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Monday, January 26th, 2009 at 6:08 PM

Statewide MLS?

I can wait to sell houses in Fresno or Bakersfield or Blythe!  Blythe is nice this time of year!

From C.A.R.:

I’m very pleased to be able to share three important developments with you regarding CALMLS, the statewide Multiple Listing Service (MLS) initiative, that impact every REALTOR® in California. This past weekend at the C.A.R. board of directors meetings in Monterey, following an extensive vetting process that included input from REALTORS® and other stakeholders statewide, CALMLS named Concentric as its technology partner; secured a $3 million line of credit for partnership activities, ongoing operations, and future development; and debuted dynamic new branding for CALMLS’ products and services.

Selecting Rocklin, Calif.-based Concentric was a critical first step toward a more current and flexible MLS system, designed with a real estate agent’s needs in mind. Platform- and browser-neutral, Concentric’s Web-based system performs substantially faster than any product on the market. CALMLS will incorporate many different technologies to allow choice as well as myriad new applications for the licensees accessing the system, including creating the foundation for a property-centric database that will allow members easy access to relevant data on all properties in California. Concentric’s next-generation product is a notable and clearly visible leap forward from current MLS software and is built on a platform that can adapt to ever-changing technology needs.

CALMLS also debuted new branding for the products and services offered by the statewide MLS entity. These now will be branded as calREDD™, an acronym for California Real Estate Dynamic Data.  The new calREDD™ branding reflects the long-term vision of creating one database for all California real property, with advanced technology that goes beyond current MLS systems and incorporates a database rich with detail about every single property in the state.

At the directors meetings this past week, Concentric conducted standing-room only demonstrations, with local REALTOR® associations vying for priority to have the system for their respective MLSs. In fact, 66 local REALTOR® associations and three regional MLSs representing more than 120,000 members across the state already have signed letters of intent to participate in CALMLS.

Posted on Monday, January 26th, 2009 at 6:08 PM in Realtor Training | 15 Comments » | Print Print You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Reader Comments: 15 Responses

  1. What does that for public access to MLS data?

    mustbe | January 26th, 2009 at 6:37 pm

  2. What does that MEAN for public access to MLS data?

    mustbe | January 26th, 2009 at 6:37 pm

  3. If they were smart, it would mean a complimentary public website rolled out at the same time.

    But we’ll see about that – I’m sure you noticed that no mention was made in this release….

    The vendor is probably licking their chops at the thought of how much they’ll be charging redfin and the like for access.

    Jim the Realtor | January 26th, 2009 at 6:53 pm

  4. Ummm, $3 million for an SQL and webfront?

    Rob Dawg | January 26th, 2009 at 9:43 pm

  5. Heck, Jim would have provided those – and thrown in this blog for $2.9 million!

    wifey | January 26th, 2009 at 10:26 pm

  6. But will the information be as complete as Sandicor’s new system? (“Real” CDOM, etc?)

    /snark off

    shoppingaround | January 27th, 2009 at 5:49 am

  7. We need another company to come out with a data system.I imagine google is coming out with a system as we speak.Realtors have their place but commissions are going to come down.

    arizonadude | January 27th, 2009 at 7:05 am

  8. 1. I hope Sandicor rots.

    2. Their constant use of “REALTOR®” bugs the heck outta me.

    I must be grumpy this morning….

    Kwaping | January 27th, 2009 at 8:32 am

  9. Someday the realtors’ stranglehold on the real estate market and its information systems will come to an end. I just hope it is sooner rather than later…

    greenlander | January 27th, 2009 at 9:29 am

  10. Hmm..May be i didnt get this str8. All that giberish mail for a sql server and a form compatible with various browsers…No wonder we should be charged 3%-5% for resale of our houses.

    **No offence Jim** I still like your take on housing subject.

    Hem | January 27th, 2009 at 11:01 am

  11. greenlander,

    I think the stranglehold is already over, and this new statewide MLS project is going to be tempted to try and put the jeannie back in the bottle. In fact, it will be irresistible for the CAR, in an effort to protect the weak and feeble agents, to either deny public access altogether, or try to make money off it.

    Jim the Realtor | January 27th, 2009 at 11:25 am

  12. Jim,

    Eventually, they’ll just drive people away from the MLS if they make it prohibitive.

    I’m sure the buggy whip teamster’s union could give them good talking points on why you need them.

    Chuck Ponzi

    Chuck Ponzi | January 27th, 2009 at 11:37 am

  13. this is another step towards lower commish’s for agents. Imagine how many out of towners are going to be writing offers for friends and relatives who are moving or already live in another state. Now agents settle for the listing and a referral fee for somebody moving to LA. Once this goes live there will be tons of out of area agents writing offers and on package deals for clients. In all, it will increase competition and help bring down comissions.

    Tom Tarrant | January 27th, 2009 at 5:44 pm

  14. The issue isn’t with buy-side commissions. It’s the sell-side that egregious. When agents see reduced commissions, naturally they steer their clients away from those homes. Until we keep commissions undisclosed, or until we get away from this “split the commission” model, fees are going to stay high.

    Sure, go ahead and hire an agent who will list you for 3%. See how many buy-side agents show your property.

    Here in Norcal, it’s a pretty much still 6%, and it took a dogfight to get my broker down to 5%. I’d say 2% is a more fair value for that service. But then there ain’t nuthin to split. I think it should be fixed $, to be negotiated. Both sides. I pay my selling agent. You pay your buying agent. Retainers, etc. That removes the disastrous distortions that only give the “agents” counterproduct incentives that make fiduciary responsibility a joke.

    Aztec | January 27th, 2009 at 7:16 pm

  15. Will the new system fix all the poorly written listing I see on the Irvine housein blog? Those are appalling and probably the main reason the MLS is a closed system.

    Kevin | January 31st, 2009 at 6:47 pm

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