MLS-Today, an Internet-based multiple listing services provider has announced an important strategic alliance with Acxiom Corporation, which maintains the popular DataQuick real estate transaction database.

Under the agreement, announced jointly by Ralph Marotti of Acxiom and Steve Holman of MLS-Today, the companies will create a direct link from MLS-Today into DataQuick's vast real estate data warehouse, thereby creating seamless access to complete and up-to-date, tax, loan and other property information.

This partnership marks an important leap toward on-line transaction information search and management for brokers and agents, and another move away from traditional MLS data management.

With some MLS information systems failing to allow brokers and agents to communicate with consumers on-line in real time while searching, posting and manipulating listing data, the door has been opened to third-party Internet service providers to come in and offer more advanced services to tech-ready agents. MLS-Today and DataQuick have created an alternative means of providing quick information service to agents and their customers who wish to use the Internet to communicate and manipulate listing data in real time.

One of the most important advantages that an MLS system offers is easy listing data management, retrieval and manipulation. Yet some new system conversions are no longer including historical data as standard in new search fields of data. Some systems are being "phased" into MLS organizations, with the Internet application positioned as the last piece to go in. Phased solutions favor tech-deficient agents, but are a disadvantage to agents who use the Internet to market and communicate to customers.

If an Internet overlay system can include historical data conversion and combine data management with the convenience of a browser, more brokers and agents will choose to adopt the Internet and companies such as MLS-Today as an MLS alternative, simply for the convenience. The addition of tax roll data and comparables as supplied by DataQuick makes it even more convenient.

MLS-Today offers an Internet solution that can be used to augment an outdated legacy MLS system or can serve as the primary MLS system for associations wishing to free themselves of the headaches and costs involved in maintaining their own hardware and software.

MLS-Today services are provided on a monthly subscription basis and can be tailored to the specific needs of individual associations. Users require nothing more than a browser and net connection to use the system from any point on earth, eliminating the need for extensive purchase and training on proprietary software.

MLS-Today offers full multimedia support, e-mail listings notification, a forms library for downloading, and off-line access to listings.

Using the company's unique "Data Funnel, " which transitions back end system data to front end Internet applications, MLS-Today boasts that it can have MLS customers up and running on the Internet in a matter of weeks.

Published: April 7, 1999

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