PLEASANTON, CA: On April 1, 1999, the much anticipated on-line real estate resource, escrowmall.com, went live to users.

The site, designed specifically for real estate agents and homeowners, enables agents and their clients to search for service providers by the location of a home and type of service; confirm contractor license information; and develop a "quick list" of preferred vendors. Additionally, agents can open an escrow on-line and electronically communicate with all parties involved in the process.

Financed solely by vendor participation, access to the site is free to real estate professionals and consumers. "This is a great tool for service providers who have been trying to reach the real estate and homeowner markets cost-effectively," says Victor Romero, a 20-year real estate veteran who is responsible for developing and launching the site.

By registering on-line, the vendor can select the specific zip code packages he wishes to reach, register his business, and activate participation on-line instantly. Activation fees are currently $65 with a minimum $35 per month service charge; however, unlike many on-line services, no contract is required. The site automatically tracks hits and links directly to the vendor's site.

On the agent side, the site has been a long time coming. In an industry that historically lags behind in technology, the site provides welcomed relief from the paperwork and inefficiencies that have long plagued real estate professionals.