California Association of Realtors Partners with Seek Mobile Interactive to Launch Real Estate Mobile Technologies

Strategic Insights -

The California Association of Realtors (C.A.R.) has partnered with Seek Mobile Interactive (SMI) to develop applications for smartphones that enhance the Realtor value proposition in the mobile computing environment. The new company, Real Estate Mobile Technologies LLC (REMT), will develop the initial product offering, "My C.A.R." for the C.A.R., the first native iPhone application for a Realtor association nationwide. The partnership aims to provide valuable market and industry information to encourage communication between agents and consumers about their community.

Key Takeaways:

  • Real Estate Mobile Technologies LLC (REMT) was formed by Real Estate Business Services Inc. (REBS) and Seek Mobile Interactive (SMI) to develop real estate-related smartphone applications.
  • The initial product offering, "My C.A.R." for the C.A.R., is the first native iPhone application for a Realtor association nationwide.
  • REMT will use the proven "My A.O.R." prototype to easily localize and private brand the app for any real estate entity such as Realtor associations, MLSs, and brokers.
  • The app will offer an Inman News feed in the "News to Use" section and plans to develop Realtor-friendly consumer-based versions.
  • REBS, as the majority shareholder, will have Chairwoman Liz Fitzgerald and CEO Alan Arora serving in the same capacity, respectively, for REMT.
  • Chris Tellez, a long-time C.A.R./REBS technologist, will serve as Manager of Product Development for REMT.
  • REMT is poised to position itself as the third-party developer of choice for other entities' real estate-related smartphone applications.
  • SMI is also the developer of the newly released zipForm iPhone application.

Statistics:

  • Over 1 million REALTORS nationwide use the zipLogix joint venture between REBS and the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS (NAR), which develops and distributes the zipForm and WINForms electronic forms software.
  • REMT plans to develop Realtor-friendly consumer-based versions of their applications.
  • The partnership aims to provide valuable market and industry information to encourage communication between agents and consumers about their community.

Sources:

  • CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS (C.A.R.)
  • Real Estate Business Services Inc. (REBS)
  • Seek Mobile Interactive (SMI)
  • zipLogix
  • NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS (NAR)