The future will be about managing the information.  

The real estate industry is awash with information.  It's everywhere........  you can search to your hearts content and find 'information' up the wazoo........

Thus, it's not a matter of the availability, but rather a matter of distilling the information, which will be demanding.  

This is one way brokers differentiate themselves from other brokers: Those with access to the best information win.  

I guess this spiel about 'information' takes on a lot of different shades, and you can interpret this to mean numerous forward thinking trends.  But seriously,the accessibility that the local market has to the information usurps what was early on the strongest asset of the various MLS services...the exclusivity of their information.  Now any and all information is available anytime anywhere, there are no limits.

This exclusivity is evaporating due to the advances in technology.  The expense is no longer accessing the listing information, it's managing it and completing a transaction.  You've got to become a 'master of the deal.'  How experienced, how nuanced, how creative, how able are you to provide an excellent experience?

No matter what, the name of the game is about providing excellent service which results in success.  I've got to believe that exposing available properties to the largest market, and querying the largest, broadest market for availabilities is the single most important 'service' on the list.  

More to follow on this discussion about the future of information.

Matthew

www.facetrealestate.com