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Th e M Rep o RT | 5 some servicers have begun using online versions of such tools as escrow guides to educate their borrowers and create a better experience for them." Zillow Announces Trulia Acquisition The merger brings TogeTher Two of The biggesT companies in online real esTaTe lisTings. F ollowing speculation of a deal in the making, two of the biggest names in online real estate announced they are joining forces. Zillow, Inc., recently entered into a definitive agreement to ac- quire longtime rival Trulia, Inc., for $3.5 billion in stock. As part of the agreement, Trulia shareholders will receive 0.444 shares of Class A common stock of Zillow for each share of Trulia, giving them approxi- mately 33 percent of the com- bined company at closing, which is expected to happen in 2015. The deal's value represented a premium of 25 percent to Trulia's closing price as of July 25. The combined company will maintain both the Zillow and Trulia brands, according to a joint release. Trulia CEO Pete Flint will remain in his current role, reporting to Zillow CEO Spencer Rascoff. Flint will also join the board of directors of the combined company along with an unnamed second member of Trulia's current board. By coming together, the two companies say they hope to expand their distribution, enhance value and return on investment for advertisers, and cut costs while continuing to innovate in the field of online listings. "Consumers love using Zillow and Trulia to find vital informa- tion about homes and connect with the best local real estate professionals," Rascoff said. "Both companies have been enormously successful in creat- ing compelling consumer brands and deep industry partnerships, but it's still early days in the world of real estate advertising on mobile and Web. This is a tremendous opportunity to com- bine our resources and achieve even more impressive innova- tion that will benefit consumers and the real estate industry," he continued. While neither company expects opposition from antitrust regula- tors, the combined entity will undoubtedly be a major force in the market. In June alone, Zillow reported a record 83 million unique users across both mobile and Web, while Trulia reported a record 54 million unique users with limited overlap. By maintaining two distinct brands, the combined company will continue to offer different products and user experiences, attracting more users and maxi- mizing distribution. "By working together, we will be able to create even more value for homebuyers, sellers, and renters, as well as create a robust marketing platform that will help our industry partners con- nect with potential clients and grow their businesses even more efficiently," Flint said. "Our two companies share complementary employee cultures with innova- tive, consumer-first philosophies and a deep commitment to create the best products and ser- vices for our industry partners." Firm Solutions Offers NetDirector Certification Training Through The program, The company offers To boosT efficiency wiTh hands-on Training. A s part of the recently developed NetDirector Certification Program, consulting company Firm Solutions announced it now offers a new training course to educate attendees and maximize efficiency through the use of NetDirector's features. Available to attorneys, admin- istrative and technology staff, and NetDirector technology partners, the one-and-a-half-day Certification Program is designed to teach attendees how to maxi- mize the automation available to help their firms build a plat- form to grow their integration portfolio. According to a release from Firm Solutions, the program will offer hands-on training on auto- mation best practices, including implementing transactions and developing a gap analysis and popular data. Upon completing the program, all attendees will be awarded a NetDirector certifi- cation document. The Certification Program is offered in Firm Solutions' home city of Tampa, Florida, or delivered onsite at a participating client's office. Churchill, Mortgage Harmony Partner to Streamline Refinancing The inTegraTion promises To bring The benefiTs of refinancing wiThouT a lengThy process. I n Tennessee, Churchill Mort- gage announced a partnership to bring Mortgage Harmony's HarmonyLoan Rate Reset product to Churchill's borrowers. As a member of the HarmonyLoan network, Churchill now offers the rate re- set feature on selected products, enabling customers to compare the terms of their existing mort- gage to the HarmonyLoan offer of the day and reset interest rates as often as every 180 days. Through a secure, custom- ized website, eligible borrowers can select the offer and complete the rate reset process through e-signature, bringing the process time from 30 days or more to less than 10 minutes. "The HarmonyLoan allevi- ates the headaches and duplicate processes that riddle traditional refinances, while providing borrowers with a higher degree of transparency and encourag- ing them to take more control of their mortgage," said Mike Hardwick, president of Churchill Mortgage. "Partnering with Mortgage Harmony enhances our overall level of service and strengthens the relationships we have with the community, as well as the industry at large." on the web