TheMReport

TH E M REP O RT | 7 face in quickly originating quality loans, every process that can be simplified is valuable," said Tim Scherf, COO of PCV Murcor. "This integration will further enable PCV Murcor to assist lenders by streamlining the ordering process and helping assure that the loans being originated have compliant value- certainty and defensibility." Scherf also voiced his excite- ment to be working with Calyx, whose Point LOS is used by more than 70 percent of mort- gage brokers and an estimated 36 percent of community banks, credit unions, and mortgage bankers. "Calyx is a recognized and respected leader in loan origina- tion software. Their commitment to maintaining a regulatory- compliant system makes this integration an ideal fit for us both, given PCV Murcor's com- mitment to providing compliant, high-quality appraisals," he said. Survey: Realtors Increasingly Invested in Technology REALTORS ARE FINDING INCREASING VALUE IN MEETING THEIR CUSTOMERS WHERE THEY ARE. T he National Association of Realtors (NAR) set out to answer a very simple question: How much are Real- tors spending on new technol- ogy for their businesses? NAR conducted the 2013–2014 Real- tor Technology Survey, which found that Realtors continued to invest in technology for their business in 2013 and spent more than they had in previous years. According to NAR's survey, brokers spent a median of $1,410 on technology for their real estate business, up from $1,122 in 2012. Agents spent less—in 2013, they shelled out a median $848, up slightly from $822 in 2012. The survey found that technology that allows work to be done while on the move generated the most interest among Realtors. "Smartphones and tablets—iPads, Androids, Surfaces, or Kindles— are the tools Realtors are most intent on purchasing; 29 percent of participants said they plan on procuring one of these tools in 2014," NAR found. "Technology has transformed the way Realtors do business, but in real estate, being high-tech can never come at the expense of being highly accessible," said Mark Lesswing, NAR SVP and chief technology officer. "Advances in smartphones and social media have made it easier for Realtors to stay in touch with their customers, but maintaining a strong, personal relationship with clients is still at the heart of the business." NAR's survey found that 94 percent of Realtors use mobile devices to communicate with clients. Realtors spent a median 44 percent of their time corresponding with or doing work for their clients with their mobile devices. Certain mobile devices were used more widely than others—iPhones made up 52 percent of devices respondents use, while 36 percent use Android devices and 3 percent use Blackberry devices. "Realtors tend to find the most value in technologies that allow them to conduct business quickly, conveniently, and on the go," Lesswing said. "Embracing new technologies and online resources is a vital part of how Realtors identify, market, and sell homes and guarantee that they are meeting their clients' needs." Social media also proved to be an important link for Realtors to reach their clientele. The survey re- ported that 91 percent of all Realtors use social media, with 70 percent saying they use social media to build relationships and network. Additionally, 64 percent of Realtors said they use the platforms for marketing and lead generation. Facebook topped the list as the most-used social media platform, with 77 percent of respondents utilizing the service, while 75 per- cent said they use LinkedIn. PrimeLending Implements Global DMS' eTrac Platform GLOBAL DMS FULLY INTEGRATES SOFTWARE FOR OPTIMAL PERFORMANCE. I n Pennsylvania, Global DMS announced that national mortgage lender PrimeLend- ing has successfully implement- ed the software provider's eTrac valuation platform. Engineered to assist lend- ers in keeping compliant with state and federal regulations, eTrac integrates tightly with PrimeLending's loan origina- tion system of choice, CoreLogic ChannelMaster, allowing the lender to automate its previously manual processes and ensure compliance and consistency throughout the appraisal process. "The ability of our solution to effectively handle the type of vol- ume that PrimeLending produces demonstrates the scalability of our platform," said Vladimir Bien-Aime, president and CEO of Global DMS. "eTrac has a seamless interface to PrimeLending's ChannelMaster platform, which streamlines their unique workflow and offers them the flexibility to fully control and have transparency over their in- house appraiser panel." The modularity of the Web- based eTrac platform allowed PrimeLending to implement the solution in phases, limiting the potential for interruptions or disruptions to the company's operations. "Global DMS' eTrac platform has enabled us to streamline the appraisal process for all of our staff members," said Tim Elkins, EVP and CIO of PrimeLending. "We have our own panel of appraisers, which eTrac allows us to ef- ficiently manage internally. Since the implementa- tion of eTrac, we have realized quicker turn times, greater em- ployee produc- tivity, workflow efficiencies, and cost savings." ON THE WEB

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