Q&A: Michael Mandel, CEO of CompStak

We’ve written about CompStak, the CRE data provider, several times in the past, for good reasons. CompStak has a unique crowdsourcing model: brokers, appraisers and researchers join the service at no cost and trade commercial real estate lease comps on the platform. Landlords, lenders and investors can access the data through a paid subscription. CompStak started in NYC, and now covers 14 US markets offering valuable information that is difficult to get anywhere else, such as tenant names, the d…

FAA Approves First Real Estate Drone Permit in Tucson

The topic of drone usage, particularly in the real estate industry, is one that has been the subject of much debate, particularly over the last year. Now, word has been released that a real estate agent in Tucson has been the first individual to receive a real estate permit by the Federal Aviation Administration. With the issuance of the permit, Doug Trudeau will be allowed to use a drone to photograph and video properties for sale. The permit will also provide Mr. Trudeau with the ability to of…

No one said this was going to be easy…

CommonFloor Making it Easier to Operate and Live in Apartment Communities in India

While commercial real estate can certainly be lucrative, when it comes down to it, apartment buildings are really about people, particularly the people who live in those properties. The goal of CommonFloor is to make it easier for users to buy, sell, and even rent residential properties in India online. Basically, the way CommonFloor works is by creating a private community portal for various residential societies. With this option, residents are able to communicate with their neighbors more eas…

The Nature of the CRE Beast

The following is a guest post written by Real Estate Tech News Advisory Board Member Chris Clark. You may recognize Chris from her well-known blog, CREOutsider. I remember reading a post, right here on The News Funnel as a matter of fact, that asked why was it so hard to get CRE to adopt new tech. The answer was “that’s the nature of the beast we decided to slay.” True enough. But if you want to slay a beast, it helps to know something about it. Too many CRE developers I speak with make all sor…

REscour Raises $1.3 Million to Automate CRE Seach

REscour, a CRE data visualization and intelligence platform, closed a $1.3 million seed investment round this week. Led by Jason Calacanis’s Launch Fund and AngelList syndicate, and TechSquare Labs, the round also included Mosley Ventures, Tom Cousins’ Nonami Investments, President of ARA Blake Okland, and former CEO of AutoTrader.com Chip Perry. The newly raised money will help expand expand REscour’s engineering team, accellerate sales and build brand awareness. what does rescour do? REscour …

RealtyShares Offers Expanded Opportunity to Invest in Real Estate

In recent years, crowdfunding has become the new way to raise capital for everything from charitable fundraisers to startups. Now, crowdfunding has evolved to include real estate investing, and RealtyShares is making it easier for would-be investors to get involved. With crowdfunding opportunities like RealtyShares, it is possible for developers to raise capital by leveraging the power of smaller investors in an automated, secure manner. Only a year old, RealtyShares began as a way for investors…

Amazon’s New Echo Gives You a Glimpse of Future Smart Home Technology

We haven’t exactly attained the future that “The Jetsons” would have had us believe that we would be living, but Amazon Echo could be helping to get us a few steps closer. The concept of a smart home is certainly nothing new, but this latest introduction from Amazon is putting a new spin on things. A futuristic blend of Bluetooth speaker and personal voice assistant, Echo boasts a lengthy list of features. Feel like setting the right ambience? Simply tell Echo to put on some mood music. Crunched…

AddressReport Reveals In-Depth Property Listing Information

Have you ever thought about running a background check on a potential property? Well, now you can! With AddressReport, you can find out everything from whether there have been any recent rodent sightings to amenities offered by that property. Reports generated by AddressReport include a wealth of vital details, including any complaints or violations that may have been lodged against the relevant property, as well as all building details. In addition, you can gain access to pricing histories for …

You’re Invited: CRE Tech // Austin on March 12

Have you been to a CRE // Tech event? Founded in 2013 by Pierce Neinken, the events produced by CRE // Tech unite today’s forward-looking CRE professionals with technology innovators in a fun, relaxed evening. Onyx Equities has teamed up with CRE // Tech to produce an event called CRE Tech // Austin…and you’re invited! details WHAT: CRE Tech // Austin WHEN: March 12, 2015, 5:00PM – 9:00PM WHERE: Benji’s Cantina, Austin, TX HOW MUCH: $20 REGISTER HERE: cretechintersect.com/austin2015 SEATING I…