Research points to a revolution in real estate news

Technology comes to real estate, finally

We’ve seen the future…. of Real Estate Flyers

In 2010, Duke Long proclaimed, “Commercial Real Estate Must Kill the PDF.” YES, IT IS TIME! Why? We sit here every day and get our inbox BLASTED with how many e-mail PDF’s of property from sources all over the world? What is the point? The time has come indeed. And if flyer.io has anything to do with it, it will be sooner, rather than later. “How?!” you say? Well, can a PDF do this? Include a 360° virtual tour? Nope, but Flyer.io can… Incorporate a live Google map? Nope, but Flyer.io can… I…

Customized Mobile Websites & QR Codes

I am sure everyone by now has heard of QR (quick response) codes. There are several free websites that allow people to generate a free QR code but almost all lack in assisting to deliver content that is optimized for a mobile device. Typically one would have to hire web developers to re-engineer their website to deliver a rich mobile user experience. Until recently.. Scan, Inc. is a college tech start-up that was founded in 2011 and has made a big entrance into the tech scene thus far. They have…

CMBS.com: Distressed Asset & Refinance Leads

CMBS.com’s Leads application is an invaluable resource for CRE sales and mortgage brokers, as well as investors. This web-based tool allows users to search for securitized loans which are maturing, watch listed, specially serviced, in foreclosure or REO. From their product description: An affordable, web-based way to find and manage leads for CRE refinancing and distressed asset purchases. Search the entire CMBS universe for loans that fit specific criteria including property location, servicer …

Electronic confidentiality agreements for all

CRE Console has built a great little electronic confidentiality agreement application which anyone can use for free. After creating an account, it only takes 3 steps to automate the entire investor registration process using the same old PDF confidentiality agreement you’ve always used. How do they do it? Here’s how they explain it: How does our Electronic Confidentiality Agreement service automate the investor registration process? Upload your standard PDF confidentiality agreement into our fo…

LeaseMatrix: Dead Simple Lease Analysis

LeaseMatrix is a new, web-based lease analysis tool for tenants and tenant advisors. How is LeaseMatrix different than other lease analysis tools? From their website: User Friendly Software Don’t be limited by software licenses, downloads or updates. LeaseMatrix’s website allows you to easily summarize every lease proposal – anytime, anywhere. Share & Collaborate Share every report securely. Part of a larger team? Easily collaborate with team members. Client in another state? Email a secure …

Google Now: The stalker girlfriend you always wanted

As voice recognition virtual assistants become more prevalent (i.e. Siri and its Android alternatives), what’s the next step? With Google Now, Google appears to be making the attempt to leapfrog apps which solely focus on improving the quality and reliability of the recognition software, by building an application which anticipates what you need. In other words, if successful, Google would effectively remove the “Voice” from “Voice Recognition”. A recent c|net article goes into more detail: “Goo…

CRM for CRE: Just do it yourself…

How many times have you heard someone say, “I wish someone would build a killer CRM tool just for CRE!”. There are already a dozen or so CRM tools built specifically for CRE folks. Immediate examples which come to mind include (in no specific order, other than alphabetical): ACT! CRE Apto AscendixRE ClientLook CRE-Link PowerBroker Propertybase REA RealHound REThink And I am sure I am forgetting some other big ones… The real issue is not the lack of solutions, but instead, an unwillingness to…

Clip-on Lenses for Your Cell Phone Camera

With the generous megapixels in most new cell phone cameras, for most purposes there’s no need to carry a separate digital camera. But as with most cameras the basic lens might not be the best for taking building shots. For horizontally oriented buildings for example, you need to stand at such a distance that you end up with a strip of the building between a large swath of sky and parking lot. You could use a panoramic photo app but images from them end up an odd size – long and narrow. Fine for…