Santa Barbara’s Multiple Listing Service is among the latest to switch to a website provided by Yardi-owned Point2. The Santa Barbara Association of REALTORS® (SBAOR) introduced SBAOR.com earlier this week. The new website uses data from the Santa Barbara Multiple Listing Service (MLS) to display searchable property listings on a mobile-friendly platform. SBAOR.com was developed by Point2, an industry leader in online marketing and data management for real estate. Website visitors can browse Santa Barbara homes for sale and rent, see property details by address and contact local real estate agents. Search options allow users to view active MLS listings by neighborhood, ZIP code and custom-drawn polygon, as well as criteria such as price range, property type, number of bedrooms and upcoming open houses. Registered users gain access to near real-time updates, new listings, detailed property reports and additional functionalities. Registration is free. “The Santa Barbara Association of REALTORS® has enjoyed partnering with Point2 to create a valuable real estate resource for our community that’s also an asset to our members,” commented Ed Fuller, president of SBAOR and broker-owner of San Roque Realty Inc. “SBAOR.com is the most accurate, mobile-friendly and consumer-friendly website for comprehensive Santa Barbara real estate information.” Using best-in-class consumer interface and mapping technology supplied by Point2, SBAOR.com benefits association members by generating increased exposure for member listings and services. Listing agent contact information is prominently featured next to each property. A “Find a REALTOR®” tool at the top of each page helps buyers and sellers to get in touch with SBAOR brokers and agents. “Point2’s MLS and Association Consumer Portal solution connects buyers and sellers to our members without lead diversion,” continued Fuller. “Whether you’re looking to buy a home, sell a property or speak with a REALTOR®, SBAOR.com is...

With increasing attention and concern about online real estate data distribution practices and policies, many Multiple-Listing Services are seeking better control of their members’ listing information and looking for opportunities to direct qualified lead traffic straight to brokers and agents. After extensive engagement with high-level MLS officials and National Association of REALTORS® executives, as well as input from thousands of Realtors®, Point2 has come up with an exciting alternative to third party real estate aggregation. Among the organizations taking advantage of this exciting new offering so far is The Greater El Paso Association of REALTORS® (GEPAR), which has partnered with Point2, to develop a public-facing real estate listings portal focused on the greater El Paso area. The new website, ElPasoTX.com, provides consumers with information about local properties for sale and rent using timely and accurate data that originates from the GEPAR Multiple Listings Service (MLS). In a move to benefit their 1,900 members, GEPAR created this competitive public portal to send qualified leads directly to the listing brokers and agents. “Leveraging the same platform already in use for high-traffic international real estate portals like Point2 Homes and PropertyShark, the technology behind our El Paso portal is proven and ready to provide results to GEPAR’s members,” commented Saul Klein, Industry Principal for Point2. “GEPAR has always been on the forefront of technology. We’re very happy to have this opportunity to work with them to bring El Paso a world-class real estate search portal that provides the accurate and up-to-date listing data that today’s consumers demand.” Point2’s Public Facing MLS Portal Initiative is a way for MLS’ to directly monetize their listing data on a public-facing website that looks great and is easy to navigate and maintain. This white label real estate sales solution, featuring user-friendly, customized...