listing alertsMLS & AssociationsSelectw&r studios
December 30, 2014

MLS listing alert tool aims to give agents an edge over top portals

Tools offered by multiple listing services are not generally known for their slick interfaces. MLSs are great at compiling accurate, comprehensive listing data, but the tools to access that data are often clunky and, well, unattractive. Real estate software firm W&R Studios hopes to change that with its MLS listing…
Read More
dronesreal estate dronesSelectTechnology
December 30, 2014

Presales of easy-to-fly, $375 drone through the roof

Strong presales of the “Ghost Drone” — a one-pound unmanned aircraft that can be mounted with a camera and easily controlled with a smartphone app — have helped its maker land $10 million in funding. EHANG, which is preselling the Ghost Drone until Jan. 9 on its Indiegogo page, touts the…
Read More
Brokerageinterview questionsLeighton Deesreal estateSelect
December 30, 2014

Want to hire top talent? 5 interview questions to ask

As the modern-day real estate brokerage evolves, intelligent growth is crucial if you want to stay relevant. To sustain smart growth, brokers need to make sure they hire agents who possess the right mindset. Asking the right questions when you first meet with a prospective agent is a great spot…
Read More
Agent adviceMarkets & Economyreal estateSelectTechnology
December 30, 2014

Austin Allison: ‘Our focus is on innovation in an industry known to drag its feet’

Austin Allison is the CEO of dotloop. Are you optimistic about 2015? The housing market? Yes, we are very optimistic about the housing market for 2015. NAR is predicting housing sales to go up by just under 8 percent. While lending standards continue to be rigid, recent comments from the Federal…
Read More
Patrick Stone
December 18, 2014

Pat Stone Looks Ahead at the Housing Indicators — and Likes What He Sees

Some industry analysts are pessimistic about the outlook for the housing market; others are uncertain. Pat Stone, President and CEO of Williston Financial Group (WFG National Title’s parent company) is confident and emphatically upbeat. Speaking to title agents a few weeks ago at the Executive Management conference hosted by WFG’s…
Read More
Compliance
December 11, 2014

CFPB Proposes Expanded Foreclosure Protections

Proposal Would Provide Surviving Family Members and Other Homeowners with Same Protections as Original Borrower WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) proposed additional measures to ensure that homeowners and struggling borrowers are treated fairly by mortgage servicers. The proposal would require servicers to provide certain borrowers…
Read More
Patrick StoneRadio
December 10, 2014

News Radio Interview with Patrick F. Stone: Brian Bushlach’s Business Briefing on FM News 101 KXL Portland and 770-AM KTTH in Seattle

Patrick Stone, President and CEO of Williston Financial Group (WFG) and WFG Title Insurance Company, and Brian Bushlach discuss the global economy, federal rates, and Consumer Confidence versus Sentiment. Listen Now! http://national.wfgnationaltitle.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/BRIEF1_B.mp3   Economic expert Patrick Stone speaks with Brian Bushlach about the economy, lending standards, first time buyers, and…
Read More
Technology
December 2, 2014

What’s your Story?

Everybody has one. It’s rare we get to share it online in a way that truly shows what we’re all about though. Story wants to change that. From their website: “Your Story page is built around your content. Forget about fixed templates or clunky Content Management Systems. Story sites are based…
Read More
Uncategorized
December 2, 2014

Explaining Escrow to Buyers

The escrow process can seem a bit foreign to many home buyers, especially if they are first-timers. Here’s a quick and easy explanation that lays out the nuts and bolts.*   An escrow company is, essentially, a third-party entity that manages the legal and financial components of a real estate…
Read More