The monthly magazine of My Florida Regional MLS August 2011 Volume 1, Issue 4
MFRMLS University page 4
Get to know the Trainers page 5
8 Back-to-School Tips for Parents page 6
Too busy for education? page 9
page 10
My Florida ReSource Magazine August 2011 Volume 1, Issue 4
August 2011
My Florida Regional MLS (MFRMLS) 5032 Goddard Avenue Orlando, FL 32804
Featured
Tel: (407) 218-8607 Toll-Free: (800) 686-7451 Fax: (407) 293-6461 About MFRMLS
Featured 4 5 6 9
MFRMLS University Get to know the Trainers 8 Back-to-School Tips for Parents Commentary by MFRMLS Leadership —Education you say? I’m too busy to attend training courses.
10-14 Transaction Desk!
In every issue...
My Florida Regional MLS is Florida’s largest multiple listing service with over 32,000 subscribers. Owned by 15 Shareholder REALTOR® Boards and Associations in Central and Southwest Florida, MFRMLS offers a comprehensive suite of productivity and marketing tools to professionals in the real estate industry. Positioning Statement My Florida Regional MLS is the only real estate information resource that helps our members deliver quality service to their customers by providing the tools and opportunity to succeed in their profession. 2011-2012 MFRMLS Officers
16-18 Training & Tips —Recent My Tips of the Week —Help Desk Tip: Email Listings from MLXchange
20-22 Resources —The World of #Hashtags —4 Email Behaviors You Want to Avoid
25 Real Estate News 26-29 Spotlights —Team Member: Viviana Ray, Compliance Specialist —Product and Services: Kurio
30-31 Commercial Real Estate News (presented by MFCRE) 32 Off MFRMLS Property 33 Around the House (an article for current and future homeowners) 36 Announcement! 2 | My Florida ReSource | August 2011
Bill Dryburgh, President Melody Hall, President-Elect Steve Amburgey, Vice-President Bob Grant, Jr., Treasurer Aaron Chandler, Immediate Past President MFRMLS Executives Merri Jo Cowen, CEO Jay Markell, CFO, COO Deanna Harris, VP of Information Services Carole Burgess, VP of Administration Jennifer Thompson-Kersting, Director of Marketing and Education Editorial Staff Natashia Ford, Editor Doug Wise, Editor, Creative Director
Volume 1, Issue 4
How does RatePlug help Agents in today’s market?
1.
RatePlug provides your prospective homebuyers with valuable payment information specific to each property they view. MFRMLS PROPERTY REPORT & LINK Online, interactive housing payments & lending info displayed side-by-side with property information on a new Consumer Report Keeps customers on listings longer You choose the lender to display Interactive mortgage tool allows homebuyers to play ‘what if’ scenarios to address their financing needs
2.
Provides marketing material for your Open House functions or general display. PROPERTY FLYER PROGRAM The system creates detailed flyers with property listing information and acurate mortgage payment information Created with one mouse click Can be emailed or printed Promotes both the Agent and chosen Loan Officer
3.
FREE to MFRMLS Members!
Visit www.rateplug.com/mfrmls to enroll
*Participating lenders pay a license fee.
www.MFRMLS.com
August 2011 | My Florida ReSource | 3
MFRMLS University: What Do You Want to Learn Today? Have you been to MFRMLS University? This training portal will connect you to the many courses available to you as an MFR Member. Online, or in person, we’ve got a class for you. So, how does it work? Good question. —Once you visit MFRMLSUniversity.com you can choose from a list of available courses. —Once you click on a specific course, you will be prompted to log in or create a new user account. —After that, you should see all the course documents you need, along with a quiz you can take when you’re ready, in order to receive a course certificate. —Additionally, you’ll notice a link called “Live Training Schedule” in the header menu that will take you to a calendar of upcoming courses, including those you can attend in-person. MFRMLS University: enroll today! http://mfrmlsuniversity.com/
MFRMLS University YouTube Channel: Tune In! In addition to MFRMLS University.com, we also have a MFRMLS University YouTube channel! Here you can find any of our recorded webinars, as well as other videos that are intended to make your MFRMLS experience more successful. The best part about the MFRMLS University YouTube channel? You can watch any of our webinars at a time that is convenient for you. Check it out! http://www.youtube.com/user/mfrmlsuniversity
4 | My Florida ReSource | August 2011
Volume 1, Issue 4
Get to know the MFRMLS Trainers By MFRMLS Staff We couldn’t have an education issue and not give you a glimpse at our Trainers and each of their training styles.
Terry Barnett, Trainer/ Developer When did you join the MFRMLS Team? January 2008 right when the company was bringing on five associations at once! How would you describe your training style? My “training style” is up-beat and energetic. I train from the agent’s perspective – drawing from my personal experience as an agent myself and personal observations and feedback from agents on the actual use of our products and services in the real world. How did you get started in training? I have been a Technology Consultant Assisting people with their computers and businesses since 1988. I got my first Real Estate License in 1992 in the State of Kansas and then Florida when I moved here. I later merged the two businesses into my current profession when I began training classes at the Greater Lake County Association of Realtors (now known as the Realtors Association of Lake & Sumter Counties) and was later brought on to My Florida Regional MLS.
www.MFRMLS.com
Ivette Jimenez, Trainer When did you join the MFRMLS Team? December 2007 How would you describe your training style? I like to put myself in the shoes of the trainee. I like to put them at ease by giving them real life examples of things that happen to me when I practiced real estate. That tends to always make them comfortable and more open to learn. My goal is to teach them at least ONE thing, even if they’ve worked with our system 20 years, it is still my goal to make sure everyone learns something. How did you get started in training? I started training in August of 1998 at a Customer Service Call Center. An Assistant Trainer position had opened when I was on maternity leave, so I applied for it and when I came back from maternity leave I became a Trainer.
Katie McCoy, Senior Trainer When did you join the MFRMLS Team? February 2011 How would you describe your training style?
How did you get started in training? As the MLS manager with Suncoast MLS (over 6 years ago) my position required me to teach the MLS to members of the Pinellas Realtor Organization. It was love at first class!
Cindy Rayfield, Senior Trainer How long have you been Training with MFRMLS? 8 years How would you describe your training style? Energetic, enthusiastic, comical, efficient and practical examples are demonstrated of how to utilize the software to best suit the needs of the member or their client. How did you get started in training? In every job I have had for the past 33 years, I have been in charge of training employees or customers on the products utilized by the company. One of the reasons I began training the MLS products was to obtain feedback from our members on how to best improve our products. The suggestions from our members are some of the best ideas on how to improve the MLS products for everyone. And the person who oversees this fabulous team… (please see “Trainers” page 7)
It’s all elementary, start with the basics.
August 2011 | My Florida ReSource | 5
Back-To-School — 8 Tips For Parents... By Calle Zorro “How To Have A Smooth BackTo-School Transition And Lay The Foundation For A Successful School Year - 8 Tips For Parents” There’s more to starting school than just buying notebooks and pencils and throwing the kids on the bus... Parents can use the following eight tips to help their children successfully adapt to the start of a new school year and all the changes and transitions starting a new school year brings with it as well as getting the most out of their time in school. Form The Right Opinions... First, parents must realize that their children - especially young children - form much of their opinion about a given situation based on what they hear and see from their parents. When parents describe new things as fun, interesting, and exciting, then children will tend to form the same opinion of new things. When parents consistently express that good things will always come (even if they can’t be seen yet) from new experiences, new acquaintances, and new interactions, then children will usually share this same belief. Life Is About Contrasts... Second, parents must help their children realize that life is a series of events, experiences, and contrasts. In life, there will be ups and downs. There will be group-time and alonetime. Of course, there’s play time and work time. There’s sit-still time and run-time. There’s even laughing time and crying time. There’s full-time and 6 | My Florida ReSource | August 2011
there’s hungry time. Yes, there are people we enjoy more and others less. There are things we like and things we do not like. And, there are new experiences and old experiences. These contrasts are a natural and normal part of life. These contrasts are what enable each of us as humans to derive the greatest fulfillment and enjoyment in life. In other words, without one, we cannot appreciate the other. By helping children understand these contrasts - both positive and negative - parents empower their children to get through the negative times with the full expectation that the positive times will come shortly and the negative times help us enjoy the positive times more fully. Manage Expectations... Third, parents can help their children by managing their expectations. By describing what will happen at a highlevel from start to finish, parents give their children a sense of control and well-being. They give them a sense that everything is going to work out alright because
they know what’s going to happen before it ever happens. In this same line, if there are young children involved, parents might consider taking their children to the school before it starts and walking them around and showing them what it looks like, what’s going to happen, and place an emphasis on the playground and the fact that there will be other children there when school starts for them to play with. Everyone Is Special... Fourth, Parents must help their children understand their uniqueness. Children must be taught to understand that they are not to compare themselves with other children. They must be taught that each person has their own strengths and weaknesses. They must understand that just because they are really “good” in a certain area does not make them superior to other children. Likewise, just because they aren’t as “good” in another area does not make them inferior to children around them. It is critical that parents help children in this area on an ongoing basis. There are all kinds of areas and ways that children will Volume 1, Issue 4
tend to judge, evaluate, and compare themselves to others - in a negative light - if they are not consistently reminded by parents that they are unique and special. So, help your children learn to assess themselves in a positive way. Ramp Up To The Start... Fifth, parents can “ramp up” to the start of a new school year by involving their children in the process of getting new clothes and supplies, preparing a “workspace” where schoolwork can be done, cleaning lunch boxes or sports equipment, or anything that builds anticipation in children’s minds that something good and exciting is about to happen - like taking a fun trip. Also, parents should make as many connections as they can to things that a child really likes. For example, if a young boy is passionate about toy cars and trucks, then it should be easy to get him fired up about riding a bus to school. What about cases where a child is particularly afraid to break away from parents? One suggestion is that parents do a project with the child where they paste pictures of the family, any pets, a bedroom or play area on the child’s notebook or supply box. This will serve as a visual reminder to the child that home isn’t very far away and that it will only be a small amount of time until they are back to their familiar environment with their family. Keeping The Lines Open... Sixth, it’s up to parents to keep the lines of communications open and to keep their children comfortable in talking with parents. Parents should repeatedly remind children that it is always okay for them to ask any question they have about anything www.MFRMLS.com
of their parents. Parents should frequently encourage children to talk about anything that is on their mind. And in fact, parents should ask their children to confide in them first and foremost - so that as loving parents, they can give their children the best advice and counsel. And then, parents should ask questions of their children in a way that encourages each child to open up. For example, a question like, “How was your day?” leaves room only for an answer like “OK” or “Fine”. In contrast, a question like, “What kinds of things happened today?” encourages a child to open up and start talking. Also, keep in mind that some children need “transition” time before they are ready to open up. In other words, one child might open up best immediately after school while another might open up best right before bed time. And, trying to get information out of a child before they are ready to open up will only cause them to resent you instead of appreciating you. A little experimenting will quickly reveal when it is that your child prefers to talk and share. Teach The Teacher... Seventh, parent must not assume that teachers will “learn” how to most effectively teach and train their children. This means that parents should not hesitate to provide teachers with information about their children. For example, if a child is a visual, auditory, or kinesthetic learner, teachers should be made aware of this. Or, if a child learns best by touching and fiddling with something while an adult is teaching, the teacher should be informed of this and asked to
Looking for Continuing Education and Courses from the NAR? The National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) has a webpage where you can register for certification courses and webinars, as well as learn about other educational opportunities to help you in your career. The webpage can be found here: http://www.realtor.org/education
TRAINERS
continued from page 5
Jennifer Thompson-Kersting, Director of Marketing & Education According to Jennifer, “I am truly honored to manage such a dynamic group of individuals whose passion for training and education exemplify the core values of MFRMLS.” If you are interested in learning how to master the tools provided to you as part of your MFRMLS subscription this is the team that will do the job.
To view the training calendar visit http://tinyurl.com/mfrmls-training(please see “Parents” page 8) calendar August 2011 | My Florida ReSource | 7
PARENTS
(continued from page 7) accommodate the child as much as they can - as long as the child is not a disruption or distraction to classmates. By having these kinds of conversations with teachers, parents can influence their children’s teacher’s expectations and behaviors just like they can their children’s.
Are YOU a Commercial
Realtor®?
Make It Meaningful... Eighth, for children of all ages, parents should frequently remind their children of the importance of learning and studying. But this isn’t enough. Parents need to help children understand the importance of what they are learning and how it will affect them for the rest of their lives. It’s important to help children understand how the things they are learning - whether fundamentals like phonics or advanced-level mathematics - are used in everyday life. For example, when parents help children understand that the people who are most successful in life are the people who have excellent reading, writing, and speaking skills, classes like English, Language, Literature, Speech, and so on take on a whole new level of meaning and importance in children’s minds. What would otherwise be a boring class for a child becomes something very important to them. For the most part, people (and your children are people) enjoy learning once they understand the benefit and the value they’ll derive from the learning. Conclusion These eight tips can help parents minimize the difficulty and the stress their children face when starting back to school and lay the foundation for a successful school year. And, anyone can implement these tips. All that’s needed is time - time invested in your children that will prove to pay off handsomely in future years. Copyright © 2006 by Calle Zorro Get the book for men that reveals how to create a happy marriage: http://www.MarriedAndHappy.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Calle_Zorro Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/265786
8 | My Florida ReSource | August 2011
www.MFCRE.com For more information about becoming an MFCRE member, a Commercial Information Exchange (CIE), please contact Connie Kazakowitz at 1-800-686-7451 (ext. 8668) or email ConnieK@mfrmls.com
Volume 1, Issue 4
Commentary Education you say? I am too busy to attend training sessions. By Jennifer Thompson-Kersting, MFRMLS Director of Marketing and Education If you have read the headlines or been in tune with the news these days, it looks as if the economic news is not going to be good for some time to come. The pundits can’t even spin it otherwise. But that does not mean that REALTORS® can’t survive in this market. There are successful agents all over the country who are not only surviving, but thriving. These agents know how to adjust to the times, whether good or bad. They maintain a “can do” attitude and will continue to succeed no matter what the stability of the market is. The fact that the economy may worsen is of no consequence. And this certainly doesn’t mean they will (or should) sit back and underperform. However, a little training never hurts, no matter how proactive or hardworking you are. As a REALTOR®, this means you don’t have to learn a new skill, just sharpen the ones you have – and maybe add some additional tools to your toolbox.
B works hard, too, but he approaches his work a little differently. During the day, Agent A never took a break except for a quick cup of water. About every 50 minutes, Agent B would quit chopping, disappear behind the woodshed for 10 minutes, then return and continue chopping. Who do you think chopped the most wood that day? Answer: Agent B. At the end of the day, Agent B had chopped a pile of wood twice as high as Agent A’s pile. What was Agent B’s secret? Agent A had to know. AGENT A: How in the world did you chop so much wood? You took a 10-minute break every hour. AGENT B: I wasn’t taking a break. I was sharpening my ax.
Two men start chopping wood early one morning. Let us call them “Agent A” and “Agent B.” Agent A is a hard worker. His answer to everything is to work harder. Agent
In the fast paced world we live in, one of the best ways I can think of
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After all, a dull ax, so to speak, is not going to cut it in this market. So, sharpen your ax by attending training classes. Absorb all the knowledge you can that will arm you with the skills, as well as fortify your toolbox, for the tough road ahead. I have trained many agents over the years and the common thread heard from experienced agents is this: “I learn something every time I attend a class”. If you learn one new trick, one new way to save time and improve your efficiencies, isn’t it worth the time?
In other words, Agent A understood the importance of having the right tools and knowing how to use them. Agent A never sharpened his ax. His attitude was great. He never quit. But he produced less for much harder work, because his ax had a dulled cutting edge. We all know people like this, who work extremely hard, but might not be getting the most out of their efforts. We must be careful about making them our role models.
I found this story in a recent article posted on Inman News, and thought it was relevant.
to network with other like-minded professionals is to attend training classes. In training classes, you are most likely to meet agents who are focused on success and fortifying their toolbox and sharpening their axes.
August 2011 | My Florida ReSource | 9
Transaction Desk As a member of My Florida Regional MLS, you have access to the most complete paperless document management system on the planet! Made specifically for busy REALTORS®, TransactionDesk seamlessly integrates with MLXchange and IMAPP allowing you to conduct paperless transactions from the beginning of the listing process, all the way to the closing table. Accessible from any web browser and Smart Phone, you are no longer chained to a desk. You’ll save time, money and fuel while responding quicker to your clients. More information on page 12.
Transaction Desk Recorded Webinar http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KiNCjq7O7lI
Try Transaction Desk Lite! http://www.youtube. com/user/mfrmlsuniversity
Don’t need all the features of Transaction Desk, or want to get more familiar with Transaction Desk using a simplified version? Check out this short video: http://www.youtube.com/user/mfrmlsuniversity#p/a/u/1/SYHAcxcwCEY
Transaction Desk Now Available on Tablets! Here are specific instructions for how to use Transaction Desk on your Tablet: 1) Using your Tablet browser, visit www.transactiondesk.com/mfrmls (you can also use this URL on your desktop computer to log in outside of MLXchange). 2) Select the button titled “Login via Safe Single Sign-On.” 3) This will take you to a login screen that looks exactly like MLXchange. Enter the same ID and Password you use to access MLXchange. Please note: This log-in method also applies to iPad users, so if you’re an iPad user, using Safari as your browser, for instance, please don’t let the MLXchange screen scare you away. 4) You should now have access to Transaction Desk! 10 | My Florida ReSource | August 2011
Volume 1, Issue 4
www.MFRMLS.com
August 2011 | My Florida ReSource | 11
Special Authentisign Pricing for MFRMLS Members! Authentisign is another great feature that’s synched with Transaction Desk. By MFRMLS Staff Who doesn’t love a great deal? Well, here’s a deal for MFRMLS Members! My Florida Regional MLS has negotiated a special member pricing of $29/Year for Unlimited Authentisign service. Non-MFRMLS members pay $129 for Authentisign and $199 for Authentisign plus DocBox. This special member rate is a savings of over 80%! Authentisign Features: • Free Online Training • Legally sign any real estate document online
detection and enabling on-line verification of content authenticity. The AuthentisignTM service can be accessed through MLXchange by selecting Smart Links and then going into Transaction Desk.
More Information about Transaction Desk Complete Document Management Auto-populate all of your FR/BAR forms and contracts directly from the MLXchange or IMAPP for greater accuracy and time savings. Built-in Electronic Forms Create and edit real estate contracts and forms online through TransactionDesk Pro OR if you need a simple and easy solution, TransactionDesk Lite is also available. Unlimited Document Storage
• ESIGN compliant and FHAapproved
Access existing and historical transactions with unlimited storage space, regardless of the source of the documents.
• Easy drag and drop signing blocks
DocBox2Go
• One low price for unlimited eSignings • No more running around town for signatures • Works with all your real estate documents no matter where they were created The AuthentisignTM service is a secure browser based on-line document signing service that enables multiple parties to participate and sign documents on-line. All of the documents signed on-line are protected using the trusted United States Postal Service Electronic Postmark, (USPS EPM), a webbased security service that dates and timestamps electronic documents and files. As well as provides tamper 12 | My Florida ReSource | August 2011
Access all your documents, forms, transaction folders and contacts with your Smart Phone. DocBox Print Driver With a single click, you can “print” your document to a virtual printer which will store your document with simultaneous fax and email delivery options. (Faxing within North America only.) Instanet Fax Paperless faxing with your logo to the recipient’s email with digital timestamping and verification. Customer Service Portal Document access for your clients to retrieve the relevant information you choose to share. Activity Plans Allows the insertion of multiple tasks in to a transaction with a few clicks of the mouse. Email and Internet Faxing Forms can be emailed in read-only or editable format. Contracts can be sent (please see “Transaction Desk” page 14) Volume 1, Issue 4
www.MFRMLS.com
August 2011 | My Florida ReSource | 13
TRANSACTION DESK (continued from page 12)
via Internet fax to clients for signing then emailed with signatures to both parties when approved. Online Negotiation Allows forms to be sent between parties and interactively negotiated and tracked online. A full audit trail of all changes and modifications is kept for each contract and form created in TransactionDesk. Multiple Fonts, Colors and Sizes You can select from 14 different fonts, 10 colors and 8 sizes for contracts. An autosize feature will shrink longer sentences to fit within the text input area on a contract. Watermarks Watermarks can be embedded onto each page of your forms. Quick Start Groups Make your own forms groups and insert mulitple forms into a transaction with one click, instead of adding the same individual forms to many transactions. Digital Signatures Authentisign™ lets you securly manage the signing of documents by remote parties, while optionally providing the verifiable security of the USPS Electronic Postmark, while meeting all federal eSign guidelines.
Transaction Desk is included with your MFRMLS subscription! How to log into Transaction Desk: In MLXchange: Click on the Transaction Desk link under the “Smart Links” section found under the righthand “Resources” column. Outside of MLXchange: 1) Visit www.transactiondesk.com/mfrmls 2) Select the button titled “Login via Safe Single Sign-On.”
Commentary
3) This will take you to a login screen that looks exactly like MLXchange. Enter the same ID and Password you use to access MLXchange. Please note: This log-in method also applies to MAC users, so if you’re a MAC user, using Safari as your browser, for instance, please don’t let the MLXchange screen scare you away. 14 | My Florida ReSource | August 2011
Volume 1, Issue 4
Class is Now in Session!
Go Big "U" Have you been to MFRMLS University? This training portal will connect you to the many courses available to you as an MFR Member. Online, or in person, we’ve got a class for you. Looking to learn in your pajamas? With easy registration and no waiting, you can bring our trainers into your home through live and recorded webinars. Available online, you can save gas and you can save time. Best of all, the courses are free. Need face time? No problem. MFRMLS University also connects you to live courses taught at your association/board by MFRMLS instructors. With interactive sessions in a classroom setting, you’ll be an expert in no time. In-person or online, MFRMLS University can help you boost ered with your membership. Log on today to learn more!
www.MFRMLSUniversity.com
www.MFRMLS.com
August 2011 | My Florida ReSource | 15
&
Training
?
Tips
Recent My Tips of the Week Did you know there’s a One Line CMA in MLXchange?
One Line CMA
In the Search Results screen, click on the “Action” drop down menu and select “One-Line CMA.”
Please visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tFOUVyrSdA&feature=youtu.be to see a video tutorial on MFRMLS University’s YouTube Channel.
Decide what the world sees when it searches for you on Google. Create a public profile to display the information you care about and make it easy for visitors to get to know you. Showcase the “Real You” by advertising your real estate skills on the top search engine sites by creating a free profile. Visit http://google.com/profiles to create your profile on Google.
Did you know iMapp has an option to search Bank Owned Properties? Finding Bank Owned and REO properties is now as easy as “1, 2, 3” in iMapp. Under the Tax search in iMapp, select one of the drop down options under the Search Field and select REO/Bank Owned Select the search value = Yes Add any additional criteria, and perform the search!
16 | My Florida ReSource | August 2011
Volume 1, Issue 4
http://shortsale.mfrmls.com
a request Tuesday and had TWO calls from houses but she called the second time because I I call responsive! And she couldn’t have been -M. Hunt Altamonte Springs, FL
Eligibility Criteria http://loanlookup.fanniemae.com/loanlookup/ Real estate professional must be a member of a participating MLS. Real estate professional must be the listing agent for the property. Real estate professional must obtain a signed Borrower Authorization Form (BAF) from the homeowner(s) and submit it to the MLS; http://mfrmls.com/shortsale/docs/SSAD-BAF.pdf
1-800-686-7451 support@mfrmls.com
Submission Guidelines issue by working through the servicer. Real estate professional may submit the case in the event the servicer has not provided: an initial response within 20 days,
or, if the real estate professional has received an approval from the servicer for your transaction, but either the mortgage insurer or second lien holder has imposed a closing condition that is not possible for the borrower to meet. Real estate professional must address all “actionable” requests from the servicer before submitting the issue. Where additional documentation is requested, servicer response time will be
www.MFRMLS.com
5032 Goddard Avenue Orlando, FL 32804 shortsale.mfrmls.com support@mfrmls.com
August 2011 | My Florida ReSource | 17
tips from the Help Desk A friendly tip from the MFRMLS Help Desk.
Emailing Listings from MLXchange MLXchange offers two options for emailing listing to your clients. Here’s a quick tip explaining each option and when to use them.
Option 1
Option 1: Within Agent Web Pages Option 2: Send link to selected property report(s) So what’s the difference? Option 1: “Within Agent Web Pages”, requires you to add the person your emailing as a client in MLXchange thus giving you and the client more interaction with each other. For example, once the client receives the listing they can then save or reject a listing from his or her web page as shown below. This option also keeps a record of all the listings being sent to this email address so the client can go back, save, reject, or just add notes to the listing.
Option 2
Option 2: “Send link to selected property report(s)” does not require you to add the person you are emailing as a client in MLXchange and will only have the emailed reports you selected from the drop down list. This option also does not keep a tally of the listings previously sent to that email address. So, basically, if you are looking to quickly send a listing to a client without sending all the previous listings and you don’t want to add them as a client in MLXchange, Option 2 is the way to go. If you are working with a client and want to add them to MLXchange and have them interact with you and give feedback on the listings, then Option 1 would be your choice. 18 | My Florida ReSource | August 2011
Volume 1, Issue 4
What is Down Payment Resource ? SM
Why Down Payment Resource ? SM
Finding a Homebuyer Assistance program today can be confusing and complicated, here’s why: Programs are highly fragmented » No standard of regions » Overlapping coverage Lack of standardization » No uniform application » Programs ask for information » One-of-a-kind eligibility rules » Hard-to-automate program descriptions » Diverse incentives with complex terms and conditions The Solution: Down Payment Resource. No more searching the Internet and making dozens of phone calls, only to be disappointed. Down Payment Resource improves the search among Homebuyer Assistance Programs for: » Mortgage Lenders » REALTORS® » Home Builders/Developers » Housing Finance Agencies For more information visit: www.downpaymentresource.com
An easy-to-use, interactive, web-based application that: » Tracks and describes all Homebuyer Assistance programs including eligibility guidelines » Customizes searches based on homebuyer’s unique information » Automates the matching of homebuyers to assistance resources » Provides consumers, REALTORS® and lenders timely and accurate information » Captures, educates and informs consumers earlier with consumer-facing portal (optional) » Increases volume of home lending » » » »
Buyer’s market = Too many housing units for sale Credit guidelines tightened = Harder to qualify Bewildering array of assistance = Missed opportunities Assistance programs under-marketed, customers under-served
Down Payment ResourceSM connects home buyers to the incentive/ assistance programs that are right for them!
Down Payment Resource’s web-based system helps you: » Save time identifying options for your customers » Expand the pool of homebuyers for your listings » Value-added service for home builder and developer accounts » Market REO listing inventory » Improve customer service by reducing errors » Serve more customers, more For more information or a live demonstration, please contact: Rob Chrane, President Workforce Resource, LLC rchrane@workforce-resource.com www.downpaymentresource.com tel: 404.272.7054
www.downpaymentresource.com www.MFRMLS.com
August 2011 | My Florida ReSource | 19
The World of #Hashtags By Natashia Ford, MFRMLS Communications Specialist
#?
Twitter,
If you’re using then I‘m sure you’ve come across a few Hashtags here and there. Maybe you’ve seen them, but weren’t quite sure what they were or how to use them. So let’s go over Hashtags for a brief moment.
with similar open houses posted on Twitter you would post something like this:
The symbol (#) is referred to as a Hashtag, and when used right before a word (with no spaces) it becomes a way to categorize Twitter posts according to a particular topic or keyword.
For example, if you’re posting information regarding an open house and would like your post to be grouped
Resources
#openhouse this Sat. 3 bedroom 2 bath 234 Sample Road Orlando 32806 Now if someone searches Twitter using the Hashtag #openhouse your post will be included in their search feed.
However, there will most likely be tons of results for #openhouse, so you might consider narrowing down your search by Hashtagging the city the open house is taking place in (as most people would probably be searching by topic and city for this type of posting). If you Hashtagged the city, your post would look something like this: #openhouse this Sat. 3 bedroom 2 bath 234 Sample Rd #Orlando 32806 Now if someone searches Twitter using the Hashtag #openhouse #Orlando your post will be included in their search feed. Please note: When it comes to Hashtags, capitalization doesn’t matter. So, even if you lowercased “Orlando” in the previous example, as in #orlando, it would have shown in any Twitter search results for “Orlando”, regardless of capitalization.
as “open house” and “real estate.” If you are going to start Hashtagging, I must give you a quick tip on etiquette. Do not Hashtag every Twitter post. That’s considered Hashtagging spam. Hashtag posts that you need categorized and only Hashtag items relevant to the post. Rule of thumb is no more than three Hashtags per post. Also, Hashtags on Facebook are irrelevant, as you cannot categorize posts the same way you can in Twitter. So, unless you have your Twitter synched with Facebook, when posting to Facebook leave the Hashtags off. Hashtags are useful tools when you know what they are and how to use them effectively. #TheEnd
#MFRMLS Looking for posts from MFRMLS on Twitter? Search #MFRMLS, as this is the Hashtag we use for our company related Twitter posts.
Also, it’s important to note that when Hashtagging you must remove the space between compound words, such 20 | My Florida ReSource | August 2011
Volume 1, Issue 4
www.MFRMLS.com
August 2011 | My Florida ReSource | 21
4 E-mail Behaviors You Want to Avoid Daily Real Estate News | Thursday, July 28, 2011
Resources
You might be unintentionally sending the wrong messages on your e-mails by the way you send or respond to them. Forbes.com recently highlighted several bad e-mail behaviors that can be a turnoff to the recipient of your messages. Here are four e-mail offenses to watch for: 1. Don’t fake urgency with your subject line. You want to get the other person to read the e-mail so you might use phrases in the subject line, like “Urgent,” “Action Item,” or “Read Me,” or use the high priority flag marker to get attention. But your messages may soon become “the boy who cried wolf ” if you constantly send e-mails that are marked important but truly lack critical importance. In other words, your messages are actually less likely to get read. Not to mention, you might also be sending the message that you consider your messages to always be more important than the person’s other messages, which can be a real turnoff to some. 2. Give the person time to respond. Don’t call or e-mail right away to make sure someone received your message. You’ll appear impatient. If you need an instant response to a message, the best move is to pick up the phone in the first place. 3. Don’t have an auto response for every message. Setting an auto response that goes out whenever you receive an e-mail can give you extra time to respond and reassure others that their message is important to you. But when setting an auto response to every e-mail you receive, others may start viewing you as condescending. 4. Start a new e-mail chain for messages. Pressing the “reply” button to an old e-mail chain to keep all correspondence in one place seems like a good idea but, according to the Forbes article, it can actually send the message that you are “lazy, disorganized, or have poor e-mail sorting habits.” Instead, when e-mailing a customer, start a new e-mail chain that reflects an appropriate subject line whenever a new issue is being discussed, the article suggests. Read all 10 e-mail offenses at Forbes.com. Source: “10 E-mail Habits That Send the Wrong Message,” Forbes (July 2011) Copyright National Association of REALTORS®. Reprinted with permission. Source: http://realtormag.realtor.org/daily-news/2011/07/28/4-e-mail-behaviorsyou-want-avoid
22 | My Florida ReSource | August 2011
Volume 1, Issue 4
Upgrade Highlights for MFRMLS Members!
Unlimited
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Transform your Tours to Videos in one click, published to YouTube!
Social Media
Viral Marketing Tools!
How would you like to be introduced to your client’s friends and family with each listing? AnnounceMyListing is a viral marketing tool that auto-generates two Free Listing Announcements from your VuVista MLS Tour. Simply select AnnounceMyListing when you publish your tour!
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Email your announcement to your database of clients and peers. You can even embed video and links to your blog or website.
Let your seller personalize and email their announcement to their social contacts and post to their Facebook wall, leveraging social media in a new and unique method.
For more information visit: www.announcemymove.com/MFRMLS
www.MFRMLS.com
August 2011 | My Florida ReSource | 23
Are You Getting the Most out of YOUR Consumer Website? MyFloridaHomesMLS.com is YOUR Consumer Website. Similar to a Trulia or a Zillow, MyFloridaHomesMLS.com keeps YOU at the center
Got Buyers?
custom link will be displayed on the landing page.
Got Stats?
Try It Out Today!
mfrmls.com
24 | My Florida ReSource | August 2011
Keeping YOU at the Center of the Transaction.
Volume 1, Issue 4
An Ultra-Loose Monetary Policy August 11, 2011 by Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist & Senior Vice President, Research
Real Estate News
The Federal Reserve announced recently that it will not raise interest rates for at least 2 years. Given the current weakness in the economy, the Fed has been forced to keep rates low this year. The Fed, though legally independent from the White House and Congress, generally does not want to do anything during an election year. So the next rate increase from the current rate of zero will be sometime in 2013, assuming that the economy has measurably improved by then. Not every voting member of the monetary policy agreed and there were 3 dissents, which is quite unusual. What does this mean for real estate practitioners? First, the Fed controls — not mortgage rates — but what is known as the Fed Funds rate. The Fed Funds rate is a very short-term borrowing rate between banking institutions. The banks can always go to the Fed discount window if borrowing from each other proves difficult. This rate is essentially at zero and it will remain that way for the next two years. Homeowners who have short-term adjustable rate mortgages are tied to this Fed funds (or other similarly moving short-term instruments like LIBOR or the 1-year Treasury borrowing rate) and therefore will benefit. Or at least, the ARMs will not adjust alarmingly, with some actually getting an automatic lower rate when the reset arrives in the next two years.
The chart below shows the Fed Funds rate and the 30-year mortgage rate. Note that the two do not move in sync. The Fed Funds rate can rise or fall without impacting any changes to the 30-year rate. The only time there was a close linkage was during the ratcheting up of Fed Funds rate in the late 1970s, which greatly forced up the 30-year mortgage rate. (Please see “Policy” page 28)
Most homeowners, however, have 15- or 30-year fixed rate mortgages because they like the certainty of future mortgage payments. Today, these rates are at about the lowest point in modern times. The global bondholders have largely ignored the opinion of Standard & Poor’s downgrade of the U.S. backed debt. Some homeowners may want to refinance into lower rates because long-dated mortgage rates can rise, independent of the Federal Reserve’s actions. www.MFRMLS.com
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MFRMLS Team Member Viviana Ray, Compliance Specialist Every month we spotlight one MFR team member, in order to help distinguish the dedicated, hard-working, friendly faces we have on our MFR staff. We truly believe we have an outstanding team of individuals. And, of course, this is no coincidence, as we look to provide our members with outstanding service. So, without further ado, we are pleased to spotlight (drum roll please) … Viviana Ray, Compliance Specialist, violinist and salsa dancer! How long have you been working at MFR? I have been a part of the MFR Team since April 2010. What aspect of your job do you enjoy the most? By far, the aspect of my job that I enjoy the most is helping our members. I understand that there are many facets of the real estate Industry that are constantly changing, and staying current is key to their success. I enjoy being part of a company that offers members incredible tools and solutions to expedite and simplify the process of selling and buying real estate. It is very fulfilling to hear a member’s appreciation when I help them understand and find better ways to obtain the results they want and encourage them to make suggestions and requests to make things even better. MFR is one of the best companines I’ve worked for mostly because of the camaraderie, activities and team events, but also because you can feel and see the changes on a daily basis here. That lets me know that this is a company I can stand behind knowing our members are our top priority and great growth comes from that. Any hobbies outside of work? I have fun doing things that help me grow in knowledge, peace, and joy! So I love to read, surf the net, play my violin, spend the day at theme parks, play sports, but my favorite is to go out Salsa dancing! I have a passion for people so I like to include friends and family in my adventures. What is it about the violin that you enjoy? Music is the ultimate mood enhancer for me. When I play the violin it instantly helps me make better sense of the world around me by putting me in a more positive frame of mind. The violin is a precision instrument that, although challenging to master, it conveys, with perfection, the feelings and emotions (please see “Viviana Ray” page 28) 26 | My Florida ReSource | August 2011
Volume 1, Issue 4
Spotlights
Search the MLS from your Smartphone Kurio is a mobile service designed for the public and real estate professionals alike! It’s the next generation MLS mobile search service that breaks the old school methods of searching for homes. Formerly known as MarketLinx MLS Wireless, the new Kurio enables REALTORS® and the general public to gather instant MLS information through the convenience of a mobile phone. But Kurio is about more than just searching for a home, it’s about finding a home. More specifically it’s about helping consumers find listing details they can count on. Kurio provides the most accurate and up-to-date source of real estate listing information, including property details, photos (and more photos), maps and much more. Kurio is also about connecting consumers with real estate professionals that can assist with the home buying or home selling process. If a consumer sees a property of interest, they can instantly contact the listing agent through Kurio for more information or to request a showing. Included in your MFR Membership, Kurio provides access to MLS data, including Solds and Expireds, so you can stay informed on market activities and be connected with valuable business data, even while you’re out in the field. You can even schedule a showing, as ShowingTime is integrated into Kurio.
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Product and Service More important, you can respond to your clients instantly with the information they need, when they need it. Here are some specific features of Kurio, as it relates to you, the REALTOR®: Schedule a Showing ShowingTime has been integrated into Kurio, so you can also schedule a showing while “on-the-go.” Works With Any Mobile Phone Kurio lets you search critical MLS data from any web-enabled mobile phone including iPhones, Palms and BlackBerry’s. Stay Connected to the MLS Whether you are on your way to meet with a client, working an open house, or even on vacation, Kurio keeps you connected with your MLS so you can easily look up the information you need, and immediately respond to your client’s inquiries. View Nearby Homes Ever been showing a home, but your client wants to know what else is available in the neighborhood? Kurio is specially designed for occasions like this! Using GPS technology, Kurio will automatically locate you and show you nearby listings.
(please see “Kurio” page 29) August 2011 | My Florida ReSource | 27
Real Estate News
VIVIANA RAY
continued from page 26 inside of me in a way that words alone could never do. I just picked it up for the first time 3 years ago and I have been a devoted student every since. It has been a long time dream of mine and now I can’t imagine not playing for the rest of my life. When did you first begin to Salsa dance? I still remember dancing Salsa as a little kid, standing on my brother’s shoes while I helped him practice and get ready to go out on his dates with his lady friends. I guess that’s when I first started Salsa dancing, but I didn’t develop a thirst and appreciation for it until I was an adult. I think it’s all too easy for us adults to get lost in the craziness that our responsibilities can drive us to. Salsa dancing is part of what I do to make time for me to have fun, feel free, and remind myself who I really am and not take myself or the stresses of life too seriously. I’ve lost my sense of self before and this helps me keep my promise to myself never to do that again. I don’t even need a dance floor; when I hear Salsa music, whether I’m at the club, my bedroom or the grocery store, I dance! Where were you born and where were you raised? A friend once called me a “Texflorican” and it stuck with me because it perfectly describes my roots. I was born and raised in Villa Carolina, Puerto Rico until the age of 12. Spent the most impressionable years of my life in a small town in Hooks, Texas until I was 22 then moved to Florida as a young adult and I have been here since. I feel most at home here in Poinciana, FL because I have the best of all worlds & cultures. The free loving American way of life that is me, the country feel and music I grew to love, and the influence of the Latin culture here is everywhere! If there’s one place in the world, all expenses-paid, you could visit tomorrow, where would that place be and why? Hawaii!!! I can’t imagine a more perfect paradise than the islands of Hawaii. The natural lush vegetation, picture perfect waters, the laid-back pace, luxury hotels, thrill seeking activities, and most of all the loving care-free nature of the locals are what makes this my dream destination! Thank you Viviana! Thank you for your answers and for being a great team member!
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POLICY (continued from page 25) That tightening monetary policy effectively brought home sales activity to its knees, with sales falling by 50% during the interest rate increases. The Federal Reserve had to do it at that time, because inflation was getting out of hand. In other words, the ultra-loose monetary policy for the next two years will be the right medicine for the economy and the housing market, but only if the inflation rate does not pick up. Otherwise, the Fed will be forced to raise rates quickly. Both consumer and producer prices have been rising from the extended loose monetary policy of the past few years. The consumer price index (CPI) is up 3.4% from one year ago while the producer price index (PPI) is up 7%. Will prices continue to accelerate or will the slow global economic activity be sufficient to keep inflation in check? Copyright National Association of REALTORS®. Reprinted with permission. Source: http://tinyurl.com/3otcvgg
MFRMLS Team Member 28 | My Florida ReSource | August 2011
Volume 1, Issue 4
KURIO
(continued from page 27) Search On Market & Off Market Listings Kurio provides you with ‘REALTOR®only’ access to all property types and all listing data including Pendings and Solds, showing instructions, private remarks, and more. Instant Access to Your Own Listings It’s never been so easy! With Kurio, you have one-click access to your own listings, so you’re ready to respond when buyers or their agents inquire about one of your listings. Roster Searches Search office roster and agent contact information using Kurio. Convenient hyperlinks allow you to instantly initiate an email or phone call right from within the contact record.
What REALTORS® are saying about Kurio:
“Kurio is very easy to use and makes me appear to have answers for my clients very quickly.” —Karen N., Greater Tampa Association of REALTORS® (GTAR) “I use Kurio with my iPad to sit with buyers to show them what’s available using their criteria. With sellers I show them what has sold and what their competition is going to be. All this is done wirelessly at any location they choose to meet at, whether it be at a sellers home or meeting buyers at Starbucks. I am constantly using Kurio to look up agents phone numbers.” —Joe P., Greater Tampa Association of REALTORS® (GTAR)
E-Mail a Flyer With Kurio, you can email professional, branded property flyers to your clients on the fly. Get Instant Daily Market Updates With Kurio, you can instantly get a complete picture of what’s going on in the market, such as nearby homes, new listings, price reductions, and upcoming open houses.
Visit the following link to create your account: http://mfr.kurio.mobi/account.kurio/ agentregister
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Haven’t signed up for Kurio? Kurio is included with your MFRMLS membership, so sign up today!
Product and Service
(Recommend you create the account with the same ID and password that you use for MLXchange.) www.MFRMLS.com
August 2011 | My Florida ReSource | 29
Commercial
presented by
Real Estate
Major Enhancements to MFCRE Enhancements include QR codes for reports, confidential prices for sale transactions, increased search capabilities and more By MFRMLS Staff
• Posted Needs/Wants
In case you haven’t noticed yet, there have been some changes to My Florida Commercial Real Estate (MFCRE).
• Members/Professionals
Here are the enhancements, according to Catylist, the developer of MFCRE: Improved CIE Navigation We’ve made it much easier to get around your CIE (Commercial Information Exchange (i.e. MFCRE)). All major functions are now instantly accessible via menus that drop-down underneath your CIE’s primary navigation bar at the top of the screen. This should drastically reduce the number of clicks it takes to get where you want to go. Search Improvements We’ve overhauled the search pages to make it easier for CIE users to see all the different kinds of information that can be searched. You’ll notice a new menu on the left-hand side that includes: • Properties for Sale/Lease • Expired/Withdrawn Listings • Sale/Lease Comparables • Building/Land Records (if your CIE includes research data) • Property Histories 30 | My Florida ReSource | August 2011
• Companies We’ve made searching by keyword easier to find and more effective. The keyword fields will also auto-populate with popular terms to save time and avoid typos. When searching for listings or comparables, members will now see a “Show Map” option allowing them to go directly to the map view when searching. If your CIE has submarkets defined, users can now choose to filter their search to particular submarkets by visually selecting those areas on the map. Look for the “Select Submarket” link under the location box when searching for listings, comps, or properties. Better Submarket Support Submarkets are locally-understood designations for areas that don’t always align nicely with government boundaries, ie. “Downtown” or “South City Industrial District”. If your CIE has submarket boundaries defined, you can now choose to filter your search to particular submarkets by visually selecting those areas on a map. Look for the “Select Submarket” link under the location box when searching for listings, comps,
or properties. If your CIE doesn’t yet have submarkets defined, let us know and we’ll work with you and your CIE administrator to set them up. Improved Property History / Address Look-up We’ve overhauled the property history page to be more comprehensive. Once an address is entered, your CIE will now display everything known about that address, including: • Active listings for sale or lease • Known spaces or parcels at that address (new) • Transaction history, including sale and lease activity • A timeline including new listings, price changes, and expirations (new) • Property/Building details including hundreds of possible variables like size, zoning, tax ID, characteristics, etc. (new) • Photos collected for that address • Owner history, including contact information when available (new) • Tenant history, including contact information when available(new) • Tax history, including taxes paid and assessed values when available (new) • Loan history, when available (new) • Links to local market statistics and demographics, etc. • Maps, aerial and street views Volume 1, Issue 4
This gives your CIE the ability to function as a powerful research database, giving you quick access to data that might’ve taken hours to compile separately. To try it out, select the “Property Histories” option under the “Search” menu, and enter an address. If your CIE doesn’t currently provide tax records or owner and tenant information, get in touch with your CIE administrator and let them know you want it. The data is available should your CIE choose to integrate it. Confidential Prices for Sale Transactions Many agents aren’t comfortable sharing details about their transactions, especially the sale price. We’ve added a new option that allows CIE users to “keep price confidential”. This allows the CIE to collect the price for inclusion in market statistics, but allows the agent to keep the price private. No one else will be able to see the entered price. QR Codes for Reports QR codes are a new form of barcode that can be scanned by smartphones. All printable reports generated from your CIE will now include QR codes for each property. Once a report is printed, clients can simply scan the code and be automatically taken to the online listing presentation to view the full details. Users can also choose to exclude the QR codes from their reports by selecting that option when customizing their report. More about QR codes: http://www.crepodca.st/insight/qrcodes-commercial-real-estate/ Better Contact Labels To make it easier to tell when a listing www.MFRMLS.com
agent isn’t a member of the CIE or isn’t licensed (if your CIE allows that), we now display a little message above the contact section that should help: • This contact is a licensed member of [CIE NAME] • This contact is an unlicensed member of [CIE NAME] • This contact is not a member of [CIE NAME] Miscellaneous Changes • Comp exports now include more fields, including property type, tenant and owner names (when available). • Sorting logic for street addresses and dates has been improved. • More notification have been added to the market monitor, including pending transactions and price reductions. • From the market monitor, clicking to view updated listings in a saved search or catalog now highlights the listings that were updated. • Listing photo slideshows have been improved. • CIE Members can now search for professionals outside of their market. • When searching for a professional, paying subscribers now return higher in results than guests. To read more news from Catylist about changes or happenings in the world of commercial real estate, please visit their commercial real estate blog at http://blog.catylist.com/ Additionally, if you have any questions about your MFCRE membership or about becoming an MFCRE member, please contact Connie Kazakowitz by email at ConnieK@mfrmls.com or by phone at 1-800-686-7451, ext. 8668. August 2011 | My Florida ReSource | 31
Off MFRMLS Property Florida Realtors® 2011 Convention & Trade Expo (Recap Coming Next Issue!)
Thank you to everyone who visited our booths! We enjoyed seeing you, and look forward to seeing you again and answering any questions you have at future events. Photos coming next issue.
Upcoming Events: Florida REALTORS® District 12 REALTOR® Rally Date/Time: September 9, 8:30 am-3:30 pm Location: Rosen Centre Hotel, Orlando Look for the MFR booth! Visit http://www.district12rally.com/ for more information. 5th Annual International Real Estate Conference presented by the Sarasota Association of Realtors®, Global Business Council
Dates: September 14 & 15 Location: Hyatt Regency, Sarasota Look for the MFR table! Tech Day @ GTAR (Greater Tampa Association of REALTORS®) Date/Time: September 27, 9 am-3 pm Location: GTAR AUDITORIUM, 2918 W. KENNEDY BLVD., Tampa 33609 Visit http://www.gtar.org for a schedule of classes at Tech Day. Venice Area Board of REALTORS® (VABR), Annual Golf Scholarship Tournament Date: Friday, October 7 Location: The Plantation Golf & Country Club Registration: 11:00 a.m.—Shotgun Start: 12:30 p.m.—Dinner around 5:00 p.m. Visit http://www.vabr.org/#/upcoming-events/4550713868 and find this event on the calendar for more information. 32 | My Florida ReSource | August 2011
Volume 1, Issue 4
Around the House
An article for current and future homeowners
We truly hope My Florida Resource is what it claims to be … a resource to you. We know anything that helps your clients in turn does the same for you. So we thought it would be nice to include this “Around the House” section. It’s a place where we share with you consumer articles that can be passed along to your clients or included in your newsletter content.
8 Tips to Guide for Your Home Search 1. Research before you look. Decide what features you most want to have in a home, what neighborhoods you prefer, and how much you’d be willing to spend each month for housing. 2. Be realistic. It’s OK to be picky, but don’t be unrealistic with your expectations. There’s no such thing as a perfect home. Use your list of priorities as a guide to evaluate each property. 3. Get your finances in order. Review your credit report and be sure you have enough money to cover your down payment and closing costs. Then, talk to a lender and get prequalified for a mortgage. This will save you the heartache later of falling in love with a house you can’t afford.
4. Don’t ask too many people for opinions. It will drive you crazy. Select one or two people to turn to if you feel you need a second opinion, but be ready to make the final decision on your own. 5. Decide your moving timeline. When is your lease up? Are you allowed to sublet? How tight is the rental market in your area? All of these factors will help you determine when you should move. 6. Think long term. Are you looking for a starter house with plans to move up in a few years, or do you hope to stay in this home for a longer period? This decision may dictate what type of home you’ll buy as well as the type of
The above article is just one of the many articles you can find in the consumer, handout section on Realtor.org. Their consumer articles are downloadable and able to be customized with your branding. Here is a link to their consumer, handout section: http://realtormag.realtor.org/sales-and-marketing/handouts-forcustomers/for-buyers
www.MFRMLS.com
mortgage terms that will best suit you. 7. Insist on a home inspection. If possible, get a warranty from the seller to cover defects for one year. 8. Get help from a REALTOR®. Hire a real estate professional who specializes in buyer representation. Unlike a listing agent, whose first duty is to the seller, a buyer’s representative is working only for you. Buyer’s reps are usually paid out of the seller’s commission payment.
New Additions coming to MyFloridaHomesMLS.com!
Check out the announcement on page 38!
August 2011 | My Florida ReSource | 33
September Issue Feature Reminder: It’s that time: quaterly changes to MLXchange!
Living the dream. The American lifestyle.
Visit http://www.mfrmls. com/news/437-mlxchangechangescoming-tuesdayaugust-30 to read about the changes.
Looking for a calendar of upcoming training classes? Visit http://www.mfrmls.com/resources/training-and-events for a complete calendar of upcoming courses. Did you know we also offer live webinars? http://www.mfrmls.com/resources/training-and-events/webinars/ cat.listevents/2011/05/20/Administration and Membership Question? The Administration Department at My Florida Regional MLS has two main responsibilities—ensuring an accurate MLS database and maintaining your membersubscriber information.
Help Desk Hours: Monday–Friday: 7:30 AM–8:00 PM Saturday–Sunday: 8:00 AM–6:00 PM Toll Free: (800) 686-7451 Local: (407) 218-8607 http://www.mfrmls.com/membersupport/help-desk 34 | My Florida ReSource | August 2011
Whether you have questions about our MLS Rules and Regulations, listing violations, subscriber fees or simply need to update your contact information, our Administration Specialists are ready to assist you. Department hours are Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. 1-800-686-7451 (option #3) http://tinyurl.com/mfrmls-adminmembership
Address: My Florida Regional MLS 5032 Goddard Avenue Orlando, FL 32804 Telephone: Tel: (407) 218-8607 Toll-Free: (800) 686-7451 Fax: (407) 293-6461 Volume 1, Issue 4
Social Media
Converse with MFRMLS. Keep informed. “Like” us on Facebook! http://www.facebook.com/MyFloridaRegionalMLS http://www.facebook.com/mfcre http://www.facebook.com/MyFloridaHomesMLS
Follow us on Twitter! @MFRMLS @MFCRE @MyFloridaHomes
MFRMLS Associations and Boards Shareholder Associations and Boards Bartow Board of REALTORS®— http://www.bartowboardofrealtors.com/index.html East Polk County Association of REALTORS®— http://epcar.com/ Englewood Area Board of REALTORS®— http://www.englewoodareaboardofrealtors.com/ Greater Tampa Association of REALTORS®— http://www.gtar.org/ Lakeland Association of REALTORS®— http://www.lakelandrealtors.org/ Manatee Association of REALTORS®— http://www.manateerealtors.org/ Orlando Regional REALTOR® Association— http://www.orlrealtor.com/Main/Main.asp Osceola County Association of REALTORS®— http://osceolarealtors.org/ Pinellas REALTOR® Organization— http://tampabayrealtor.com/ Punta Gorda-Port Charlotte-North Port Association of REALTORS®— http://pgpcnprealtors.com/ REALTORS® Association of Lake & Sumter Counties— http://www.ralsc.org/ Sarasota Association of REALTORS®— http://www.sarasotarealtors.com/ Venice Area Board of REALTORS®— http://www.vabr.org/ West Pasco Board of REALTORS®— http://www.wpbor.com/ West Volusia Association of REALTORS®— http://www.westvolusiarealtor.org/
Member-Subscriber Associations and Boards Desoto County Board of REALTORS®— N/A Lake Wales Association of REALTORS®— http://www.lwar.net/ www.MFRMLS.com
August 2011 | My Florida ReSource | 35
Announcement MyFloridaHomesMLS.com is E X P A N D I N G… We can’t contain our excitement! We’ve been working to bring you and your clients an even more robust and comprehensive consumer website experience. With that said, we are pleased to announce significant enhancements coming in the following weeks to MyFloridaHomesMLS.com. Here’s a “Sneak Peek” at what we have in store! • Short-Term Rental Functionality • Common City Name Search • Find an Agent Tab Removed for Custom Link Visitors • List Hub Integration • Down Payment Resource Integration • Lifestyle Search Capabilities • Firm Reports The expansion of MyFloridaHomesMLS.com will take place in phases; however, we will keep you in the loop as each phase occurs. So, stay tuned for detailed communications about each aspect of our expansion and what it means for you and your clients. We look forward to sharing specifics with you soon!
36 | My Florida ReSource | August 2011
Volume 1, Issue 4