We've been running a cluster of mail servers here for years - since 1997 - under the Project 2000 name, with free accounts for every WinTOTAL user. Originally, we used mail as the EDI mechanism since it was reliable, easy to implement and understand, inexpensive, and could be used for messaging (two way conversations), not just delivery. Also, at the time there were substantial limits on file sizes which could be transmitted through an ISP's mail account, plus there were proprietary systems (Value Added Networks, or VANs) under development and being promoted by big players, and we didn't want to see appraisers be stuck with an expensive, inflexible method becoming the standard means of EDI delivery. We "seeded the market" with free Project 2000 accounts, and we're happy to report, at least in the appraisal arena, VANs have almost totally failed to deliver.   Read more...

There's a six-month delay in the effective date of new Do-Not-Fax rules from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) due to the successful lobbying efforts of the National Association of REALTORS®, all 50 state associations of REALTOR® and REALTOR® associations for the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.   Read more...

A growing number of real estate agents and people selling their own homes are turning to feng shui - the ancient Chinese art of designing structures and arranging objects to create harmonious energy flow - to help attract buyers.   Read more...

Inman News kicked off its fall audio conference series last Thursday with a discussion on new real estate business models and their impact on traditional agents and brokerages. Five "alternative" firms spoke briefly about their business models and how they deviate from the model the majority of the industry uses and how such models will impact the real estate business in the future.   Read more...

Appraiser websites have a bad reputation. Some of you say, "I don't need to advertise," or "it won't help my business," or "I don't have time to mess with a website." And many of you have been burned by someone else's expensive website that didn't actually "do anything."   Read more...

We have been grateful for the overwhelming response of our customers and well-wishers alike as well as media coverage of our situation with Homestore demanding we disable our Agent XSites REALTOR.com® listings import feature. The issue of ownership and proper use of a broker/agent's data needs to be brought to the fore - Homestore, through its public statements, seems to agree with us on that. Hopefully, the issue is galvanizing enough agents and brokers to go to their boards and find out if they sign their lives away when they deal with MLSs.   Read more...

The Appraiser Qualifications Board (AQB) adopted new Real Property Appraiser Qualification Criteria on February 20, due to take effect in 2008. There have been questions from the states, the AQB said recently, about how to implement the changes. In an AQB Guide Note, the AQB gave the states two acceptable scenarios and one which would not be acceptable.   Read more...

Last week, the Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan and his Federal Open Market Committee colleagues increased the target for the federal funds rate from 1.50 percent to 1.75 percent.   Read more...

If you're a Mortgage XSite user, you'll probably notice a few new features on your site early next week. You may also be saying to yourself, "Wait a minute; I didn't pay for an upgrade!"   Read more...

Your customers may be able to afford more house for less money if they consider buying one considered energy efficient. As housing costs continue to rise despite low interest rates, more and more lenders are offering energy efficient mortgages (EEMs), a loan program in which lenders estimate monthly energy savings resulting from energy efficient improvements to qualify borrowers for a larger mortgage. The EEM recognizes that energy-efficient homes cost homeowners less to operate on a monthly basis than standard homes, therefore, borrowers who choose such homes can afford to spend more on their housing expenses because they will likely spend less on their energy costs. In fact, in many cases, buyers can afford a home that would be otherwise would be out of reach. A recent study by the Environmental Protection Agency found that about 7 percent more families would qualify for home financing if the home were rated for an energy-efficient mortgage. How a home is rated Energy-efficient mortgage lenders require a home-energy rating to verify that the home meets certain minimum energy-savings standards. Home energy ratings involve an on-site inspection of a home by a residential energy efficiency professional.   Read more...