Over 120 real estate brokerage presidents and CEOs attended the March 16th summit at Microsoft headquarters. That's a pretty good turn-out for any party when the guest list was less than 200 and most of those gathered came straight from the Cendant Mobility conference on the opposite coast. Not to mention that they had less than two weeks to make up their minds to come and then they were asked to BYOB (bring your own body.)

But the brokers wanted to hear what Microsoft had to say, and by all accounts, they weren't disappointed. Microsoft President and CEO Steve Ballmer, who addressed the gathering for more than an hour, articulated the company's idea of what's at stake for the real estate industry. He then outlined the synergistic business model of the newly formed company - HomeAdvisor Technologies, Inc. This company and its three divisions are determined to streamline the loan process, cut costs and delays to consumers, and let the brokers manage the whole contact to closing and beyond through an integrated virtual office management system.

"You need to be where your customers are," Ballmer told the assembled brokers. "We've brought the key players in the real estate supply chain together to automate the real estate transaction and help you deliver more value and services to your customers. By building tools specifically with you in mind, we're helping you harness technology and the Internet to drive more business and increase your bottom line."

The equity partners of which Ballmer spoke reads like a who's who of banking - Chase Manhattan, GMAC-RFC, Norwest Mortgage and Bank of America, with Freddie Mac providing technological underwriting support. The companies have worked on building the new technological loan/transaction management platform for over a year.

Before the meeting began, rumors had run rampant that Microsoft was going to announce some kind of equity participation for the brokers in a new company's venture, but that was squelched right after most of the brokers arrived. However new rumors persist that a piece of the pie is still possible for participating brokers...when HomeAdvisor Technologies goes public. And if ever there was a dot.com with IPO written all over it, its HTINC. How's that for a ticker symbol?

Until then, there's another bow on the package for brokers. The technology platform will allow the broker to make more money on every transaction, providing incentive to brokers to migrate their businesses and their agents to the Internet.

"The clear signal is Microsoft isn't going to be content until they are number one in this particular space," said an observer at the meeting.

Other attendees were happy to go on the record. "HomeAdvisor Technologies is the first company to deliver a real transaction platform for the real estate industry," said Rich Cosner, president of Prudential California Realty in Yorba Linda, Calif. "I believe the platform will enable us to lower our costs while streamlining the transaction significantly for our agents and customers alike."

"The mortgage process is one of the most stressful experiences for consumers," said Ronald Peltier, president and CEO of HomeServices.com. "Consumers want the process to be simplified and enhanced. Microsoft and HomeAdvisor Technologies have developed the platforms necessary to deliver a better solution for all of our customers."

"The fact that Microsoft continues to invest in our industry helps tremendously," said Larry Flick, president and CEO of Fox & Roach Realtors. "It's very clear to me that as a global strategy, we need to simplify the process and take out costs for our customers. What Microsoft has created will do that sooner rather than later."

Last year it was all about the MLSs. According to Microsoft, this is the year of the broker.

"It's heartening to see the focus Microsoft has put on the brokers," said Jim Bray, president of Cutler Better Homes & Gardens in Canton/Akron, Ohio. "They have a clear vision of where the business is going, and clearly understand the needs of brokers."

Published: March 20, 2000

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Blanche is a renowned author of five real estate books. Her newest, Bubbles, Booms and Busts: Make Money In Any Real Estate Market, McGraw-Hill, was rave-reviewed by The New York Times. She was also selected from hundreds of real estate experts to contribute to Donald Trump's book, Trump: The Best Real Estate Advice I Ever Received: 100 Top Experts Share Their Strategies, Rutledge Hill Press, and is featured on page 68. Order Now Review - Honors In 2006, Blanche was selected among scores of candidates to author two consumer real estate guidebooks for the National Association of Realtors: The NAR Guide to Home Buying, and The NAR Guide to Home Selling, Wiley & Sons. She is currently planning two new books for the NAR and its members.       Known for her keen insight into real estate industry issues and for her ability to make complex subjects easy to understand, Blanche is a sought-after keynote and continuing education speaker. Real estate organizations from MLSs, to brokerages, to franchisors, to associations hire her to provide up-to-the-minute analysis of real estate industry news and advice on how to improve revenues. Her passionate delivery, peppered with stinging wit, is a huge hit with audiences and fans. Don Klein, CEO Greater Nashville Association of Realtors, Blanche Evans, Richard Courtney, president 2007, GRAR "The GNAR membership meeting last week featured Blanche Evans as the keynote speaker. Her comments and insights resonated extremely well with those in attendance and we have had many requests for copies of her PowerPoint Presentation. She was a terrific part of the membership meeting and convention program!" - Don Klein, CEO Greater Nashville Association of Realtors Coverage from WSMV, Nashville - 8-14-2007 That Interview Guy - Get Inside The Head Of Today's Generation 2007 AE Institute Session - To purchase 2006 AE Institute Session - Parts 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 HouseValues Mastermind call - Parts 1 2 Blanche's fireside chat with Jeremy Conaway, HAR - Click here. For more articles by Blanche, click here.