• Wars
• time spent in tibet
• bad luck as associated with breaking mirrors
• Guy Richie and Madonna’s marriage (now ending in divorce)
• my marriage (not ending in divorce, still on going, so this doesn’t count, I guess)
• my time as part of the Center for REALTOR® Technology (one week longer than the last thing mentioned)

If my records are correct CRT was created on the week of August 13, 2001. I’ve always been proud to say I’ve been part of CRT since day 3. Only Mark Lesswing was there on day 1, but I got there when I could. Mark launched CRT with the NAR member focused three part program of Advocacy, Education, and Implementation, but we needed to create the specific of what that program was.

For the first 5 years of my time at CRT I held the title of Strategic Architect. My daily duties included coding, some system administration, some education/presentations, and some writing. One duty I took on that you won’t see in a position description was to help explore and define exactly what CRT was.

During that time, CRT grew to 6 people and a handful of consultants who came and went. I’ve very proud of the work we did at that time and the impact we started to have on our members, NAR, and the industry as a whole. From our papers, to being a knowledge base for leadership, to open source software projects like JAMMand ezRETS, to hardware projects like our lockbox prototype, to giving presentations/education sessions at national, state, and local meetings.

Two years ago, Mark was promoted to Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer of NAR. CRT became one of the three departments that reported to the CTO, along with InfoCentral and Information Technology Services (ITS.) While Mark was still associated with CRT, his view become bigger and someone needed to deal with CRT’s day-to-day. At that time, I became the Managing Director of CRT. During those two years I kept the torch burning on the original concept and tried to build some new concepts and tasks for the CRT. Some of these things you’ve seen, some will be announced soon. All this time I’ve continued to be proud of CRT, its staff, and our service to NAR’s members.

Yesterday, my association with CRT ended with the naming of CRT’s new Managing Director (more on this in a second.) Don’t worry, I’m still at NAR continuing to service its members, but in a new role. Just over three weeks ago, I became the Vice President of ITS. It’s a new challenge for me, and a good step forward in my career. I plan on bringing the energy and creativity that serviced me well at CRT and focus it on NAR’s internal computing needs.

There are many things I’ll miss from CRT. The biggest adjustment will be not being as connected to NAR’s members was once was by having the conversations when CRT traveled to speak. Luckily there’s still blogs, twitter, and instant messaging out there to help me stay up to date.

However, there is one thing I’ll keep doing. As I’ve said before, “I cannot not code.” So I’ll be staying on as the main coder on ezRETS for the time being. Besides, no one else needs learn the horror that is ODBC internals! I like to keep my hands dirty, so that’s a good project to do it on.

As a quick aside: Its funny, but I feel like I’m getting a preview of something 14 years in my future personal life: letting one of my children go. I’ve always felt to be, at the very least, a co-parent to CRT.  Its actually been a bit harder than I would have thought.

The big announcement

As I mentioned above, CRT’s new Managing Director was named and its a name known to anyone who already knows CRT. I’m very pleased to announce that Chris McKeever has agreed to take the reigns.

I first met Chris when he was the lone IT guy for a large brokerage in Chicago. I had seen his e-mail to a local Linux Users’ Groupmailing list looking for a php developer. Based on the job description and the industry he was in, I contacted him to speak at one of CRT’s sessions at NAR’s Annual convention in 2004. We kept in touch, and when he was looking for a new challenge and CRT was looking for an employee, it worked out really well.

Chris’s biggest contribution to CRT has been his tireless championing of the needs of the Broker and Agent. From his participation in RESO, to his speaking engagements, to his writings, Chris has a true desire to make the industry better for our members. He will be a great leader for CRT and those it serves. I look forward to the great things that he’ll do with CRT.

In closing…

This ended up being a lot longer of a post than I thought it would, and much more of a history lesson.  However, 7 years is also a good time look backwards and reflect.  In many ways I’m MORE of the person I was when I started out at NAR, and in some ways I’m a very different person.  Guess that’s called “growing up” despite my resistance to that every step of the way.

And as cheesy as it is to quote song lyrics at a time like this, Green Day keeps playing over and over in my head that I think applies to me as much as it does to Chris:

"Another turning point;
a fork stuck in the road.

Time grabs you by the wrist;
directs you where to go.

So make the best of this test
and don’t ask why.

It’s not a question
but a lesson learned in time.

It’s something unpredictable
but in the end it’s right.
I hope you had the time of your life."

Keith Garner
mailto:kgarner@realtors.org?subject=CRT_Fall_Newsletter2008

Thoughts on a more service-oriented MLS

"The more you tighten your grip, Tarkin, the more star systems will slip through your fingers."

                                                                                                            –Princess Leia, circa 1977

That quote has always seemed to capture my opinion on data control and growth for the MLS and the real estate industry.  The more the industry tries to control data or maintain its historical stance on change, the more the consumer has slipped away from the industry and, often, the REALTOR.  This creates a deep irony: the amount of effort and capital needed for the uphill battle to control the inevitable which instead could be put into forward growth and an expansion of services which would benefit all parties involved and help to close the growing gap between the REALTOR and the consumer.

We need to face facts.  With each passing day, the consumer is accessing more and more data.  This data is being aggregated from various disjointed efforts, and it is often less reliable than that which a REALTOR can provide.  Yet having access to this increased level of information gives the consumer a feeling of self-empowerment, and so it blurs the value that a REALTOR can bring to the process.   The increase in data started off simply, with consumers just being able to search listings.  But as more and more sources of data spring up, the consumer is now able to determine estimates of property value (Zillow) and even place an offer directly online (Redfin). 

This trend is the reality; the industry simply can not fight it.  Instead, we need to embrace it and even enhance the available data, which will give us the opportunity to help define it.  And there is no better place to begin to embrace the trend than with the source of listing information, the MLS.  To continue to remain relevant, the MLS needs to reinvent itself as a technology service provider for its members. 

Historically, the MLS has been the facilitator of rules and regulation for cooperation and compensation.  But with the new technology and the increased amount of data available, they need to start thinking about how they can leverage their role as the centralized place for listing data.  The MLS has the potential to become a virtual toolbox of integrated services, such as a consumer-facing listing search/evaluation portal which can couple with customer contact management and showing scheduling.  In addition, the MLS can become a technology partner with brokers and agents and help with listing syndication.  Not only would this alleviate the problem of inaccurate data being shotgunned to each new aggregation site, it would reduce the multiple points of entry and help restore the MLS’ centrality 

With the upcoming June 2009 MLS RETS Compliance increasing the MLS’s role as a technology provider, the MLS will be positioned to provide enhanced listing access to third-party vendors as well as to broker and agent IDX sites.  Similar efforts have already been made elsewhere, and they have received positive results and responses from their members. 

That’s a good start, but we could also take the data one step further, and aggregate more information that can help the REALTOR and the consumer.  We could, for example, offer public records or neighborhood trends.  The MLS could provide widgets and tools that REALTORs can extend on their own site for their clients’ use.  These could include historic pricing comparisons, area information, and property valuation models based on accurate and complete data.  All this information is already out there in the wild, but sometimes its reliability is dubious.  Therefore if we provide these tools and the most dependable data, we can help to keep the consumer at the center of the transaction, while confirming the importance of the REALTOR.

Finally, the MLS can take this to the next level, and engage in the REALTORS PROPERTY RESOURCE (formerly known as the Gateway).  This site permits REALTORS to leverage all the tools they created and all the data they’ve aggregated, and to share it across the board while also benefiting from the resources shared by other participating entities. 

The is the MLS 2.0 defined.  It gives consumers and members what they want in the best and most efficient manner possible, and it helps everyone win.


Christopher McKeever
cmckeever@realtors.org

During the summer of 2008, CRT conducted its annual REALTOR® Technology Survey.  The purpose of the survey was to better understand REALTOR® Technology trends and usage.  The key topics of the study were social networking, technology sourcing, lead generation, building relationships, mapping, forms & contract software, transaction management, and security.  What follows are the survey’s high-level findings.  For the full 2008 REALTOR Technology Report, click here. 

Technology Sourcing

When participants are looking to learn about new technology for real estate, these are the top three sources they turn to: NAR (52%), real estate news web sites (46%), and/or colleagues (46%)

Over half (56%) of participating sales agents & associate brokers find the technology supplied by their broker to be valuable or extremely valuable.

Social Networking

33% of respondents use social networking sites or blogs for real-estate business purposes.  Those who participate in blogs or social networking sites were asked about their involvement with a number of sites. On a daily basis, respondents are likely to participate in Facebook (10%), ActiveRain (8%), and/or a self-hosted blog (7%).

Survey participants use the social networking sites because they are interested in reaching consumers (62%) and/or other REALTORS® (48%).

Lead Generation

The following methods were very important to generating leads: repeat business (88%), referrals (87%), and the Internet (53%).

Third Party Lead Resellers

Respondents were asked to evaluate several sites in terms of their usefulness.   60% are not familiar with Redfin.com and 58% indicate that LendingTree.com is not useful to them, while

 85% find REALTOR.com^® useful.

The majority of respondents (90%) do not participate in any programs where they pay for leads.

Building Relationships

The top three technologies used to keep in touch with past clients are email (34%), phone (32%), and regular postal mail (22%). The top three methods used to keep in touch with active clients are phone (50%), email (43%), and face-to-face meetings (51%).

Mapping

69% of respondents use maps on their listing website. 71% of them have map-based search, and 63% integrate additional information on their listing search, such as businesses, school data, etc.  15% feel that map-based search creates a more effective search utility.

Forms & Contract Software

68% use automated forms or management software such as WINForms®, Instaforms or ZipForm®.  Of these, 47% load MLS and contact data manually into their forms/contract management software.

Transaction Management

26% of respondents use a transaction management system.

The survey indicated that it is agents (49%) who most often enter and manage the transaction information.

Security

Survey respondents' security concerns are handled in various ways.  42% are affiliated with a company that has a written security policy for staff, 45% with a firm that has a written privacy policy for their clients/consumers, and, for 52%, their affiliated company either checks for and/or installs antivirus software on their computers on a regular basis.

If you are interested in the 2008 MLS Report, which was conducted among MLS staff, it can be accessed here.


Ana M. Schmitz
aschmitz@realtors.org

The first and most important piece of video equipment any self-styled videographer needs is a video camera. Prosumer video cameras differentiate themselves from consumer models by dint of their expanded functionality and higher quality images. Prosumer cameras also cost more than consumer models—3 to 4 times as much.

The advantage to prosumer video cameras is that they have many of the functions found on high-end professional models, in addition to high-quality imaging and audio. Here are three of the more useful features: first, external microphone inputs, which allow a videographer to use external microphones such as lavaliere or lapel mics, handheld mics or shotgun mics, all of which are likely to be wireless. Second, interchangeable lenses give you the ability to change lenses when attempting to film different types of events. For example, a wide angle lens would ideal for filming a sporting event, as it allows the viewer to take in the whole field of play at once. Consumer models don’t have this option. Third, prosumer video cameras have shutter control, which enables shooting in low-level light conditions. These are just a few of the valuable functions a prosumer video camera offers.

However, if the higher cost of a prosumer video camera doesn’t deter an aspiring videographer, the complexity might. With all of its knobs, switches, and settings, a prosumer model is not for the technically faint of heart. Just starting to record on one can be initially confusing. Thankfully, most of these cameras come configured with default settings which are appropriate for shooting in high light, low background noise settings. For more advanced shoot locations and situations, you’ll need to do a slow, steady perusal of the manual and some web searching. Fortunately, the terms and functions are similar from one camera to another so once you learn how to use it you’ll be able to transfer that knowledge to other devices.

The benefits of owning a prosumer video camera are manifold. If you’re willing to spend some extra money and take the time to familiarize yourself with one, you can produce broadcast quality video without a crew or news van. Granted, for many applications this would be overkill; video conferencing, stupid pet tricks and chemistry experiments require only a basic video camera. So think about how you’re going to use your camera, your light, audio, and resolution requirements, then decide if a prosumer video camera is right for you.

Ian Smith
ismith@realtors.org

Last week’s release of the HTC G1, a competitor to the Apple iPhone, is giving us an exciting look at the direction in which the smartphone market is headed.  Smartphones like the iPhone and the G1 are beginning to fulfill the promise that cellphone technology would blur the line between phones and computers.  As this trend continues, it is going to generate exciting opportunities for REALTORS® to make the most of some very powerful technology.

 
Earlier-generation smartphones were a step above most mobile phones.  Not only did they have the features of a PDA, address book, calendar, and to-do list, they also allowed you to access email at all times and offered a limited amount of Internet content.  But the Internet access was so limited, and the number of applications so small that you still needed to use a laptop or desktop for tasks like searching for a home or calculating a mortgage.  

Now that’s beginning to change.  The iPhone and the HTC G1 both make improvements in these areas.  First, these smartphones give you both complete access to the Internet and a fully functional web browser.  Second, both the IPhone and the G1 offer strong support for the development of third-party software.  The combined effect of these two features means that the iPhone and the G1 can run the kind of software that used to exclusively belong to the domain of laptops and desktops.

The Internet and high-quality third-party software are morphing smartphones into portable computers that can be tailored to support a wide range of uses and benefit a similarly wide range of businesses, including REALTORS®.  Consider, for example, all the software for the iPhone that a REALTOR® can already take advantage of: maps, a land area calculator,a financial calculator, multiplehomesearchapplications.  This is an impressive list given the short period of time since the iPhone’s initial release.  And much of this software either is or soon will be available for the G1.

We at CRT have already taken a look at how the iPhonemay be of use to REALTORS®.  And keep an eye out on our blog, where we’ll report on both the G1 and the upcoming Blackberry Storm.  We’ll also investigate the software that get released for all these platforms and let you know which of it might be useful to REALTORS®. 

Technologically speaking, it’s an exciting time, and we intend to help you take advantage of it!      

 Andrew Tillman
atillman@realtors.org

As a 23-year-old in search of a home, I have a perspective that I have found to be relatively rare.  I recognize that my generation has a great opportunity to take advantage of the tremendous surplus in real estate.  Although the credit issues facing the country may make it difficult for some to secure favorable loans, the incredible numbers of available homes, combined with falling prices, presents a near-ideal opportunity for first-time buyers to snatch up some real bargains. 

Sounds great right?  Unfortunately, through conversations with many friends and acquaintances in their early to mid-twenties, it doesn’t appear that many are interested in even discussing homeownership.  From what I’ve heard, this lack of excitement has a simple cause—most of my generation lacks quality information about the real estate market.  Whenever the conversation arises with friends and acquaintances, I cannot help but wonder where many of my friends get their information.  Very few seem to understand how the industry works or how to go about searching for a home. 

This younger generation of buyers contains great potential for REALTORS®, and so  I’ve come up with a few tips that I think will be valuable, not only for understanding the fears of young buyers, but also for gaining their trust.  

· Information

Most people I know have heard reports in many different media outlets about the problems facing current homeowners.  However, there are rarely any reports about the benefits of investing in real estate, especially when prices are dropping.  The media has cast a negative light on the real estate industry as a whole, while young clients need to be informed about the positive aspects of homeownership.  For example, the first-time homebuyer tax credit is a great deal for young buyers, but few seem to know that it even exists.  Providing correct, current information about housing concerns is probably the most important tip I can give anyone trying to sell my generation on real estate.  Furthermore, making such information readily available to a digitized generation would be a great step in the right direction.

· Technology

My generation has internalized the Internet.  This internalization has a significant impact on the home-buying process: so far, my entire search has taken place on the web.  In my search, I have used just about every website available to buyers.  Here’s what I found most useful while perusing different real estate websites: property mapping, photos, and overall ease-of-use.  In searching for properties in Chicago, I do not know every single street name or where they are located.  Sites that can show me the properties on a map made my search much easier.  And I must admit that, although I may have missed out on some great properties, I rarely found myself giving more than a quick glance to listings without multiple photos.  I want to get a sense of what the properties look like so I can decide whether or not to schedule a showing.  Finally, websites that list homes need to be simple and well thought out so that first-time buyers can easily and quickly search and find homes without having to jump through hoops to get to the best listings.  

· Patience

Be patient in explaining to first-time buyers the process of homeownership and the currently available incentives.  More than half of the people I’ve spoken with are unwilling to consider purchasing a home because they’ve heard all about foreclosures and the slumping housing market.  This attitude requires REALTORS® to be extremely patient and understanding of these fears while teaching young, first-time buyers about the advantages of owning a home.  Being honest and upfront with these clients can also help to gain their trust.  Is the current market perfect for every buyer? Of course not.  However, for many, there are some truly great opportunities available to those willing to find them.

Greg Stinton
gstinton@realtors.org