MRIS Blog

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Keystone and MRIS.COM will not be affected.
We apologize for any inconvenience. Thank you for your patience as we continue to work to improve your services.

Did you know that MRIS has a YouTube Channel? You might ask why we have one.

One of the most common requests we hear from our subscribers is for more online help for the products and services that we offer. We do provide a KnowledgeBase on mris.com that has a lot of helpful information, and our products also have User Guides that are available on mris.com. However, not everyone has time to go look for those articles and user guides, or do a lot of reading.

So we thought that offering short online videos would be a good way to provide online help. We have been featuring these videos on Matrix News and on the MRIS Blog. The goal is to keep each video under 6 minutes, so that you can take a few short minutes to watch a video find out how to use a new product or feature.

So far, our videos include:

• setting up Teams functionality in Matrix
• switching between Teams in Matrix
• the Lingo Translation functionality in Matrix
• the new polygon and radius tools for the Matrix Map search

We hope you take a few minutes to visit our YouTube Channel and see what we have to offer.  You can even sign up to get email alerts when we add new videos.Our goal is to provide easier and more convenient ways for you to get information about the products and services offered by MRIS. Let us know what you think!

Have you used the new Polygon and Radius tools for the Matrix Map Search? If you haven’t, this short video will show you how to use them, and how they can help you to deliver better information to your clients.

You can find more helpful videos on MRIS’ YouTube Channel.

We’ve listened to your requests and created new reports in Matrix! The Print Report section in Matrix now includes Stats Analysis Report and Stats Analysis Detail. These reports are designed to give you the necessary data to complete the Market Conditions Addendum to the Appraisal Report (Freddie Mac Form 71, Fannie Mae Form 1004MC March 2009). Through the use of these reports, you will be able to discover

1. Average list price,
2. Median list price
3. Average sold price
4. Median sold price, and
5. Average and Median DOMM and DOMP.

These reports are not only for appraisers to use, they are also a great basis for providing statistical information regarding market conditions to buyers and sellers.

This report was created by MRIS and the Appraisers Advisory Group to ensure we provide solutions that meet the needs of our appraiser community.

“I am pleased to say these new statistical reports will be extremely helpful to appraisers in preparing the new Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac Form 1004MC. Guided by input from the Appraiser Advisory Group, MRIS has done a superb job of not only extracting the data we need, but in formatting it in such a way that it is easy to use. Furthermore, the reports include additional data that lets us better understand market and submarket trends as well as the previously hidden facts about specific property sales. They enable us to do more refined analyses such as quarter-by-quarter for a particular property type in a given price range within your defined market area. I am sure appraisers will find this new product highly useful, particularly in today’s varied and rapidly changing market conditions.” — Beth L. Riedel, President, Maryland Association of Appraisers, Inc.

How to Use

The reports are available once you conduct a search in Matrix.  After conducting your search, select the properties you wish to include in the report (try the check all link) and click Print Report.  Select either Stats Analysis Report or Stats Analysis Detail from the Print Report list. Next, click Generate to view the report. Using the information generated, complete the Market Conditions Addendum of the Appraisal Report.

Training

Need tips on completing the FNMA Form 1004MC or Form 71? If so, attend the new Market Conditions – For Appraisers class and discover how to find the information you need.

The following will be covered;
Where to find the necessary information
how to calculate the market absorption rate for various periods of time
how to find median, average, and list price to sale price ratio.

Feedback

Your input counts! These reports were created based on subscriber requests, please submit any feedback regarding these reports using the Feedback link at the bottom of the Matrix screen. Your feedback is compiled to help improve our services!

Based on feedback from many customers who have used the MRIS Commercial Property Type to lease or sell commercial properties, MRIS is taking initial steps to revise many of the fields and pick lists for commercial properties when they are entered in Keystone. These changes will include removing items which are not relevant to commercial properties.

Please take a few moments to answer the 6 questions in our short survey. We appreciate your time to provide us your feedback. Thank you!

Did you know that the Lingo Translation functionality is included on all emails that are sent from Matrix, including the auto emails that go out every night? Watch this video to see how your clients can take advantage of this great new option!

For more information on the very affordable MRIS Lingo web site and IDX solution, please contact our Marketing department at 301-838-7182, or email them.

You can find more helpful videos on the MRIS YouTube Channel.

Transform your transactions from tedious paperwork into dynamic marketing and referral tools!
Join us today to:

• Discover how RELAY can streamline your business
• See the advantages of Online Real Estate
• Learn how to start your own online transaction
• Start saving time and attracting clients!

Title: RELAY® Introduction for MRIS Users
Date: Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Time: 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM EST

After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar.

System Requirements
PC-based attendees
Required: Windows® 2000, XP Home, XP Pro, 2003 Server, Vista

Macintosh®-based attendees
Required: Mac OS® X 10.4 (Tiger®) or newer

Space is limited.

By Diane Ives, CRB, CRS, and MRIS Instructor

It might seem as if Open Houses rarely result in a sale, but they may be useful for building a client base and for obtaining feedback on the listing. The 2008 NAR, Profile of Homebuyers and Sellers, reported that “eighty-seven percent of home buyers used the Internet to search for homes” and about half reported attending open houses during their home search process. This figure suggests that holding houses open may have value as an adjunct opportunity.

MRIS® allows you to capitalize on both the Internet Search that buyers want and the Open House opportunity by putting the Open House information into your listing in Keystone. This way the event will become searchable in Matrix (agents) and on HomesDatabase.com (the public) for maximum exposure at no additional cost.

Agents can add broker open houses and invite other agents/offices to tour after the weekly sales meetings or they can add public open houses and invite members of the public (usually evenings or weekends).

To add an open house; log into www.mris.com and click the Keystone link at the top of the page, click the Search for Listings button, enter the MLS#, click search, click the edit icon (found on the far left of the listing result). Click the Open House link, click the Add Open House button. Enter the date and time within the field Open House Begins, enter the Open House Close information, enter Remarks, Access Type, Open House Type, and Open Agent ID, click Save.

It’s that easy. Your Open House will now be visible in Matrix and on HomesDatabase.com for the world to see.

To send feedback on this article, email communications@mris.net.

MRIS System Maintenance is scheduled for Thursday night 2/26/2009 at 10:00 PM.
The following applications will be temporarily unavailable for approximately 25 minutes starting at 10:30 PM.

Matrix will not be affected.
Thank you for understanding as we continue to work to improve your services.

Increase your website traffic with our never before offered special on the MRIS ActiveAgent® Professional website. With ActiveAgent Professional, you can choose from more features, more options, and more ways to customize your presence on the Internet!

All you need is a few minutes to create your own custom branded website.

Take advantage of this limited time offer. You’ll get an introductory first-year price of $599 (a savings of $181) and no setup fee (a savings of $99)*. Plus, you’ll get a never-before offered monthly billing option of only $49.95 per month. This is a total savings of $280!Act now before the price goes back up on March 1, 2009. Click here to sign up for a sales demo on ActiveAgent Professional or call us at (301) 838-7255 for more information.
*ActiveAgent Professional annual fee is $780 ($65 a month) after the first year

Here’s what Jeffrey Owens of Realty Executives Centennial had to say about his new website:

“I recently signed up for an ActiveAgent Professional website and I am very pleased with the product. I found it very easy to set up and was surprised at the number of layout options available. It was easy to use my own domain name and support has been readily available. You can visit my site at www.homesbyowens.com.”

See what others are saying about ActiveAgent Professional.