2 can be found at www.point2.com. For ongoing news about Point2, please visit www.Point2.com/news.asp.   
IN THIS ISSUE
Newest Clients
Point2 Syndication on Facebook
Point2 / EXIT Partnership
REBS / Point2 in Technology Deal
MLS 5.0 (Part 14)
Leadership Styles
Syndication Partner Updates
Humor of the Day!
Your Publications
PLEASE NOTE

This newsletter is only emailed to MLS/Association Staff and Executives to keep you abreast of the continuous developments at Point2.

Should you wish to inform your members of the various updates, a Newsletter Archive page has been set up for convenient, easy access.

USEFUL RESOURCES

MLSCertified.com

Point2ExpressTools.com

Point2PropertyManager.com   

 

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