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Microsoft Unveils Comprehensive Real Estate and Mortgage Services Community on MSN

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Microsoft, in its commitment to serving the real estate industry, has introduced a comprehensive real estate and mortgage services community on MSN, The Microsoft Network online service. This initiative aims to provide Realtors and consumers with easy access to property listings, mortgage information, and other real estate services. Microsoft has partnered with a group of companies, known as independent content providers (ICPs), to bring together a variety of services on MSN that will be valuable to both Realtors, consumers, and mortgage professionals.

Key Takeaways:

  • Microsoft introduced a comprehensive real estate and mortgage services community on MSN, providing Realtors and consumers with online access to property listings, mortgage information, and other real estate services.
  • The platform is powered by a group of independent content providers (ICPs), including Alltel Information Services, INPHO Inc., NuStar International, Real Direct Inc., and TRW.
  • The services offered on MSN will include online Realtor-to-client communication, communication with mortgage lenders, access to comparable property-listing and valuation databases, and listings of properties for sale.
  • The initiative aims to help Realtors increase agent productivity, brokers respond better to business-environment changes, and serve customers better, according to John Neilson, vice president of the organizational customer unit at Microsoft.
  • Multiple leading U.S. brokerage firms, including DeWolfe New England Real Estate, John L. Scott Real Estate, The Prudential Florida Realty, Stan Wiley Realtors, and Windermere Real Estate, have committed to standardizing on the Microsoft platform.
  • These firms are migrating to the Microsoft Windows operating system and choosing the Microsoft Windows NT Server network operating system and the Microsoft BackOffice integrated family of server software for client-server computing.

Statistics:

  • 5 companies, known as independent content providers (ICPs), are providing real estate and mortgage services on MSN: Alltel Information Services, INPHO Inc., NuStar International, Real Direct Inc., and TRW.
  • The services on MSN will include online Realtor-to-client communication, communication with mortgage lenders, access to comparable property-listing and valuation databases, and listings of properties for sale.
  • Microsoft has partnered with 5 leading U.S. brokerage firms, including DeWolfe New England Real Estate, John L. Scott Real Estate, The Prudential Florida Realty, Stan Wiley Realtors, and Windermere Real Estate.

Sources:

  • Press release from Microsoft, dated Nov. 11, 1995.
  • Microsoft, "Microsoft Introduces Comprehensive Real Estate and Mortgage Services Community on MSN" press release, November 1995.

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