In a year when many high-tech firms tanked and venture capitalists held onto their money, real estate continued with a comforting stability: Unit sales hovered near record levels, home prices generally rose, interest rates were reasonable, and broker fortunes largely reflected local markets.

A number of sites, services and people stood out during the past year, individuals and companies who represent the best online real estate has to offer. There are more names than we can mention, but as we look back at the past year -- and as we peer ahead toward 2001 -- it's time to recognize those sites and individuals who have distinguished themselves, benefited consumers, and made the real estate industry better for real estate professionals.

Best Business Model Transition

Homebid. Homebid was the first company to change business models in mid-stream and took a lot of public razzing for it. A year later, almost the entire sector has done the same, often with less successful results. Homebid has licensed its offer and transaction management software to more than 45 top brokers, making it a player while other sites and services have fallen behind -- or away.

Most Improved

HomeAdvisor came up with three winners in 2000: $100 million in new capital, the Realty Desktop transaction platform, and alliances with a series of major industry players. The site has begun to evolve new features, and is plainly more attractive -- and more competitive -- than a year ago.

Best Bottom Line

HomeStore reported a modest third-quarter profit in October and announced that it had more than $370 million in cash on hand. While the company's stock fell significantly from a high last year of $138 to the high-teens in early January, even the lower share value means Wall Street thinks the company is worth $1.5 billion.

HomeStore has emerged as a viable online presence -- not an easy task as dot.coms everywhere bite the dust -- and is preparing for the future with new products such as the eRealtor transaction platform.

Best Executive Decision

The past few years have seen an array of stock options and investment opportunities floating around, so thinking about a possible story idea we asked if any had been sent to Dave Liniger, RE/MAX's chairman and co-founder. Liniger's reaction: He always turns them down.

"Whether the opportunity is a good idea or not doesn't enter into his decision," says RE/MAX spokesman Bill Echols. "He believes that any such involvement in real estate related entities outside of RE/MAX could create a conflict of interest." Fair enough.

Best Community Effort

We are greatly impressed by any number of community groups that work within real estate, including national organizations such as the Nehemiah program, Habitat for Humanity, and Christmas in April. In addition to groups which increase and improve shelter opportunities, there is also a need to preserve open land, something no one does better than the Nature Conservancy, an organization which since 1951 has bought 11.6 million acres of land for preservation.

Best Government Real Estate Site

For clarity and utility, you just can't beat the VA's home loan guarantee page. No complex scripts and no groveling devotions to whoever heads the VA. The VA gets it. The site informs and helps people with an interest in VA loans. No less important, the VA doesn't hide its mortgage information -- it's easy to find from the agency's homepage.

Best New Idea

Almost daily real estate brokers see their income stream challenged by new competitors and evolving technologies, thus many are no doubt elated with OnePipeline.com, a firm which helps realty brokers originate home loans. Given that realty brokers are at the point of sale before any other loan source, the OnePipeline concept could significantly change the competitive landscape for mortgage financing. Meanwhile the NAR is facing down banking interests that are trying to get the Federal Reserve to allow banking holding companies to own and operate real estate services. Should that happen, the first point of contact for the home buying consumer will be more critical than ever, and OnePipeline could offer the best means of defense against this new competition.

Uncommon Decency Award

Not everything in e-brokerage has gone well this year, just look at the stock market and abandoned IPOs. But to his credit, when HomeSeekers stock plunged in October, company CEO John Giaimo didn't hide. The firm, he said, has problems -- and also outlined why he thought HomeSeekers is a viable company and the steps it was taking to revitalize itself. Giaimo's openness and honesty are qualities which other executives -- so available when times are good -- would do well to emulate.

Best Turnaround

NAR reports that publication operations, which had cost $3 million annually in 1999, generated $1 million during 2000 -- a $4 million change. How did this happen? Part of the answer no doubt rests with the association's flagship publication, Realtor Magazine, and its editor, Stacey Moncrieff. From Realtor Magazine's e-broker study to its list of the most useful Web sites, the magazine's content, execution, and online operations have been terrific -- just look at the numbers.

Best State Association Event

More than 8,000 brokers and salespeople packed Atlantic City's Taj Mahal for a single regional conference in December, a joint effort by state Realtor associations in New Jersey, New York, and Pennsyvania. The meeting drew leading speakers, more than 200 vendors, and allowed state regulators to meet together and discuss regional issues. A clever idea that was well-executed, look for other state groups to organize regional conferences.

Best New NAR Policy

The Internet Display Policy adopted by the National Association of Realtors in May, 2000 mandates that MLS/Realtor associations allow members to cooperate in the sharing and public posting of MLS listing data, also known as Broker Reciprocity. With real estate still a local event, this initiative levels the playing field among brokers, allowing cooperating individual brokers and agents to market themselves using the Internet with the main feature that online buyers want - listings. Broker Reciprocity has the potential to change online real estate more than any other single event because it will impact the way MLS organizations, third-party technology service providers and brokers and agents choose to work together.

Best New Image

MICA -- the Mortgage Insurance Companies of America -- is a seven-member association with great significance: It's member's provide private mortgage insurance (PMI) for some 1.5 million borrowers each year. Under new media chief Jeff Lubar, MICA is vastly more visible, and as a result the use and importance of its product are more clearly understood.

Best Online Public Relations

Each day our electronic inbox is filled with news releases and promotional pitches, communication we welcome. Public relations is one way in which companies of every size can be built and ideas can be spread, so whether from big PR firms or entry-level entrepreneurs working from a dining room table, we look at the e-mails we receive with great care.

Hugh Siler made our list last year and deserves it again. Why? Because he can see where client interests fit within a story -- and where they don't. He generally starts with the proposition that this may interest readers and goes from there, an approach which generally captures media attention.

Published: January 4, 2001

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