TREND News

Find Tip: School District Reports Are A Valuable Tool
School district reports can be a valuable tool for your clients to use when trying to make a decision on a property. Have you checked out these reports available from the MLS?

Question For You: How Can We Fix Underwater Mortgages?
As educated Real Estate professionals, TREND members have great insight into market conditions, the changing environment, and challenges facing the industry. While we do our best to research and provide news and content some questions are best left to the professionals. This week, we would like to hear what YOU think about underwater mortgages, how they’ve impacted your business and how to fix the problems they cause.

RE Technology Offers Easy Access to Product Reviews & Industry Articles
TREND strives to provide you with easy access to information to keep you at the top of your game. So for business decisions made easy, you now have access to RE Technology completely free with TREND membership.

Changes to Square Footage Labels and Lot Info Deliver Clearer Information
In order for the information on MLS reports to be as clear and concise as possible, square footage labels have been updated.

Richer Data Leads to a More Effective You
We know it's important to have access to rich, more complete real estate information above what consumers can access.

Target Marketing: Baby Boomers and Seniors
The oldest Baby Boomers will turn 66 in 2012, joining the millions of active and affluent consumers who comprise the senior real estate market.

TREND Community Gives Back: Fall 2011
This Fall, many TREND members took time out of their busy schedules to help give back to the their communities by participating in various charitable events, many of which were in conjunction with PAR’s REALTORS® Reach-Out initiative in October.

Think 2011 Was a Slow Year? Think Again! Check Out What You Did
 

Richer, More Complete Data Coming to You!
It’s important that you have access to rich, more complete real estate information above what consumers can access.

Real Tales: December 2011
by Alan MacBain

Accurately Reflecting the Status of a Terminated Listing Ensures Success
You may have encountered a situation where one of your clients has either instructed you to cease marketing their property in the MLS for a while or wishes to terminate the listing agreement prior to the expiration date. Which status is appropriate for either scenario?

Broker Websites and REALTOR.com® Enhanced to Your Benefit
Broker (IDX) websites and Realtor.com are extensions of your business. In view of that and the investments you have made into these valuable business tools, these two industry-friendly sites should be empowered with the best information and additional opportunities to ensure your brand and accomplishments are properly presented to the consumer.

New Map Layers Offer Additional Data for You and Your Clients
As a real estate professional, you strive to give your clients the most accurate and reliable information possible. With new layers like parcel, zip code, county and state borders on maps, you’ll have access to even more specific details about listings. This helps you become more knowledgeable about an area by having more pertinent and relevant information right at your fingertips.

End of the Year To-Do List for Real Estate Agents
Hot Topic of the Month

With the end of the year fast approaching, there are a lot of things you need to get done before 2011 comes to an end. Below are some things you may want to consider trying to fit in.

Converting Buyers: Why Care About Rates?
Is it a great time to buy? YES! You already knew that so why don’t buyers? Interest rates are hovering around 4%, yet buyers who are qualified and able to put money down still aren’t budging.

Real Tales: November 2011
by Alan McBain

Do Your Property Descriptions Need a Change? Try These 4 Tips
Property descriptions, or public remarks, are a critical part in the marketing of a property. While photos may grab the immediate attention of a buyer, the remarks can help get buyers in the door.

2011 Continuing Ed: Find a Class Near You!
Hot Topic of the Month

As 2011 comes to a close, you may find more time to meet your continuing education requirements for 2011. To help you get started, we've compiled a list of upcoming classes and provided you with some links to find other dates/times.

My News: Connecting You With Your Office Wherever You Are!
My News gives your Broker the ability to stay in contact with you wherever you are; a park, coffee shop or on the road. They can communicate anything to you, such as new office listings, educational materials or upcoming meetings. And best of all, it's all available on the TREND Homepage, the one place you and your colleagues go to do your daily work!

Real Tales: October 2011
by Alan BacBain

Target and Convert Potential Investors into New Clients
Are you looking for new ways to earn income in these challenging times? As more and more foreclosures come on the market, investors may follow those opportunities. That means more opportunity for you!

Back to Basics: “HUD” Properties and the MLS
Distressed property transactions, which include HUD properties, are increasing. In 2010 and year to date, these transactions accounted for about 11.5% of all home sales in TREND, which mirrors national trends.

What Stories Would You Like to See in TREND News?
In TREND News, our stories are written to help you as a real estate professional and a career business person. So we’d like to know what you’d like us to write about. What’s the buzz in your office, around your water cooler, at your office meetings? Please give us your suggestions.

3 Ways TREND Maps Can Help Strengthen Your Business
When you look for listings, what’s your process? Go to the search page, enter information like the MLS Area, City and Zip Code.

Real Tales: September 2011
by Alan MacBain

Convert Those Renters Into Buyers
According to NAR’s 2010 Profile of Buyers and Sellers, first time homebuyers make up 50% of our current market. Instead of waiting for them to come to you, what if you could go to them?

Help Your Buyer, Seller, Self “Go Green”
What does it mean to “Go Green” in TREND? It all depends on your client. Working with a buyer? You might be searching for building orientation. Working with a seller? Maybe you want to make sure that the building certifications are reflected properly. Or, maybe you just want learn about the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) Green Designation for your own edification. We have ideas to help all of you “Go Green!”

3 Ways to Get the Most from Your Closing Gift
Giving a housewarming gift to your clients has become obligatory in Real Estate, but are YOU getting the most bang for your buck out of the gifts you’re giving?

TREND Community Gives Back: Spring 2011
Despite the busy spring market, members of the TREND community were able to give back to the areas they serve. From volunteering with neighborhood revitalization projects to raising funds to help one of their own, many real estate professionals from TREND and local associations donated their time to organizations that have a positive influence on the community.

Real Tales: August 2011
by Alan MacBain

4 Hot Tips for the Hotsheet Report
TREND’s Hotsheet is a powerful tool that keeps you up to date on the latest and greatest changes in the market, but there are many other uses that can enhance your business.

Does Your Listing Pass Our 10-Point Checkup?
You make certain your vehicle receives regular maintenance to ensure its reliability. Shouldn’t the same hold true for your listing? TREND strives to ensure that the information in MLS Blue is accurate, timely and reliable.

TREND’s Relationships with Surrounding MLSs
So, your market area is covered by TREND and another MLS. You have to belong to both – or several – MLSs to do business and you’re probably wondering, “Since I already belong to one MLS, can’t I get a deal, a break, or a special offer to join another one?” The answer is, yes! TREND borders over 13 different MLSs, and in the spirit of cooperation, we have some sort of arrangement with most of them, so those of you in this situation can join those MLSs while still working efficiently.

Firefox Announces Aggressive Release Schedule
 

Spring Survey Shows: You Know the Changing Market!
Congratulations to our TREND members who won the TREND Spring Market contest and a complimentary TREND Coffee Mug! The results of the Spring Market Survey shows that you have a firm grasp on the changing market, and how various influences can cause fluctuations in median prices and number of home sales.

Real Tales: July 2011
by Alan MacBain

Use TREND to Convince Your Seller That ‘The Price is Right’
Your property has been on the market for some time, and you believe it’s not drawing the expected interest because it’s priced too high. And your seller won’t budge to lower the price. When it comes to supporting or evaluating your marketing strategies, TREND offers a wealth of information to drive your point home, showing your clients that you’ve made the right decision in pricing their home.

4 Ways to Breathe New Life Into a Languishing Listing
Has your spring listing turned into a summer listing? You’ve done your homework and priced your listing right, but for some reason showings aren’t being scheduled. The frantic pace of the spring season may be passing quickly, but your listings don’t need to be left behind! Let TREND show you a few ways you can spruce up your listing with little effort and no added cost.

10 Ways to Revamp Your Open House Approach
Despite your best efforts with your spring open house, your listing wasn’t successful in drawing the desired interest, or prospective buyers. As a result, you may want to evaluate your marketing strategy before holding your next open house and make adjustments to generate more interest.

Use Public Remarks for Marketing Your Listings, Not Yourself
Public Remarks in MLS Blue are an important tool when marketing your listing to other agents and interested buyers. Your ability to write engaging Public Remarks that describe the best features of the property are crucial to your marketing efforts. However, Public Remarks is not the appropriate place to promote yourself.

Keep On Top of Your Listings with Inbox Link Notifications
Not sure exactly when one of your listings is going to expire? How about what was the estimated settlement date you entered? With inbox links, you are notified when one of your listings is about to change statuses, sometimes up to 30 days in advance. This helps you stay on top of your listings, and keep them accurate.

Real Tales: June 2011
by Alan MacBain

Maintaining Accurate Sold Information is Important to Everyone
Have you ever requested a showing on a listing, only to discover that it settled a month ago? It was active because the listing agent didn’t enter the settlement information. Besides being annoyed at the listing agent, you are embarrassed since you e-mailed the home to your clients, who can’t understand why the home is listed as active. This is one of many reasons why entering accurate settlement information is important FOR EVERYONE.

5 Tips for Wrapping Up After a Closing
Congratulations, you’ve made it! You’re at the end of a transaction. After you cash that commission check and celebrate, there are some things that you should review to close out this transaction, ensure your next transaction is smoother, and market yourself to prospective new clients. Here are some things to think about.

Marketing Another Agent or Office’s Listing is a Matter of Ethics
You might think you’re doing another agent or office a favor by marketing their listing, and while you might see your actions as creative, it’s actually considered inappropriate and unethical.

5 Ways to Help You Negotiate a Smooth Settlement
June is here and contracts are being signed, which means negotiations are underway. You want transactions to settle smoothly, but false info from the media can turn any sale into a nightmare. Use these tips to help negotiations close quickly.

Real Tales: May 2011
by Alan MacBain

Reporting a Short Sale Contract Doesn’t Have to be a Tall Order
Have you ever wondered how to enter information on a short sale in TREND when it’s under contract? The answer is simple: the same way you would any other listing. For the purpose of entering the agreement of sale information, it does not matter that a third party, such as a financial institution, is involved.

Staying on Top of your Spring Schedule – When in Doubt, Plan it Out!
As the spring market heats up and the weather gets warm, it is easy to fall behind all the work at home and in the office. Fortunately, it is easy to stay organized and not only survive the spring, but thrive in it. Take advantage of these tips to get back on top:

Is Your Virtual Tour Unbranded? Reasons Why It Has To Be
When marketing a property in the MLS, a large percentage of TREND members use some form of virtual tour service to promote and highlight the important features of the property. Virtual tours provide a professional presentation which adds that extra "wow factor" for potential buyers. But when using a virtual tour in the MLS, the question of branding always has to enter in to the equation. MLS rules require that you only post UNBRANDED virtual tours.

Contract and Settlement Information Restored on Pending Listing Reports
 

Broker Listing Import Broadens Your Market Coverage
 

BLI Creates Broader Inventory of Listings from Pocono Regions
Now, you can find more listing information for resort homes from the Pocono Region in MLS Blue. This is the result of a new initiative called Broker Listing Import (BLI) between TREND and participating brokers that belong to the Pocono Mountains Association of REALTORS® (PMAR). ALL of their listings – not just resort homes – appear in TREND. So if you are working with clients who want properties in this region, you have a more comprehensive inventory available.

TREND Community Gives Back: Fall and Winter
Members of the TREND community believe they have a responsibility to get involved in the areas they serve. From volunteering at food banks, to participating in blood drives, to raising funds for educational programs and scholarships, thousands of real estate professionals from TREND and local associations practice what they preach, donating their time to organizations that have a potential influence.

Real Tales: April 2011
by Alan MacBain

Market Yourself Using Your Personally Branded E-Card
This powerful marketing tool allows you to customize, brand and share your personal information with current and potential clients. By adding things like your photo, a personal message and even links to your Facebook and Twitter profiles, you can connect with clients in your area, showing them you are their go-to real estate expert.

Client Making Unrealistic Offers? TREND Can Help Guide a Pricing Strategy
One of the greatest challenges you may face in today’s market is not capturing clients, but reining in the unrealistic expectations they have. TREND offers tools, like the CMA, to help you address unrealistic buyer expectations, and aid in negotiating with unrealistic sellers by using current market data to dispel the myths they may have heard from the media and neighbors.

No Client? No Problem! TREND Has Lots to Offer You and Your Business
Even if you don’t yet have a buyer or a seller, TREND can help you as a real estate professional. Use TREND to bolster your knowledge of the market, prepare for your first client, or get your name out into the community. Don’t wait for your first client - start using TREND’s benefits today!

Automated Showing Feedback Gets Answers, Reduces Phone Calls
How did the home show? Is it priced right? Were your buyers interested? These questions flash through a listing agent’s mind after a showing. If you use the automated feedback features of showing products, like those offered through TREND, they can help you get answers to these questions, and that can help you better market the property to interested buyers.

Agent: Automation of Appointment Processes Has Eased My Workload
Earl Corbin’s phone used to ring off the hook with calls from agents looking to schedule showing appointments for his listings. Now, the Gloucester County, NJ agent receives very few phone requests. Don’t think that Earl’s business has taken a turn for the worse. By using automated processes for managing appointment requests and getting showing feedback through TREND, Earl eased his workload and spends less time on the phone.

Real Tales: March 2011
by Alan MacBain

TREND’s Membership Characteristics Adjust with the Economy
Many of you took the time to respond to the “TREND Membership: Who You Are” survey posted last month. The results, when compared to a similar survey from two years ago, showed that the economy and new technology have affected the makeup and habits of the TREND community.

Got a New Buyer? 6 Tips to Save You Time and Show Off Your Expertise
When you get a new buyer, you need to be prepared to answer their questions and deliver superior real estate information in a timely fashion. That’s where the MLS comes in. By taking a few minutes at the beginning of the relationship, you can save time and prove that you are your client’s personal real estate expert. So check out these 6 tips on how to utilize the MLS and work with new buyers!

Market Report: Residential Home Sales Fall 3% in February
Residential sales activity for TREND’s MLS Coverage Area dropped 3.8% in February 2011 compared to a year ago, according to statistics generated by MLS Blue. There were 2,785 sales reported in February 2011, compared to 2,896 in February 2010.

Use a Dashboard to Manage Your Various Social Media Accounts
You’ve taken the advice of industry experts and signed up for various social media accounts. From Facebook to Twitter, LinkedIn to Foursquare you have a presence, but it’s taking you more time then you thought to check all those accounts. What can you do? Use one of the many social media dashboards that allow you to monitor, update, and manage several social media accounts at once.

New Search Field Gives Quicker Access to Under Contract Listings
Have you ever been doing a search and wondered how to find all of the listings that went under contract in your county during the month, but had no idea how to get that information? Well wonder no more, because with the new Contract Date search field, you can quickly and easily find that information with just a few clicks.

Real Tales: February 2011
by Alan MacBain

Got a New Listing? 7 Tips to Maximize Its Marketing Potential
By following a few tips and utilizing a few features in the MLS, you can ensure that your listing reaches its maximum marketing potential and gets in front of as many people as possible.

Real Tales: January 2011
by Alan MacBain

Distressed Sales: TREND Percentages Lower Than National Average
The number of distressed sales within TREND’s coverage area in 2010 remained much lower than the national average. According to statistics released by the National Association of REALTORS®, 33% of all sales nationally were considered distressed, which includes bank owned properties, or REOs, and short sales. That is more than double the number of distressed sales in TREND.

Market Report: Residential Home Sales Fall 6% in December
Residential sales activity for TREND’s MLS Coverage Area dropped 6.1% in December compared to a year ago, according to statistics generated by MLS Blue. There were 3,910 sales reported in December 2010, compared to 4,166 in December 2009.

New Photo Gallery Better Showcases Your Listings
According to the National Association of REALTORS®, 84% of interested buyers say that listing photos are “very important” when searching for a home. Listing photos in TREND automatically appear in the new photo gallery. This allows you and your clients to watch a slideshow or scroll through the photos one at a time.

Compensation based on Net Sales Not Permitted in TREND
While the commission you receive from your client can be based on the “net” selling price, the cooperative compensation you offer in MLS BLUE is another matter. Make certain that your listings adhere to TREND’s Rules and Regulations, which offer specific guidelines for you to follow.

Special Report: Who Were 2010's Buyers and Sellers?
Every year, the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) conducts a survey to find out who today’s home buyers and sellers are. This year’s survey asked: Did buyers use the tax credit? Are they trading up or going with a more modest home? Discover the highlights of this year’s results in a slideshow of the 2010 NAR Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers.

Community is Common Bond for 2010 State REALTORS® of the Year
State REALTOR® of the Year award winners demonstrate dedication to their communities.

Real Tales: December 2010
by Alan MacBain

Photo Enhancements Help You to Better Showcase Your Listings
Images are one of the easiest and fastest ways to convey thousands of words to interested buyers. That’s one reason why you will have the ability to upload 25 photos per listing in MLS Blue. On December 3, TREND more than doubled the number of photos that can be added, so your listings can compete visually with listings on consumer sites.

Market Report: Residential Home Sales Drop 39% in October
Residential sales activity for TREND’s MLS Coverage Area dropped 39% in October compared to a year ago, according to statistics generated by MLS Blue. There were 3,548 sales reported in October 2010, compared to 5,863 in October 2009. The October 2010 numbers dipped slightly below September 2010, when activity hit 3,828 sales.

TREND Maps: How They Benefit You and Your Clients
By using TREND Maps in e-mailed reports, your clients can explore an area and determine whether or not they like it before you take them to it. This can save you time and money, and allow you to focus on finding your clients their perfect home!

Cooperative Compensation: How much will the cooperating broker earn?
Editor’s Note: Efficiency and reliability of MLS data is the key! This article is the third in a series found here and here aimed at improving the efficiency, reliability and accuracy of the MLS that you access daily. Emphasis has been placed on the importance of specifying the amount of compensation and provides key information concerning other components of cooperative compensation and disclosures.

Syndication Stories Filled with Success and Struggles
When it comes to syndication, some members couldn’t be happier with the exposure they’ve gained for their listings. Others have stories about outdated information and angry clients. Chris Lane, Christopher Beadling, Ralph Chiodo, Mark McKenna and Diane Sarkisian were all eager to reap the benefits of having their listings on to consumer websites and search engines, but their outcomes were different. These are their stories.

Investigate Before You Syndicate: Read the Fine Print
Syndication has become a popular marketing tool for the real estate industry. It helps to ensure your listings are found by consumers who visit national websites and search engines. As with any publication medium, there are pros and cons to consider. It’s in your best interest to make the right decision before you start marketing your listings. Making an informed decision about whether or not to use it now could save you problems in the long run.

Set Your Preferences and Utilize Bing Maps in the MLS
By setting your preferences and utilizing TREND maps to search for everything from open houses to inventory, you can streamline your workflow in the MLS and get the job done quicker, leaving you more face-to-face time with your clients.

Talking Points- Existing Summer Home Sales Data
In late August, the National Association of REALTORS® released the existing home sales data for the summer, and specifically talked about the larger-than-expected drops in sales. To assist you with clients who may have some concerns about the latest news, here are some talking points that you can utilize.

Real Tales: September 2010
by Alan MacBain

Market Report: Residential Sales Decrease Nearly 30% in August
Residential sales activity for TREND’s MLS Coverage Area decreased 30 percent in August compared to a year ago, according to statistics generated by MLS Blue. There were 4,156 sales reported in August 2010, compared to 5,926 in August 2009. The August 2010 numbers did improve slightly over July 2010, when activity dropped 36 percent from July 2009 to hit 3,917 sales.

Work the Way You Want: Set Your Preferences
The Preferences feature is designed so you can customize MLS Blue to work for you. By setting your preferences, you can have TREND match your work style. This gives you control over many facets of the MLS, such as setting your default county for lookup lists, which statuses are pre-selected on search pages, how many listings appear on a page and whether or not search results are selected or de-selected on reports.

Ways to Demonstrate Your Work From Home Productivity
A growing number of agents are conducting their business from the comforts of home while tackling misconceptions others have of telecommuting.

Enhance Your Listing Presentation Using TREND Maps
By plotting your office’s sold listings on the map and adding it to your listing presentation, you can put the spotlight on your office's market activity and show your clients why you are their market expert!

Photo Editing: 5 Simple Tips to Improve Your Listing Photos
A Little Goes A Long Way! Making simple edits to your listing photos can make rooms appear brighter, more inviting, or even less cluttered. These five tools, all available through most free online photo editors, can give a subtle boost to your photos with minimal effort.

Shape Your Search with TREND’s New Map Search!
TREND's Map Search is a new feature that gives you the ability to visually search for listings using a map. This gives you ultimate control over your search, letting you choose whether or not to include or even exclude a specific area. This is an alternate way for you to target very specific locations and find listings that satisfy your clients.

Updated 11/18: Coming Soon, 25 Listing Photos with Higher Quality
As the availability and ease of use of digital media continues to expand, consumers expect more exciting visual presentations for their properties. Using photos is one of the easiest and fastest ways to convey a thousand words. Soon, you will be able to upload 25 listing photos with higher resolution, and choose from twice as many captions. These changes are a result of your feedback.

Where Search and Social Media Collide
Just as important as getting your name out on the Internet, is monitoring that presence online. With the constant stream of tweets, blog updates and news stories, the task of keeping an eye on your Internet image can seem almost impossible. Use programs like Google Alerts, Social Mention, and Twilert to help monitor your mentions and what people are saying about your brand.

Inaccurate and Incomplete Information Impacts Integrity of Data
Editor’s Note: Knowledge is empowering. In an attempt to reduce the frequency of inaccurate listing information in the MLS, TREND examines procedures for entering and updating this information through a series of stories. This is the second in the series aimed at improving and maintaining the accuracy and ensuring the integrity of the MLS data that you access daily.

Spring Market Sprung Higher Than Most Members Expected
Most experts and real estate professionals agree that the current economic conditions make it difficult to have confidence in the state of the industry. That was especially true of the 362 TREND members who responded to a recent survey about the spring real estate market.

New REALTOR.com® Beta Site Available!
REALTOR.com® wants to bring you up-to-date on their new website redesign that is currently in beta testing. The new site enhancements make accessing all the rich data available on REALTOR.com® intuitive and better than ever! The millions of consumers who visit REALTOR.com® each month will be able to find properties, as well as companies and agents, faster and more easily.

Smart Social Media: When Is the Right Time to Post?
Social media is everywhere. And for the amount of usage that social media sites get, there is a surprisingly small amount of research that has been done on the best times to post. However, we found a few numbers and products that can help you post at the best time and day.

Real Tales: Summer 2010
by Alan MacBain

Improve Your Bottom Line by Attending New Training Classes
TREND’s new lineup of classes covers a wide variety of topics. Each one addresses specific aspects of the real estate industry and shows you how TREND can meet your business needs.

Eight Ways to Get More Out of MLS Blue
Name three features in MLS Blue that you use frequently? How about: Radius Search? Contacts? TREND’s new interactive maps? There’s really no wrong answer here.

Updated 9/2! Want Listings Deselected on Reports? Set Your Preferences
On June 24th, TREND released new MLS preferences that allow you to decide how to manage your “listing selection” process with the new maps and the MLS. At the same time, we also released interactive maps into Public Records.

Market Report: May Residential Sales Jump 26%, All Counties See Gains
Residential sales activity for TREND's MLS Coverage Area jumped 26.3 percent for May 2010. All 13 counties reported higher numbers than in May 2009, according to statistics generated by MLS Blue. There were 6,088 sales in May 2010, compared to 4,820 in May 2009.

One Woman's Saga of Staging to Sell
15 Tips, 15 Pictures, 15 Realities (with a dash of humor).

Scheduling Showings on Someone’s Behalf? Set up Delegate Rights
If you are on a team or have an assistant, and those co-workers need to perform tasks in MLS Blue for you, don’t give them your account information. Set them up as a delegate using the Delegate Rights functionality. These people will be able to login as themselves, but do work on your behalf, including scheduling showings, sending feedback requests, editing your showing calendar, and much more.

Work Right From Interactive Maps in MLS and Public Records
Now when you use TREND, interactive maps allow you to select only the listings you want to be included in your search results, right from the map. Additionally, using familiar mapping functionality like Bing maps can make your transition and learning curve shorter, allowing you to adapt to the maps and utilize them more efficiently.

Learn About Recent Changes to MLS Reports
With the addition of new, interactive maps in the MLS we’ve made enhancements to reports which are intended to give you more room to view maps as well as other benefits.

The Yard Warrior – Why Bother with Curb Appeal?
Maintaining your home’s curb appeal is not only rewarding (and frustrating at times), but also vital to maintaining its value. TREND’s own Kurt Miller shares his thoughts, tips, and tricks to keeping an attractive yard without breaking your back or your bank account.

Join the Rest of the TREND Community and Enter Open Houses in MLS
Hosting an open house is a great way to gain exposure and market your listing to potential buyers by allowing them to physically tour a home. For a buyer, there’s only so much information to gather from watching a virtual tour or looking at photos.

Complete and Accurate Listing Data Saves You Time and Money!
Editor’s Note: Knowledge is empowering. In an attempt to reduce the frequency of inaccurate listing information in the MLS, TREND examines procedures for entering and updating this information through a series of stories. This opening story outlines listing requirements and reviews general policy information, which are considered the most basic yet critical elements to entering and maintaining listing information.

TREND Mobile Now Offers Listings in All Property Categories
Access the latest MLS information for the Multi-Family, Commercial, Lots, Land and Farm and Residential Rental property categories, including property details, photos and listing and office contact information.

Survey Says: Blackberry and iPhone Popular Among Mobile Users
Nearly 25 percent of TREND members, who owned an iPhone and responded to a recent TREND survey about TREND Mobile, stated they did not realize they could access TREND Mobile on their smartphones.

Earth Day 2010: It's Easy Being Green in TREND
After price and location, what is the most important feature to home buyers? (Answer in the comments section.) In honor of Earth Day, April 22, TREND is doing its part to raise green awareness in the community by emphasizing the eco-friendly features of MLS Blue.

Market Report: Overall Sales Increase 20%, 12 Counties Post Gains
Twelve of TREND's 13 counties posted increases in residential sales activity for March 2010. Those numbers were 20.2 percent higher than numbers recorded in March 2009, according to statistics generated by MLS Blue. There were 4,539 sales in March 2010, compared to 3,777 in March 2009. The increased numbers sparked gains in all counties, except Salem County, NJ.

REAL TALES: Spring 2010
by Alan MacBain

Use Firefox to Access TREND

Let Buyer Closing Costs Crunch Your Numbers
You have a lot on your plate when it comes to preparing your buyers for settlement. There are appointments to set and papers to sign as you attempt to dot all of the I’s and cross all of the T’s by closing. TREND’s Buyer Closing Costs can lend a helping hand. When you enter the financial information related to the sale, TREND can provide you with a detailed estimate of how much money your clients will need to bring to the table.

Save Time by Requesting Showings On-line
Meet Anytown Realty’s administrative assistant, Sally, who spends much of her day answering phone calls for appointment requests. All those calls make it difficult for Sally to complete many of her additional responsibilities. The ability to request showings through MLS Blue is designed to enhance the process – not replace Sally. Using the Schedule a Showing link will reduce the number of calls needed to set appointments, make the entire process more efficient and give Sally time for other work.

Improved Distressed Property Data Offer a More Accurate Picture
Distressed properties continue to be a hot button topic in the real estate industry on both a national and local front. TREND has recently improved our method of collecting data on these properties, which consequently has resulted in improved – and much changed – statistics on distressed properties within the TREND coverage area.

Find Listings Using Radius Search in MLS Blue
Following the successful addition of Radius search to TREND Mobile, TREND has added that same search option to MLS Blue. Now, you can search for listings using an MLS Number, Street address, Zip code or Landmark as your starting point.

Smart Decisions for Smartphones
With the fast-paced nature of today's professional world, the market for the latest and greatest smartphone technology has expanded significantly. Smartphones now come with so many different features that choosing the right one can be a difficult, although necessary, task.

Facebook and Twitter Pages for Real Estate Professionals
New to the social networking scene? Looking to use Facebook and Twitter to aid your profession? Here are some real estate-related Facebook and Twitter pages that we think would be helpful or just plain, old fun and interesting.

Watch TREND TV: Appointment Call Nightmares "Race Against the Clock"
Follow the cast of TREND TV as they use their mad acting skills and comedic stylings to parody what can go awry when trying to schedule a showing over the phone. When released later this month, use TREND's "Schedule a Showing" link to request showings on-line through MLS Blue and help save yourself from wacky adventures like these.

Ensuring the Accuracy of MLS Data
Random audits of Active and Settled listings ensure the integrity of information that is available to you in MLS Blue.

Request Showings in TREND and See Savings, Added Security and More
Starting January 18, you can electronically request appointments within MLS Blue. When you click a link, a calendar appears so you can choose a date and time that you want to show that property. This is being provided to you at no additional cost from TREND.

TREND's MLS is Going Mobile - Soon!
Ever drive by a home and want immediate information about the price? About bedrooms or baths? Soon, you can search for this information directly from your mobile device, whenever you want and wherever you are - using TREND Mobile. (From TRENDLink, Volume 14, Issue 3, Fall 2009)

Mind Your Manners When You Post On-line
Social media is a complex topic, so we'll explore it in a series of articles. In this story, we'll take a more detailed look at proper etiquette when using these sites. (From TRENDLink, Volume 14, Issue 3, Fall 2009)

REAL TALES: Fall 2009
by Alan MacBain

Emphasize the "Green" of Your Listings Using the MLS
When home buyers are sizing up potential new digs, their checklist of "must haves" are moving from luxury items like hot tubs and theater rooms to more eco-friendly and "green" items, such as energy efficient appliances, solar heating and on-demand water heaters. Take advantage of the number of ways TREND lets you highlight the green features of your property.

Request Appointment Showings Through MLS Blue
There has been tremendous growth in members' use of vendors or internal software to manage the setting and confirmation of listing appointments and TREND plans to add more efficiency to the process.

Additional Disclosure Fields Offer More Complete Data (Updt. Nov. 25, 2009)
Since it is now mandatory for listing agents to disclose short sales in the MLS, new fields have been added to the Add/Edit Listings page, as well as the property profile sheets.

Being Informed is the Best Option With Listing Syndication
Although it might seem like a no-brainer that broader exposure is the best option when syndicating your listings, it's also important to be informed when making decisions about the sites where your listings appear.

Broaden Exposure of Your Open House with TREND (Updated Nov. 23, 2009)
Enter your open house information into TREND to maximize the exposure of your listings without increasing your marketing budget.

"To Post or Not to Post" Another Broker's Listing
The answer is a simple one. Although you might think you're doing them a favor by marketing their listing, your actions are actually unethical.

Rosenthal Finds Himself in the Market for Love on 'The Bachelorette'
Reid Rosenthal is used to selling prime real estate. But the agent from Prudential, Fox and Roach in Rittenhouse Square, PA, recently put himself on the market in an attempt to find love on ABC's reality TV show, "The Bachelorette." While the 30-year-old Rosenthal called the show a "positive experience," the fame has been a bit overwhelming. He is recognized wherever he goes, and, best of all, business is booming.

Real Tales: Summer 2009
by Alan MacBain

Creating the Right Curb Appeal
You're ready to put a property on the market. Inside, it is beautifully decorated and sparkling clean. That bit of peeling paint on the porch and the bald spots in the flower beds won't bother prospective buyers, right? Maybe not.

TREND Examines Use of "Short Sale" Terms in MLS Blue
Study Reveals Conditions Aren't as Prevalent as in Other Parts of Country.

Networking Leads to Stronger Sales for Some
Real estate professionals incorporate social sites into business routine.

TREND Surveys Members on Smartphones
Imagine you're out with a client on an appointment and they unexpectedly ask you about a property they've seen. You're miles from the office and without the answers they want. Soon you can access listing information using your mobile device.

Disclosure of Short Sales Is Now Mandatory
As a result of the current market conditions as well as providing the most accurate listing information, the disclosure of short sales is mandatory, effective July 3, 2009, when listing information is entered in MLS Blue.

As a REALTOR®, ListHub Can Increase Your Value to Sellers
Gene Millman has embraced the concept of a new technology called listing syndication, or the process of getting a listing's information displayed on other sites around the Internet.

Housing Discrimination Exists in Philadelphia Region
Testing conducted by the Fair Housing Council of Suburban Philadelphia reveals some discrimination based on race, disability and familial status does exist in the Philadelphia region.

TREND Conducts Random Audits on MLS Listings
TREND is committed to maintaining a reliable database that allows you and other members to better serve clients in the preparation of appraisals, analyses and other valuations of properties in MLS Blue.

Realtor.com to Update Condo/Townhome/Co-Op Category
Category now to include RowHome

Real Estate Social Networking: Are You in the Network?
The phenomenon of social networking is gaining popularity in real estate just as it has in many areas of the social world. (from TRENDLINK, Volume 14, Issue 1, Spring 2009)

TREND and You: Building a Partnership for Your Business Success
TREND wants to foster a relationship with our members; one where we work closely together with you as a partner in your business. That's why we focus on listening to you and your needs. (from TRENDLINK, Volume 14, Issue 1, Spring 2009)

Real Tales: This is Who "You" Are
TREND defines itself by who you, our community members are: your personality, opinions and interest. So to find out more about your demographics, TREND conducted a non-scientific, for-entertainment-only survey. (from TRENDLINK, Volume 14, Issue 1, Spring 2009)

Three Honored as State REALTORS® of the Year
The following individuals have been honored by each of their state associations as being their respective REALTOR® of the Year for 2008. (from TRENDLINK, Volume 14, Issue 1, Spring 2009)

Customize your CMA and Flyer Reports
MLS Blue gives you the opportunity to brand your CMA and Flyers to match your company image. You can customize colors, font types and font sizes on your cover page. Or you can select the Multiple-Photo template for a more visually powerful presentation. Save these templates to use over and over again.

Homepage Improvements Create More Market Information, Functionality
TREND's Homepage now offers more marketing information and functionality. Released in March 2009, these enhancements create quicker access to the information and resources you need to conduct your daily business.

Listing Syndication: 101
Some would say listing syndication is the word du jour, or the real estate advertising pièce de résistance. But like listening to a word spoken in a different language, it is not completely understood, and can instill a sense of confusion.

Economic Update: November 2008
With the passing of the current election, the current credit crunch and the subsequent bailout plan approved by Congress, many are wondering about the current state of the economy. What can real estate agents expect over the coming months?

Get the Picture!
Taking property photos that will capture buyers' attention, (from TRENDLINK, Volume 13, Issue 3, Fall 2008)

First Data Sharing Initiative Progressing
Data sharing with Jersey Shore MLS is expected sometime in 2009. (from TRENDLINK, Volume 13, Issue 3, Fall 2008)

Broker Reciprocity Program to Get New Identity as IDX
TREND is giving BRP a new identity as IDX and, in the coming months will unveil new options for brokers. (from TRENDLINK, Volume 13, Issue 3, Fall 2008)

GPS Considered a Handy and Cool Tool
They can be valuable to REALTORS® who Spend Time on the Road. (from TRENDLINK, Volume 13, Issue 3, Fall 2008)

REAL TALES: Fall 2008
by Alan MacBain

The Exchange of MLS Information
Sharing listings with neighboring MLSs enables TREND members to use one system when conducting business. (from TRENDLINK, Volume 13, Issue 2, Summer 2008)

Reaching Out to New Geographic Areas
TREND visits Ocean County members on their own turf. Local training is convenient, signifies start of cooperation. (from TRENDLINK, Volume 13, Issue 2, Summer 2008)

Indicators Improve Accuracy of Statuses
Research reveals many ACT-O listings are still incorrect. (from TRENDLINK, Volume 13, Issue 2, Summer 2008)

REAL TALES: Summer 2008
by Alan MacBain

INMAN Cartoon: Summer 2008
The Lighter Side of Real Estate

Members Feel Effects of OMD
Belonging to multiple MLSs produces duplicate fees, duplicate effort, last productivity and lost opportunity. (from TRENDLINK, Volume 13, Spring 2008)

Real Estate Transaction Standard (RETS)
A More Efficient Way to Deliver MLS Data and Services (from TRENDLINK, Volume 13, Spring 2008)

On-line Classes are a New Option for TREND Members
Taking classes on-line is becoming a popular way for people in today's interactive and technology-driven society to further their education without interrupting their busy schedules. (from TRENDLINK, Volume 13, Spring 2008)

REAL TALES: Spring 2008
by Alan MacBain

State of Economy and Real Estate Market are Hot Topics
Modest Market Attempts to Ward Off Recession

TREND Signs Cooperative Agreement with MRIS for RETS database
The two MLSs will combine listings into a single database, which will utilize the Real Estate Transaction Standard, known as RETS. The platform will initially be used to support TREND's Internet Data Exchange (IDX) feeds and broker office downloads.

Members Make Document Upload Part of Their Daily Routine
Within the first 45 days of its release, TREND members have realized how Document Upload can become the primary vehicle for easily sharing important listing information with other agents. Some, like Ed Hammond of RE/MAX Horizons Inc. have embraced this feature so much that they've made uploading these documents part of their daily routine.

NAR Centennial
100 Years in Celebration of the American Dream

Use Document Upload to Add Important Documents to Your Listings
If you repeatedly spend hours at the fax machine, in the post office or in meetings supplying copies of important documents for your listings with other agents, Document Upload in MLS Blue can help. (from TRENDLINK, Volume 12, Winter 2007)

New Cropping Tool Makes Editing Easy
Don't like the way your images look on your listings? If you've got too much space around the property or the property is off-center, you can use the Image Wizard's new photo cropping tool to edit the images. This way, when they appear on your listings, they will be picture perfect. (from TRENDLINK, Volume 12, Winter 2007)

TREND to Explore Providing MLS Sold Content to Brokers
For the last couple of years, TREND's Board of Directors has evaluated a policy change that would authorize brokers to begin utilizing MLS sold content on their websites. Earlier this year, it was felt the timing was right to move forward with this concept. (from TRENDLINK, Volume 12, Winter 2007)

Work the Way You Want: Set Your Preferences
Supporting your business is TREND's job! MLS Blue has many tools to help you work more quickly, easily and efficiently. In order to work with speed and ease, you should learn how to use preferences to help you conduct your MLS business. (from TRENDLINK, Volume 12, Winter 2007)

Year in Review: MLS Blue Headlines 2007 for TREND
TREND's 12th year was an exciting one! TREND released MLS Blue, a technologically superior system designed to make your job easier. And, we continue to improve it. (from TRENDLINK, Volume 12, Winter 2007)

REAL TALES: Winter 2007
by Alan MacBain

INMAN Cartoon: Winter 2007
The Lighter Side of Real Estate

Member Directory Helps You Find Agent Information Quickly
Do you need the phone number of an agent? Or want to send a quick e-mail? Member Directory allows you to search quickly by a variety of fields, so you can easily find contact information for active TREND members and their offices when you need it.

Building Your Knowledge of Blue
Supporting your business is our job! MLS Blue has many new tools to help you work more quickly, easily and efficiently. (from TRENDLINK, Volume 12, Fall 2007)

Internet Security is a Hot Topic
Protecting your personally identifiable information from unauthorized access is one of TREND's top priorities. (from TRENDLINK, Volume 12, Fall 2007)

REAL TALES: Fall 2007
by Alan MacBain

INMAN Cartoon: Fall 2007
The Lighter Side of Real Estate

Image is Everything: TREND to Double the Number of Listing Photos to 12
As the availability and ease of use of digital media expands, consumers expect a more exciting visual presentation for their properties. As the old cliche goes, "a picture is worth a thousand words." (from TRENDLINK, Volume 12, Summer 2007)

Leaving a Lasting Legacy
Retiring Johnson Won't Soon Be Forgotten; Phillips Promoted to CEO (from TRENDLINK, Volume 12,
Summer 2007)

Leaders See Johnson as Innovator
Those who know her and have worked with her, see Rita C. Johnson as a visionary, leader and innovator in the real estate industry. (from TRENDLINK, Volume 12,
Summer 2007)

TREND Raises More Than $10,000 for March of Dimes
Once again, TREND participates in annual fund-raiser. (from TRENDLINK, Volume 12, Summer 2007)

REAL TALES: Summer 2007
by Alan MacBain

INMAN Cartoon: Summer 2007
The lighter side of Real Estate

Member Reaction to MLS Blue
Despite a learning curve, the system is a hit with TREND members who have turned "Absolutely Blue." (from TRENDLINK, Volume 12, Spring 2007)

Image Wizard: Upload Listing Photos Quickly and Easily
Listing images play an important role in the marketing of real estate properties. Images can help grab the interest of potential buyers and other real estate professionals, capturing their attention long enough to read the details about a property. (from TRENDLINK, Volume 12, Spring 2007)

Preferences: Customize the MLS to Work for You
Perform Tasks More Efficiently and Streamline Your Time. (from TRENDLINK, Volume 12, Spring 2007)

REAL TALES: Spring 2007
by Alan MacBain

INMAN Cartoon: Spring 2007
The lighter side of Real Estate

Seven Easy Steps to Create a CMA
Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) reports are an important tool in presenting your pricing strategy for a seller's property or a buyer's purchase. Revised functionality in TREND's new MLS system, MLS Blue, makes creating a CMA report easier, quicker and adds more flexibility. (from TRENDLINK, Volume 12, Special Edition 2007)

REAL TALES: Special Edition 2007
by Alan MacBain

INMAN Cartoon: Special Edition 2007
The lighter side of Real Estate

Easily Manage Client Relationships
TREND's new MLS system offers tools to help you more efficiently manage relationships and communications with your clients. MLS Blue also streamlines the steps for you to be able to save contact information, search criteria, results and other items that you create for your clients. (from TRENDLINK, Volume 11, Winter 2006)

Communicate with Ease
Communicating with your clients is an important part of your business. MLS Blue has improved functionality that allows you to work more efficiently, so you can keep the lines of communication flowing and makes it easier to manage your messages. TRENDLINK, Volume 11, Winter 2006

REAL TALES: Winter 2006
by Alan MacBain

INMAN Cartoon: Winter 2006
The lighter side of Real Estate

Board of Directors: 2007
Our Board of Directors, known in the MLS community for its diversity, is composed of various brokers, owners, and agents throughout our region. The Board promotes cooperation within the entire real estate community and advances TREND's goal to unite REALTORS®, keep MLS costs low, and provide superior MLS services.

Goals for the New MLS
Release of System in 2007 Will Create a Consistent, Seamless and Contemporary On-line Experience and Offer Tools That Enhance Efficiency

MLS Blue Streamlines Your Work
Search and Report are the most frequently used parts of TREND's MLS system. The new search and report meet many goals of the new MLS: creating a consistent, seamless and contemporary on-line experience; improving existing functionality; providing new functionality; and improving underlying technology. These parts of the new MLS allow you to work more efficiently, so you can get listing information quickly and focus more time on your clients.

The Countdown to a New MLS Begins
The countdown begins as TREND gets ready to turn "Absolutely Blue"

INMAN Cartoon Fall 2006
The lighter side of Real Estate

REAL TALES: Fall 2006
by Alan MacBain

New Website Released to Many Rave Reviews
After training and educating hundreds of TREND members over the years, Rosemary Whitelock, TREND’s Account Executive Manager, knows a good thing when she sees it, and “Blue” was one of those things. “Blue” refers to the color scheme of TREND’s new website, which was unveiled on April 20, 2006. The overwhelming reaction from members is that "Blue is Better."

Putting a Price on E-mail
Much like mailing a letter at the post office, America Online and Yahoo - two of the world’s largest e-mail providers - may soon recommend that companies, like TREND, purchase the electronic equivalent of a postage stamp in order to send e-mail. AOL and Yahoo have announced plans to implement a program that would charge a fee in exchange for special delivery of e-mail.

INMAN CARTOONS: Summer 2006
The Lighter Side of Real Estate

REAL TALES: Summer 2006
By: Alan MacBain

The Bulletin: April 2006 - Get to Know Blue
TREND's Internet Services (website, MLS, Public Records, and My Account) will be offline from 11 PM Wednesday, April 19, 2006 to 3 AM Thursday, April 20, 2006 while we release TREND's re-designed and re-organized website.

Take a Minute to Get to Know Blue
On April 20, TREND will unveil its new website, www.trendmls.com.

Changes Make Site Easier and Efficient
The launching of TREND's re-designed website, www.trendmls.com is just the first phase of a multi-year project to provide members with a consistent, seamless and contemporary online experience.

Lost in Cyberspace
There a number of reasons why you or your clients might not be receiving e-mail from your personal e-mail account, as well as those e-mails that are sent from the MLS system on your behalf. Before you hit the panic button, take a moment to investigate a few scenarios.

REAL TALES: Spring 2006
By: Alan MacBain

INMAN CARTOONS: Spring 2006
The Lighter Side of Real Estate

Donnelly is One Lucky Lady
Century 21-Alliance agent walks away with the grand prize in Atlantic City, NJ.

Vision for the Future, Part Two
Technology Boom Affects TREND's Growth. This is the second part of the series of stories, entitled "Vision for the Future," about the evolution and growth of TREND.

What's New? TREND Wireless PE
Gain access anywhere, anytime with Wireless Pocket Edition. New software allows you to search, store and view the most current MLS and contact information in your handheld device.

REAL TALES: Winter 2005
By: Alan MacBain

INMAN CARTOONS: Winter 2005
The Lighter Side of Real Estate

Board of Directors: 2006
Our Board of Directors, known in the MLS community for its diversity, is composed of various brokers, owners, and agents throughout our region. The Board promotes cooperation within the entire real estate community and advances TREND's goal to unite REALTORS®, keep MLS costs low, and provide superior MLS services.

Giveaways Galore for 2005 Game
Laptops and PDAs Top List of Prizes

A Vision for the Future, Part One
Much Has Changed as TREND Turns 10

In Memory of Mike Casey
The passing of a valued member of the TREND team.

Construction On-line: Marketing Is the Final Step to a Successful Website
As Internet usage grows, an increasing number of real estate professionals are investing their time and effort in the World Wide Web. This is the fourth and final part in a series of stories, entitled “Construction Online,” about building a successful website. In this story, TREND examines how real estate professionals promote their websites to consumers.

Prospecting Limits Now in Place
In an effort to better manage system resources that are needed to generate the automatic prospect notices and to better manage the enormous volume of e-mail notices that are generated every night, TREND implemented a 500-prospect limit in the MLS system on April 20, 2005.

Managing New Construction Listings: Avoiding a Clerical Nightmare
When a new construction project has a large number of home sites, it is a clerical nightmare for an office to enter and manage Active (A) listings in TREND’s MLS system for each and every lot.

Functionality a Hot Topic
A large number of members have contacted TREND's Support Center with questions or concerns about the Customer E-mail Subscription feature.

REAL TALES: Spring 2005
by: Alan MacBain

INMAN CARTOONS: Spring 2005
The Lighter Side of Real Estate

Construction Online: Home Sweet Homepage
As Internet usage grows, an increasing number of real estate professionals are investing their time and effort in the World Wide Web. This is the third in a series of stories, entitled “Construction Online,” about building a successful website. In this story, TREND examines how real estate professionals have attempted to make their websites more user friendly to consumers.)

INMAN CARTOONS: Winter 2004
The Lighter Side of Real Estate

Board of Directors: 2005
Our Board of Directors, known in the MLS community for its diversity, is composed of various brokers, owners, and agents throughout our region. The Board promotes cooperation within the entire real estate community and advances TREND's goal to unite REALTORS®, keep MLS costs low, and provide superior MLS services.

Construction Online: Content Keeps Consumers Coming Back
As Internet usage grows, an increasing number of real estate professionals are investing their time and effort in the World Wide Web. This is the second in a series of stories, entitled “Construction Online,” about building a successful website. In this story, TREND focuses on the content that real estate professionals have included when creating their sites.

Plenty of Giveaways in 2004
From the way Christine Hallman talks about the business notebook laptop computer that she won during last year’s TRENDs in Technology Giveaway Game, you’d think she was referring to a new addition to her family. In the 2004 game, again a laptop highlight's the list of grand prizes.

REAL TALES: Fall 2004
by: Alan MacBain

INMAN CARTOONS: Fall 2004
The Lighter Side of Real Estate

Construction Online: Setting Objectives Lays Solid Foundation for Site
As Internet usage grows, an increasing number of real estate professionals are investing their time and effort in the World Wide Web. This is the first in a series of stories, entitled "Construction Online," about building a successful website. In this story, TREND focuses on the objectives that real estate professionals have established for creating their sites.

REAL TALES: Summer 2004
By: Alan MacBain

INMAN CARTOONS: Summer 2004
The Lighter Side of Real Estate

Updates to Realty Records Continue to Be More Timely
One of the reasons why TREND developed its own public records system, Realty Records, was a long-term goal to provide a better product with more reliable data. By developing Realty Records in-house, TREND can provide and has provided better quality data with more timely updates for area real estate professionals. Just take a look at some of the most recent enhancements:

Technology Becomes Critical Component of Success for REALTORS®
Technology has greatly influenced the dynamics of real estate sales, increasing the speed at which people and information move. Dave Staley of EXIT First Realty, Dover, DE and John Wuertz from Coldwell Banker Elite, Mount Laurel, NJ readily admit that a critical component of their success has been their willingness to embrace technology to meet the needs of their customers.

E-mail Etiquette: Do You Communicate in a Responsible Manner?
As the use of e-mail has grown in recent years, so too has the need to use it responsibly. If you send out unsolicited e-mails, clients may get the impression that you are spamming them and take their business elsewhere. Experts remind e-mail users to mind their manners for e-mail etiquette, commonly coined Netiquette.

REAL TALES: Spring 2004
By: Alan MacBain

INMAN CARTOONS: Spring 2004
The Lighter Side of Real Estate

Realty Records Released
After more than a year in the making, TREND successfully released its new public records system, Realty Records, on January 4, 2004. Realty Records provides data on the primary 13 counties in TREND’s Primary Service Area.

Laptop is Just Grand for Hallman
Christine Hallman had played the TRENDs in Technology Giveaway Game last year at the REALTORS® Triple Play Convention and Trade Expo in Atlantic City, NJ and walked away empty-handed. Not this time.

All, Any, Exact – Buttons Refine Searching
When searching for News or Help documents on the website, you can choose the Keyword or Document ID search. What you may not realize is that there are three additional options to use for this type of search that can greatly alter the results.

Virus Protection Software
During the last several years, viruses have become increasingly more sophisticated. At the same time, the Internet’s ever growing popularity and the increased use of computer networks has enabled viruses to spread more quickly. Check out this comparison of virus software that is tough on viruses but easy on users.

REAL TALES: Winter 2003
by: Alan MacBain

INMAN CARTOONS: Winter 2003
The Lighter Side of Real Estate

Board of Directors: 2004
Our Board of Directors, known in the MLS community for its diversity, is composed of various brokers, owners, and agents throughout our region. The Board promotes cooperation within the entire real estate community and advances TREND's goal to unite REALTORS®, keep MLS costs low, and provide superior MLS services.

LAPTOP: Your next computer?
The most highly evolved species of computer, the notebook personal computer, or laptop, allows you to work without actually being tied to your office. Laptops are considered to be an alternative to buying a desktop model.

LAPTOPS: Compare to Buy
View and compare statistics on four laptop models.

Is the "Third Time a Charm?"
Two years ago, Elaine Funk scratched off her game piece and won a business notebook laptop computer. A year ago, Marianne Miller’s name was drawn as a laptop winner from thousands of entries. This year, it could be you!

INMAN CARTOONS: Fall 2003
The Lighter Side of Real Estate

REAL TALES: Fall 2003
by: Alan MacBain

Find Old Stories on the News Search
Looking for a copy of the TRENDLINK article on purchasing a PDA, but you don’t have your copy of our newsletter? Now you can find it and other news stories like it, on the News Search page of the Member Area of our website.

Agents Get First Look at New Listing Load
Kathlene L. Hanick, the director of relocation and business development for Century 21 Advantage Gold’s Relocation Center in West Chester, Pa. oversees a staff of office administrators who enter listings into TREND’s MLS system. When she heard that Listing Load was being changed, she decided to attend a training class so she could be well prepared.

E-Billing Service Unveiled
Electronic billing is a more convenient and secure way for members to receive, view, print and pay their MLS Subscription Fee bills.

Scanners: The Big Picture
Add eye-catching images to your listings and reports with the right device.

Scanners: The Big Chart
View and compare statistics on four scanner models.

Update Your My Profile
Starting July 2003, you can access and change all of the membership information TREND has on file for you through a new “My Profile” page, right online as needed, without a form, from the comfort of your home or office.

REAL TALES: Summer 2003
by Alan MacBain

INMAN CARTOONS: Summer 2003
The Lighter Side of Real Estate

WANTED: The Perfect Printer
So you want to buy a printer? Well, the good news is that you have never had so many high-quality, low-cost choices to pick from. The bad news is that you have never had so many high-quality, low-cost choices to pick from. So many in fact, that you will have to do some homework to find the one that’s right for you.

WANTED: The Printer Comparison
View and compare statistics on four printer models.

REAL TALES: Spring 2003
by Alan MacBain

INMAN CARTOONS: Spring 2003
The Lighter Side of Real Estate

PC Comparison Chart
View and compare statistics on four PC models.

No Mistake, it's This Miller
When Marianne Miller heard she was the grand prize winner in the TRENDs in Technology Giveaway Game, she couldn’t believe her ears. Find out about all the winners in the 2002 Giveaway Game.

Basic is Sometimes a Better PC
Nowadays it seems that newer, faster, better computers come along almost daily. They’re flashy, shiny and very enticing. But you don’t have to buy a Cadillac when a Ford will get you there and back just fine.

INMAN CARTOONS: Winter 2002
The Lighter Side of Real Estate

REAL TALES: Winter 2002
by: Alan MacBain

Board of Directors: 2003
Our Board of Directors, known in the MLS community for its diversity, is composed of various brokers, owners, and agents throughout our region. The Board promotes cooperation within the entire real estate community and advances TREND's goal to unite REALTORS®, keep MLS costs low, and provide superior MLS services.

Organized Palm/PDA Comparison
View and compare statistics on four PDA models.

PDA Glossary
Understand the lingo of the world of PDAs by using this list of industry definitions.

Organize Your Life in Your Palm
The Personal Digital Assistant, or PDA, seems to be showing up in everyone’s hands. PDAs have the ability to store and retrieve thousands of phone numbers, appointments, notes and now also MLS information. Find out what types are available and what is right for you.

Virus Alert
Three computer viruses have recently appeared in many Inboxes: “Klez.H,” “Frethem” and “Bugbear.” Here is some basic information about how to detect these dangerous emails.

REAL TALES: Fall 2002
by: Alan MacBain

INMAN CARTOONS: Fall 2002
The Lighter Side of Real Estate

Digital Dilemmas: DSL
Do you need speed in the Internet superhighway? Viewing today’s websites over dial-up Internet access is like being stuck in rush-hour traffic. Multiple digital images and large files can leave agents stranded in the slow lane, and fast affordable access to the Internet seems like a pipe dream. Enter DSL, the ticket to the fast lane.

Digital Dilemmas: DSL Checklist
Be sure to ask your prospective DSL prvider the following questions BEFORE you sign up with them.

Digital Dilemmas: DSL Glossary
Use this glossary to better understand the lingo of high-speed DSL Internet connections

REAL TALES: Summer 2002
by: Alan MacBain

The PC @ 20 Years Old
The personal computer (PC) has revolutionized business and personal activities – life as we know it. Its development has been a convergence of three critical elements: thought, hardware and software. The PC turned 20 years old in 2001. Reflecting on its short life shows us that has come a long way, but has much further yet to go.

TRENDs in Technology Winners List!
Elaine Funk and Kitty Jurciukonis were just two of the winners in the first ever TRENDs in Technology Giveaway Game. Find out about them and all the winners in the 2001 game.

REAL TALES: Spring 2002
by: Alan MacBain

REAL TALES: Winter 2001
by: Alan MacBain

Board of Directors: 2002
Our Board of Directors, known in the MLS community for its diversity, is composed of various brokers, owners, and agents throughout our region. The Board promotes cooperation within the entire real estate community and advances TREND's goal to unite REALTORS®, keep MLS costs low, and provide superior MLS services.

WyldFyre Puts Listings at Your Fingertips
There was a time when Tom Burns needed his listings with him, but found himself miles from his office. They weren't available to him because he couldn’t pack up the company database and bring it along. That all changed in May when Tom, the broker for Burns and Ellis Realtors® in Dover, Delaware, decided to invest in the WyldFyre Listings™ program.

REAL TALES: Fall 2001
by: Bruce Hansen

MLSWeb™ 3.0 : New and Improved Features
MLSWeb™ is the region's first Internet-based MLS system available to TREND members. TREND has taken your suggestions and recommendations for improving it, and has implemented them in Version 3.0. This new version improves your MLS access with increased speed, new report options and an improved e-mail feature. Read below to see the latest screens and discover the benefits of MLSWeb™ Version 3.0.

Add/Change Conversion is Complete
This is an exciting time for real estate. All 18,000 TREND members in Delaware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania now use an Internet-based MLS for all their searching, adding and changing of listings.

5 Star Showcase
The neighboring Associations in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, united through TREND, have re-energized the 5 STAR SHOWCASE into a professional education and technology conference and state of the art trade expo for the REALTORS® of the new millennium.

Why Move to the Internet with MLSWeb™?
Throughout the transition to MLSWeb™, our Internet-based MLS, TREND has been asked many times: "Why are you going from a proprietary MLS system like Stellar and Maestro, to an Internet system?" There are several reasons for this change, but the easiest way to say it is - the Web is the wave of the future. The Web is where it's at.

Creating an Internet-based MLS
We believe it is our duty to help REALTORS® discover the technology of the new millennium and use it to their advantage. Below is an account of TREND's journey toward MLSWeb™.

TREND Launches New Marketing Campaign
By working toward MLSWeb™, TREND is taking a logical step in the evolution of multiple listing services. This transition towards a fully Internet-based MLS signifies not only a change in MLS systems, but a new way of doing business. We are also taking the next step in the evolution of the image of TREND. Introducing our new slogan "Real Estate on the Internet Starts Here!"

TREND Becomes a Computer-Only MLS
People have been talking about it for a long time, the paperless MLS. Some predicted it would happen after MLS’s started using computers for data distribution in the late 1970s. But MLS books continued to be published after the computer-based MLS became the real estate business standard. Not anymore.

High-Speed Internet Access
With MLSWeb™ coming, brokers and offices should be looking at high-speed Internet access. Here are the basics on three options.

REALTORS® Triple Play 2000
Taj Mahal Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City, NJ, December 5-7, 2000

REAL TALES: Fall 2000
by: Bruce Hansen

INMAN CARTOONS: Summer 2000
The Lighter Side of Real Estate

INMAN CARTOONS: Spring 2000
The Lighter Side of Real Estate

The Year in Review - 1999
Our fourth year seemed to fly by, marked by growth and progress, making 1999 another outstanding year. As each new year begins, we like to reflect on accomplishments of the past year.

TREND and GNJMLS Announce Merger!
The spirit of cooperation and regionalization is again connecting the real estate community, making buying and selling real estate easier for real estate professionals and consumers. Effective January 1, 2000, TREND and GNJMLS (Greater New Jersey Multiple Listing Service), the regional MLS for South Jersey, have merged.

REAL TALES: Spring 2000
By: Ben Stewart