Written by:  Nathan Thomas

Naples, FL - a la mode, the creator of the market-leading TOTAL family of real estate appraisal products, announced today that PhoenixMobile mobile data gathering and sketching products for iPad, iPhone, and Android™ tablet will be in their TOTAL Store and fully integrated with the TOTAL family of appraisal software. Available in the second quarter of 2013, the Store will allow any appraiser to securely select from a growing list of third-party and a la mode products designed to extend the feature set of the core TOTAL appraisal programs. The TOTAL family of software products is the dominant appraisal report platform in the industry, used by more than half of all appraisers nationwide. The PhoenixMobile app enables appraisers to gather data, collect photos, create a sketch, and more on their iPhone, iPad, or Android™ device during the property inspection. Because of the Store API integration, all of this data gathered in the field will flow directly into the appraisal in TOTAL on their desktop without the need for retyping. This watertight integration will save appraisers time, eliminate data entry mistakes, and helps them become paperless. Steven Wright, President of PhoenixSuite, knows that appraisers stand to benefit the most from this integration. "Not only are we thrilled to be working with a la mode, we're excited about what this means for appraisers. Everyone works differently -- and a la mode gets that. It's obvious they've been listening to their customers. With TOTAL 2013 and the TOTAL Store, a la mode is continuing to focus on exactly what matters: the appraiser." John Farley, President of a la mode's Appraisal Division, welcomes PhoenixMobile to the long list of TOTAL Store Merchants. "We're happy to include PhoenixMobile in the TOTAL Store. Appraisers have been asking us to integrate with their apps and will be pleased that we're giving them more options in the mobile arena," Farley said. The TOTAL Store, and the associated integration APIs, allow third-party vendors to seamlessly integrate into the underlying TOTAL product architecture for a superior customer experience, all while avoiding the delays of traditional integration deal negotiations. TOTAL products are used by more of the nation's real estate appraisers than all other competing software applications combined, so inclusion in the TOTAL Store is essential to reaching the vast majority of real estate appraisers. For more information, visit www.alamode.com/TOTALStore.   Read more...

Naples, FL - a la mode, the creator of the market-leading TOTAL family of real estate appraisal products, announced today that Bluebook International will feature their AppraiserBASE™ cost data solution as a participating merchant in TOTAL Store and be fully integrated with the TOTAL family of appraisal software. Available in the second quarter of 2013, the Store will allow any appraiser to securely select from a growing list of third-party and a la mode products designed to extend the feature set of the core TOTAL appraisal programs. The TOTAL family of software products is the dominant appraisal report platform in the industry, used by more than half of all appraisers nationwide. Bluebook's AppraiserBASE is a leading cost and valuation solution designed for and by real estate appraisers. Backed by recognized industry professionals, AppraiserBASE does the intricate math and individual line item depreciation for the user, producing detailed breakout reports which support each of the calculations that produce the cost approach and cost to cure. Since AppraiserBASE is integrated with TOTAL 2013 via TOTAL Store's Application Programming Interface (API), appraisers can develop their reports without retyping property data back into AppraiserBASE, eliminating keystrokes and potential mistakes. John Farley, President of a la mode's Appraisal Division, welcomes Bluebook International to the long list of TOTAL Store Merchants. "We've been fans of Bluebook for a long time and are excited to finally integrate with them via the TOTAL Store. Using the standard TOTAL Store APIs and agreements has enabled all of us to shift our creativity toward new product and marketing ideas instead of custom development and deal negotiations," Farley said. Mark Josipovich, President and CEO of Bluebook, said, "We recognize the important leadership role that a la mode plays in the appraisal and related markets. We are excited to join together the industry's leading products. The combination of Bluebook's AppraiserBASE and a la mode's TOTAL Store platform is exciting and represents the future of the appraisal industry." The TOTAL Store, and the associated integration APIs, allow third-party vendors to seamlessly integrate into the underlying TOTAL product architecture for a superior customer experience, all while avoiding the delays of traditional integration deal negotiations. TOTAL products are used by more of the nation's real estate appraisers than all other competing software applications combined, so inclusion in the TOTAL Store is essential to reaching the vast majority of real estate appraisers. For more information, visit www.alamode.com/TOTALStore.   Read more...

Naples, FL - a la mode announced today that Metro-West (www.metrowestappr.com), the largest independent staff appraisal firm in the nation, now provides staff appraisers with a la mode's full suite of software, including TOTAL formfilling products, eliminating the previous requirement to use ACI software. The TOTAL family of software products is the dominant appraisal report platform in the industry, used by more than half of all appraisers nationwide. In conjunction, Metro-West has launched a MercuryDirect plugin with Mercury Network to ensure the highest quality appraisals for its growing list of lenders. Metro-West's new MercuryDirect plugin will leverage Mercury Network's direct connection to the appraiser's desktop to streamline compliant appraisal delivery, and accelerate turn times. The plugin runs Metro-West's customized review rules on reports while still at the appraiser's desktop, eliminating the time consuming revision request cycle. "As our client list grows, we're hiring more of the best staff appraisers, and we have to effectively scale our review and quality control operations to keep extremely short turn times", noted Benjamin Schomer, Vice President Business Development at Metro-West. "By removing our old ACI formfilling software restriction, we can work with far more appraisers. The one-two combination of more appraisers and faster turn times positions Metro-West to continue its phenomenal growth." "With the MercuryDirect plugin and their adoption of TOTAL to expand their reach to the majority of the nation's appraisers, Metro-West has the right technological foundation to continue to expand very quickly, and very successfully", said Jennifer Miller, president of a la mode's Mortgage Solutions Division. a la mode's Mercury Network is the nation's premiere Vendor Management Platform in the appraisal and BPO industries, offering both interfaceless "black box" MercuryDirect services and APIs, as well as "turn key" MercuryManaged Web front ends for use by loan officers and compliance staff. Mercury has been used in both capacities by a lengthy roster of the nation's largest lenders and AMCs, as well as by numerous community banks, credit unions, wholesale and correspondent lenders, and mortgage brokers, simplifying full compliance with appraisal independence standards and banking security regulations. It's been used by more than 200,000 mortgage professionals since 2002 to automate the full "round trip" of tens of millions of appraisals. For more information, visit www.MercuryVMP.com.   Read more...

Naples, Florida - a la mode, the creator of the market-leading TOTAL family of real estate appraisal products, announced today that Apex Software floorplan sketching products will be in their TOTAL Store and fully integrated with the TOTAL family of appraisal software.   Read more...

Naples, Florida - a la mode, the creator of the market-leading TOTAL family of real estate appraisal products, announced today their new TOTAL Store, and the associated integration API, will be available in the second quarter of 2013. The TOTAL product line is used by more appraisers than all competing products combined, which is why third-party vendor interest in the Store has been very strong.   Read more...

Naples, FL - Class Appraisal and a la mode announced today the launch of a customized MercuryDirect plugin that further enhances Class Appraisal's connection to a la mode's Mercury Network to reduce appraisal turn times and ensure the highest appraisal quality for Class' lender clients.   Read more...

Orlando, Florida - From the National Association of REALTORS Expo®, a la mode, one of the real estate industry's most innovative workflow technology companies, announced today their newest iPad app, RE:Focus Analytics. This stunning new iPad app transforms the way agents and brokers access and use the data in their MLS, creating a powerful property data console for highly visual, interactive market analysis even without a Wi-Fi or data connection.   Read more...

Naples, FL - As mortgage lender orders for disaster inspection reports surged to more than 200 times the normal level in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, real estate technology provider a la mode, inc. announced that its Mercury Network service will completely waive all fees related to gathering disaster reports in the affected areas. Mercury Network is the nation's premiere vendor management platform, handling millions of transactions each year for the nation's largest lenders and appraisal management companies.   Read more...

Naples, FL - Appraisal technology pioneer a la mode, inc. was presented with Mortgage Technology Magazine's coveted "Transforming Valuations" award on October 21st, the opening day of the 99th Annual Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) Convention & Expo in Chicago. The Transforming Valuations Award recognizes technology advancements in the appraisal, broker price opinion or automated valuation sectors. Runners-up were CoreLogic and Platinum Data.   Read more...

October 22nd, 2012 - Chicago, IL - From the 99th Annual Mortgage Bankers Association Annual Convention, a la mode announced today the launch of Mercury Network's new Appraisal Quality Management system (AQM). The AQM service, available only on Mercury Network, guides underwriters to the issues in each appraisal with actionable recommendations, and produces investor-ready loan files with the goal of dramatically reducing repurchase risk.   Read more...