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What I learned at Inman Connect NYC...

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with SmartRealty Solutions

After attending Inman in San Francisco in August, I was not quite sure what to expect in the way of "new content" at Inman NYC.  I learned very quickly that six months is a lifetime when it comes to technology in real estate...New start ups being launched, the RPR discussion, the idea of "real time real estate" and of course how mobile will affect us in the coming year were all topics of great debate in NYC.  If I learned anything...on multiple levels...it was that real estate is populated with tremendously bright people who have ideas that just two or three years ago seemed destined to fail.  Now they thrive.  Here's my take on what transpired in NYC.

MOBILE 

  • We all know how much mobility has grown and that if you do not have a smart phone you are probably not really in the game.  Mobile applications for iPhone and Blackberry, and now the Android operating system, are proliferating at an amazing rate.  Real estate applications from Redfin, Realtor.com, Zillow, Better Homes & Gardens, etc, have created new ways to access listing data, see values, get details on comminties, and most importantly changed how and when customers communicate with us.  From the agent side, having the ability to work/play/live anywhere, anytime will be a game changer for those that captialize on the technology.

RPR...Realtors Property Resource

  • The National Associations play into the datasphere has been widely publicized.  The idea is to create a single source property database that Realtors can access.  This strategy, while on the surface seems quite right, has become the debate of the industry.  Detractors say our intellecutaul property is being used without our permission and we should be compensated.  MLS's fear NAR will now be competing with them and offering Realtors better/cheaper products and services.  NAR's stance is they will sign non-compete agreements so MLS's have nothing to fear.  And there is the idea of a national MLS being tossed around.  All in all a lively debate and one that I'm sure will continue throughout 2010...so stay tuned!

REAL TIME REALTY

  • This is the idea that intiques me the most.  Why?  Well simply put it gives brokers and agents that embrace mobile the opportunity to really differenciate themselves from the competition.  It's not only real time realty...it's real time communication.  The ability for a customer to access things like sold data, values, open house schedules, and be able to schedule showings or see agent rankings, will have a tremendous effect on how we work with clients.  The communication part...the ability to connect in real time no matter where the customer originates...and our ability to have the requested information at our fingertips no matter where we are...will set us apart.  

The best part of Inman Connect is the opportunity to see innovation at it's best.  Ideas are born here, partnerships are formed, companies are launched, and friendships are developed.  That is the heart and soul of this conference...to Connect.  I want to thank those I connected with...Brian, Marc and Joel from 1000 Watt Consulting.  Ashfaq Munshi from Terabitz.  And of course my broker David Romero and our Orange County VP and GM, Martha Burgoon, from Century 21 Award.  It was a great week and I look forward to seeing you all in San Francisco! 

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