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REinventing MLS
Category Archives: MRED in the News
Chicagoland Realtors® Elect MRED’s Agent-Branded App as Clear Winner
There is No Debating the Value of the new Midwest Homes™
LISLE, ILLINOIS (October 18, 2011) – Midwest Real Estate Data (MRED) (www.mredllc.com), the Chicagoland multiple listing service (MLS), has announced the introduction of an agent-branded IDX listing search as part of its Midwest Homes™ app suite. This mobile app puts the agent’s brand in front of their customers, turning every home listed into a virtual flyer promoting that agent and generating real-time leads.
Earlier this year, MRED premiered Midwest Homes™ to give their real estate professionals an MLS home searching app. Midwest Homes™ was developed in partnership with iKenex, the mobile division of DoApp, a top five mobile developer. Featuring interactive map searching and geo-location technology, Midwest Homes™ makes it easy to find nearby for-sale listings. While doing business on the go, MRED practitioners can log in to obtain a rich set of data for all of the homes listed for sale in their MLS. Midwest Homes™ can be downloaded for free at the app stores and is fully functional on iPhones, Androids, and iPads.
With the introduction of the Agent Branded MLS Search App, MRED customers can now personalize the Midwest Homes™ app, directing their clients to their preferred app store for a free download that is personalized to their agent. With consumers gravitating to the mobile world at an ever-increasing rate, Midwest Homes™ offers agents the ability to deliver a cutting-edge mobile MLS consumer search while reinforcing their relationship with their clients. This functionality is available for only a $30 set up charge and $5.99 per month for unlimited downloads.
“MRED is known for their leadership in world-class technologies that make agents and brokers more productive and successful,” said Dave Borrillo, Chief Technology Officer of DoApp. “Because we share those goals, we look forward to continuing our partnership with them to provide mobile apps that not only increase productivity, but also help agents better serve their clients. We are really excited about some brand new capabilities specifically geared for the unique needs of MRED.”
“We are totally committed to mobile and providing our customers with the tools they need to succeed on all of the major mobile platforms existing today,” said MRED CEO Russ Bergeron. “Midwest Homes™ provides a top of the line mobile MLS search for our real estate professionals while giving them the ability to deliver branded search capabilities to their clients. This is a win for everybody, especially the consumer.”
Sales of Distressed Properties on Two-Month Upswing
After a few months of declines, sales of Chicago-area homes that were either foreclosed or sole for less than the value of the mortgage increased in both July and August.
MRED Begins the Season With a Win
Fans Respond Positively to the New Look and Enhanced Functionality of MREDLLC.com
LISLE, IL–(Marketwire – Sep 13, 2012) – Midwest Real Estate Data (MRED), Chicagoland’s multiple listing service (MLS), announced that the new MREDLLC.com has been successfully launched and is enjoying a great reception from MRED real estate professionals.
This redesigned website gives real estate professionals across the Midwest a more interactive and user friendly site with which to learn about the extensive suite of products and services provided by MRED, including easy access to its workhorse MLS system, connectMLS™. This new site is the place to find tools Realtors® can use, and to discover all the information and training on how to use them.
“Love it,” said Debbie Marwitz of Coldwell Banker Honig-Bell in Cary. “Everything you need is right there in front of you. Love the ‘top stories’ scrolling at the top and the direct link to connectMLS™. The bottom quick clicks which take you right to the answers — home, statistics, training, etc. — awesome! This site is so easy to navigate. GREAT job! Thanks for all your work on this!”
“OK, so my head is now spinning with this new website,” said Kathy Przybyla of RE/MAX of Barrington. “All of the wonderful options you have given the Realtor® community — thanks!”
Users find the new MREDLLC.com to be easy to navigate and very user friendly. The tabs across the top of the site give the visitor quick and easy access to general information on various topics. The powerful search feature allows you to enter a keyword and all documentation, links and information matching that keyword will be immediately available and accessible.
“I noticed the change right away and I am very pleased with it,” said Valerie DeMarco, of Prudential Starck Realtors in Palatine. “I think that the folks behind MRED have worked diligently to bring us the best MLS service out there. I love my MLS! I like that I can access different feature information right from the home page… and it is more visually appealing than the old website.”
“I thought it was neat to learn about the power search feature that I have not paid attention to while on connectMLS™,” said Bob Little, Jr., of Little Realty in Naperville. “I like that there is a ton of information that is easy to find and the housing statistics are something I can show clients without having to do a lot of prep work. Keep up the good work and continually improving the website.”
Not only are practicing real estate professionals giving the new website high marks, but their staff members are also experiencing the benefit of a cutting-edge MREDLLC.com.
“I think it is just great,” said Linda Kous, Lead/Listing Coordinator for The G-Slow Team in Frankfort. “As an assistant there are many times I have questions and the agent is not handy so it is nice to have a resource that is so easy to read visually and ‘user friendly’. I read all the tips sent from MRED as they come but it is nice that now they are indexed so you can go back when you need them and review — the “How To” section especially! You guys are always making our work life easier. Thanks.”
About MRED
Midwest Real Estate Data (MRED) is the real estate data aggregator and distributor providing the Chicagoland multiple listing service (MLS) to nearly 40,000 brokers, agents and appraisers and 8,000 offices. MRED serves Chicago and the surrounding “collar” counties and provides property information encompassing northern Illinois, southern Wisconsin and northwest Indiana. For more information, visit www.MREDLLC.com.
MRED Gives Company Website a Facelift
MRED Launches the New Look and Enhanced Functionality of MREDLLC.com
LISLE, IL–(Marketwire – Aug 20, 2012) – Midwest Real Estate Data (MRED), Chicagoland’s multiple listing service (MLS), announced that it has launched the new MREDLLC.com. This redesigned website gives real estate professionals across the Midwest a more interactive and user friendly site with which to learn about the extensive set of products and services provided by MRED, including easy access to its workhorse MLS system, connectMLS™. This new site is the place to find tools Realtors® can use and to get all of the information and training on how to use them.
MRED retained the services of Warren McKenna Design Group (WMDesignGroup.com) of Chicago, Illinois, for the planning, design and building of the new site. WMDG was chosen based on its excellence in execution in creating and updating websites for other organizations in the real estate industry. “It’s all about creating an experience that anticipates subscribers’ needs and delivers results in the field,” Warren McKenna, Principal of WMDG, adds.
Users will find the new MREDLLC.com to be easy to navigate and very user friendly. The tabs across the top of the site give the visitor quick and easy access to general information on various topics. The powerful search feature allows you to enter a keyword and all documentation, links and information matching that keyword will be immediately available and accessible.
A substantial amount of MREDLLC.com is dedicated to MRED’s products and services. By hovering over the Products and Resources tab, you are given an extensive drop down menu with links to descriptions of MRED’s products by category, including: MLS and Public Records; Enhanced Property Info; Transaction Assistance; Marketing Tools; Statistics and Analytics; Mobile; Public Service Apps; Real Estate News and Views; and Data Licensing. Visitors can then click on the desired item and get all the information needed on a single page dedicated to that product. They can even sign up for training right then and there.
The Training tab itself has been enhanced and organized for ease of use. The Class Finder functionality has made searching and registering for classes, or scheduling custom training and webinars easier than ever.
“We are very excited about the launch of the new MREDLLC.com,” said MRED CEO Russ Bergeron. “The new MREDLLC.com allows our customers to easily access all the products and services that MRED offers. We love the much cleaner, more up to date look. One of our goals is to be able to communicate quickly and effectively with all of our customers. MREDLLC.com allows us to do that 365/24/7.”
MRED encourages its customers to take full advantage of the functionality that exists at the new MREDLLC.com. The site is not a static page but is a living, breathing entity that will be updated to accommodate new ideas and suggestions, as well as any changes and new products that are added to the mix. Viewing activity will be measured in order to identify areas that might need improvement and areas that get the greatest use, helping MRED to focus on those areas of its operation that might need immediate attention. MRED will be continuously updating the site to keep it at the cutting edge of MLS websites.
About MRED
Midwest Real Estate Data (MRED) is the real estate data aggregator and distributor providing the Chicagoland multiple listing service (MLS) to nearly 40,000 brokers, agents and appraisers and 8,000 offices. MRED serves Chicago and the surrounding “collar” counties and provides property information encompassing northern Illinois, southern Wisconsin and northwest Indiana. For more information, visit http://www.mredllc.com/.
MRED CEO Russ Bergeron Is Panel Participant on MLS of Tomorrow at Inman Real Estate Connect Conference
Will Be Addressing How MLSs Can Swim in Uncharted Real Estate Waters
LISLE, IL–(Marketwire – Aug 1, 2012) – Midwest Real Estate Data (MRED) (www.mredllc.com), the Chicagoland multiple listing service (MLS), has announced that its CEO, Russ Bergeron, will be a panelist at Inman News’ upcoming Real Estate Connect Conference in San Francisco. This industry leading conference attracts the real estate industry’s most influential leaders, decision makers, innovators and experts, and will be taking place August 1st – 3rd, 2012.
Bergeron will be participating in a session called “Updating the MLS”, on Thursday, August 2nd. The panel will be discussing what it is going to take to create the MLS of tomorrow, speaking candidly about the technological, legal and business issues that need to be addressed to update outdated practices and to remove some of the limitations facing MLS customers and vendors today.
Bergeron is well qualified to take part on such a panel. He is known throughout the world for his leadership in bringing technological advances to the multiple listing industry. In recognition of his leadership and innovation, he was named one of the nation’s 100 Most Influential Leaders in Real Estate for 2009, 2010 and 2011 by Inman News. Russ currently sits on advisory boards of Realtor.com, Trulia.com, Supra and CoreLogic/Realist®, and was recently appointed to the MLS Domains Association Board of Directors. He is a member of the Illinois Association of Realtors® Strategic Planning Committee and the Realtors® Property Resource User Advisory Council.
“This is a subject close to my heart and always on my mind,” said Bergeron. “I look forward to exchanging thoughts and ideas with my peers and the very best thinkers in the industry. Our mission is to ‘reinvent MLS,’ so I am very comfortable participating on such a panel and addressing what I feel are the most critical issues facing MLSs and real estate professionals in general.”
About MRED
Midwest Real Estate Data (MRED) is the real estate data aggregator and distributor providing the Chicagoland multiple listing service (MLS) to nearly 40,000 brokers, agents and appraisers and 8,000 offices. MRED serves Chicago and the surrounding “collar” counties and provides property information encompassing northern Illinois, southern Wisconsin and northwest Indiana. For more information, visit: www.mredllc.com.
MRED Reports Early Real Estate Fireworks
May Was a Recent Real Estate Record Setter Worth Celebrating
LISLE, ILLINOIS (July 2, 2011) – Midwest Real Estate Data (MRED) (www.mredllc.com), the Chicagoland multiple listing service (MLS), has analyzed a series of metrics and confirmed the Illinois real estate marketplace in May was one of the best in some time.
According to data from MRED and other MLSs around the state, and compiled by the Illinois Association of Realtors®, year-over-year median prices rose for the first time in forty-nine months in the Chicagoland area. For the first time in twenty-two months, median prices rose for the state of Illinois as a whole. Sales numbers across the state could be described as robust.
Focusing on its own vast database, MRED uncovered some other promising numbers. May 2012 closed transactions were up almost twenty-five percent (25%) over May 2011. Traditional transactions (versus foreclosure/REOs and short sales) are a growing segment of the overall market, up from forty-seven percent (47%) of all transactions in February 2012, to over sixty-three percent (63%) at the end of May.
All transaction types are showing a month-over-month increase in average sold price. In fact, MRED reports three consecutive months of overall average sale price increases, with a jump of over twenty-six percent (26%) since February 2012. The average market time has been declining since April 2012 throughout all the different transaction type segments.
MRED metrics are a great indicator of the overall health of the real estate marketplace. The MRED database contains approximately ninety percent (90%) of the Realtor® transactions in Illinois, housed in its connectMLS™ system, which is accessed by about eighty-five percent (85%) of the Realtors® in Illinois.
“From my perspective as a Realtor®, I am as pleased as could be at all of the positive news and indications that we’re finally moving in the right direction in our respective real estate marketplaces,” said Rob Schaid, MRED President and Broker/Owner of RE/MAX Plaza. “I’m glad that MRED is keeping close tabs on what is happening and can confirm or otherwise address the numbers. Let’s make sure the good news is legitimate.”
“Even though this represents only one month’s results, we still remain cautiously optimistic that we are seeing a true turnaround in the real estate marketplace,” said MRED CEO Russ Bergeron. “No one is suggesting we are returning to the halcyon days of most of the last decade. That was the anomaly. What we are seeing now is a return to the ’new normal’ real estate market. Indications are that we are well on our way.”
About MRED
Midwest Real Estate Data (MRED) is the real estate data aggregator and distributor providing the Chicagoland multiple listing service (MLS) to nearly 40,000 brokers, agents and appraisers and 8,000 offices. MRED serves Chicago and the surrounding “collar” counties and provides property information encompassing northern Illinois, southern Wisconsin and northwest Indiana. For more information, visit: www.mredllc.com.
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