In markets affected by the cyberattack on MLS vendor Rapattoni, NAR members have another way to access listing data: RPR®.

For real estate professionals still reeling from a multiple listing service outage across the nation, Realtors Property Resource® has been offering a lifeline: a way to access MLS data.

Although its systems are beginning to come back online, the cyberattack launched on MLS vendor Rapattoni has created a huge challenge for brokers, agents and appraisers in affected markets. “This outage has substantial direct and indirect impacts to our profession. It has significantly slowed the market and caused tools that our members rely upon to be ineffective,” says Derek Sprague, CEO of the Bakersfield Association of REALTORS® in California.

That’s where RPR® comes in. As a partner with MLSs in all markets that use the Rapattoni system, RPR® has been able to provide access to up-to-date MLS data as of Aug. 8, along with deep off-market and historical listing data, according to COO and General Manager Jeff Young. “RPR® is here to support you and your members,” Young said in an email to the 22 Rapattoni-based MLSs. “As a member-owned and operated data platform, we have a unique opportunity to be able to offer an alternative entry point for your members to access your MLS data through RPR®.”  

A nationwide one-stop shop for property data, tools and reports, RPR® is a benefit for members of the National Association of REALTORS®, available as part of their member dues. The platform includes features that professionals need to conduct business, such as CMAs, reports, RPR Mobile and commercial data and tools.

Supporting Appraisers and Brokerages

MLSs continue to work with partners to create their own workarounds until the vendor issue is fully resolved. In Bakersfield, Calif., for example, the Golden Empire MLS contacted RPR® specifically about support for their non-member appraisers. “We spoke to leadership at NAR and RPR® and, within 24 hours, had a solution to provision temporary RPR® access to our appraisers,” Sprague says. This temporary access to RPR® provides sales, listing data and photos currently available through the MLS, as well as public record data. Since creating temporary accounts for appraisers in Bakersfield, seven additional MLSs have joined the program, giving appraisers the data they need to meet appraisal standards.

Because the outage affects both appraisers who are REALTORS® (members of NAR) and those who are not REALTORS®, NAR and RPR® have taken steps to expand access to all appraisers. Last Friday, NAR put out a notice asking appraisal members in the affected areas to alert their non-member colleagues of RPR®’s program. And to ensure data procured through RPR® can be used in the appraisal process, NAR and RPR® have been actively engaged with lending agencies Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, VA and FHA to make them aware of this bridge solution for the appraiser community. On Tuesday, Freddie Mac issued a notice(link is external) that the RPR® data set can be used by appraisers as an alternative until MLS system access is restored.

“We have had so many folks reaching out asking RPR® to assist in this data crisis,” says NAR CEO Bob Goldberg. “We’re grateful that 97% of MLSs nationwide are sharing data through RPR® so we can be in a position to help.”

In support of brokers, companies like the San Francisco–based Vanguard Properties hosted a companywide streaming session last Friday for agents, says Nina Dosanjh, AHWD, chief technology and strategy officer. “We’re pushing agents to RPR®,” she says. “It’s a viable solution for our agents to be able to continue to create listing presentations and CMA reports for their clients.” 

How to Access, Use RPR®

Whether you’re a current RPR® user or not, if your MLS partners with RPR®, you can see listings in your market through the platform. Through RPR View, users also will be able to see listings from any other MLSs with which their MLS shares data.

• Get up and running using this printable guide(link is external).
• Use RPR®’s quick, on-demand learning resources(link is external) to get up to speed on the platform’s features.
• Attend the webinar “Kickstart Your Business: An Introduction to RPR Residential(link is external)” on Aug. 23 at noon ET.

The extended outage at Rapattoni points up the importance of keeping data secure from bad players. Learn more about how to keep your data and systems safe at NAR’s Data Privacy & Security page.

©National Association of REALTORS®
Reprinted with permission

These real estate pros lead impactful charitable efforts, from fighting food insecurity to organizing disaster recovery, and you can vote for your favorite cause.

REALTORS® don’t just help people buy and sell houses. They also pour their hearts into their communities to make them better places to live. The 10 finalists for the National Association of REALTORS®’ 2023 Good Neighbor Awards are displaying that type of commitment through their unrelenting support for charitable efforts that are getting lasting results.

This year’s finalists are devoted to a number of causes, including fighting food insecurity, helping low-income families achieve homeownership, helping breast cancer survivors or mass shooting victims—and even coordinating emergency response teams in Maui, Hawaii, after recent wildfires there.

“Each year, the Good Neighbor Awards serve as a poignant reminder of the heart and soul of our real estate community,” says NAR President Tracy Kasper. “It’s not just about buying or selling properties; it’s about investing in the places we call home. These finalists exemplify the essence of what it means to be a good neighbor, turning their passion and dedication into real-world change.”

NAR’s Good Neighbor Awards, now in its 24th year, recognizes REALTORS® who volunteer their time, money and passion to make a difference in their local communities or abroad. Nominees are selected by their personal contributions of time, finances and material contributions that go toward benefiting their cause.

Of the 10 finalists, five will be announced as winners later this fall. Honorees will receive a $10,000 grant, national media exposure for their charity and will be honored in November during NAR NXT, The REALTOR® Experience(link is external), in Anaheim, Calif. Five honorable mentions also will each receive $2,500 grants.

Vote for Your Favorite Cause

Now through Oct. 31, you and members of the public can vote for your favorite Good Neighbor finalists(link is external) online. The top three vote-getters will be named as “Web Choice Favorites.” The top vote-getter will receive $2,500, and the second- and third-place finishers will each receive $1,250. The Web Choice Favorites, as well as the five winners of the Good Neighbor Awards, will be announced Oct. 5.

©National Association of REALTORS®
Reprinted with permission

Barb Betts hosts the popular “Real Estate by Relationship” podcast.

Podcaster: Barb Betts, broker and CEO of The RECollective, Long Beach, Calif.
Podcast: Real Estate by Relationship
What it’s about: How to build a real estate business based on relationships
Date started: September 2020

Why did you start a podcast?

From the beginning of my real estate journey to becoming a broker and opening my own boutique brokerage, I always knew I wanted to do real estate differently. I was taught all of the basics of cold calls and farming, but it never felt authentic to me. It took a couple of years of trial and error, but once I found my niche of building real relationships with real people, I knew I had found the secret to making real estate work for me. I use my podcast to share my journey in the hope of inspiring others and to give advice that, quite frankly, I wish someone had told me 20 years ago.

What’s the benefit of having a podcast?

The most rewarding benefit is having newly licensed agents and even peers tell me that my story has helped them take charge of their own career. The icing on the cake, of course, is deepening relationships with an amazing network of colleagues across the U.S., which ultimately leads to incoming referrals.

What’s one tip for success?

Just do it! The best way to learn is by doing. Look to others who are making big waves and emulate their approaches. Never be afraid to ask for help. This community is always willing to share their experiences and tips. Before you launch, make sure you have a bank of podcasts recorded and a list of topics you can talk about. I will be honest—it can be hard to keep it going if you don’t have some content in the bank ready to go.

Betts’ favorite podcasting tools:

• Canva (canva.com(link is external))—online design and publishing platform used for creating digital marketing designs, like podcast covers
• Planoly (planoly.com(link is external))—app and web-based dashboard to schedule and manage social media content to promote the podcast
• Buzzsprout (buzzsprout.com(link is external))— podcast hosting service that automatically posts on the main platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and iHeartRadio
• Samson Technologies’ Q2U dynamic microphone (samsontech.com(link is external))—a digital and analog microphone that includes XLR and USB outputs for home studio or mobile recordings
• Zoom (zoom.us(link is external))—video platform for recording podcast episodes and exporting audio to Buzzsprout

©National Association of REALTORS®
Reprinted with permission

The REALTORS Property Resource® is a powerhouse of data.

The REALTORS Property Resource® (narrpr.com(link is external)) puts instant information on properties at your fingertips. Here are nine ways to get more from this exclusive member benefit.

1. Build a CMA on the go. When you’re away from the computer, turn to your RPR® app. From any “Property Details” screen, choose “Create Comps Analysis” to launch a four-step wizard that walks you through confirming the home’s facts, selecting comps, identifying a price, and generating a report.
2. Save properties for quick access later. Your activity is always in sync between the RPR® website and mobile app. So when you save a property using the website, you’ll see that same property in your saved items on the app.
3. Tap in list view for short-cuts. In the RPR® app, tap the button in the right corner of any property to reveal shortcuts for saving it, calling the listing agent, adding notes, and creating reports.
4. Zoom to parcel level when canvassing a neighborhood. The RPR® app displays homes on a map. Press “Locate Me” at the top of the app, then pinch and zoom the map to street level, and press “Redo Search in this Area.” Pins over the properties display the REALTOR Valuation Model® (RVM®). Press a pin to reveal the home and owner information.
5. Send reports by text message. Many consumers prefer to communicate by text. Use the app’s Share button to text an RPR® report to your client. The link will be active for 30 days.
6. Create buyer tours. The buyer tour report enables you to select properties, choose the most convenient order to tour them, and create a colorful, client-friendly report.
7. Use 3D-touch shortcuts. When you’re standing outside a property, press and hold the RPR® app icon to display a shortcut with buttons to This Property, My Listings, Recent Reports, Saved Searches, and Share. Choose This Property to experience 3D-touch, available on iOS 10 and later and Android 7.1 and later.
8. Do advanced searches. Need to dig deeper on a property? Swipe the RPR® app’s home screen to access the Search screen. Press Advanced Search to access recent searches, saved searches, and advanced searches—such as by APN, owner name, school, or even your own listings.
9. Display full-screen photos. If photos displayed on the app’s Property Details page aren’t large enough, simply hold your phone in landscape mode to display the photo full-screen. Rotate back to the portrait orientation, and the property record appears again.

©National Association of REALTORS®
Reprinted with permission

Learn key strategies and products for making sure a smart home and all its devices are safe from hackers.

Securing your smart home starts at the front door, says Christopher Dow, CTO of Smart Residentials at ASSA ABLOY(link is external), the parent company of August + Yale(link is external).

Homeowners should consider a smart lock that gives them 24/7 control and visibility over their front door, Dow says. This type of lock will allow them to grant guest access or monitor activity all from their phone, wherever they are. Installing a doorbell camera will also allow homeowners to keep an eye on their porch and virtually welcome visitors from your phone, he adds.

“Make sure you enable privacy practices like two-factor authentication on all your smart device accounts. This can help prevent hacking and keep your home safe on the software side, not just the mechanical one,” Dow says.

As homeowners add increasingly more smart devices, it’s a best practice to put them on a separate network where the devices are isolated from each other and only have access to the internet, says David Nguyen Regional Product Manager for Linksys(link is external) Business Products Belkin International. The Linksys Cloud Manager(link is external) includes features like Wireless Client Isolation and Isolate Wireless from Wired LAN. These ensure that smart devices can talk to the cloud and internet but can’t interact with anything else, providing optimal security, Nguyen says.

“Having a router is parallel to locking the front door of your home—it will keep most intruders out,” Nguyen says. “Putting your smart devices in a separate network is like putting those items in a vault inside the home. It acts as another barrier that an intruder would have to overcome it something gets compromised.”

Homeowners should have:

1. Main network
2. Guest network
3. Surveillance camera network
4. Internet of things smart-device networks (e.g., robot vacuum, thermostat or lights).

“It’s more complex to configure, but it’s worth the effort,” Nguyen says.

Manufacturers regularly update software and firmware to patch potential security threats, and homeowners should be sure to periodically check for updates and audit what information is being shared.

Why Purchasing Your Own Modem and Router Is Best

Every internet service provider is different, but generally customers receive a basic modem for a rental fee or a modem, often combined with a router with Wi-Fi, for a higher rental fee. But Nguyen recommends that homeowners buy their own modem and router, especially if they plan to stay in their home for a long time.

“You’ll get better performance and a better user and configuration experience buying your own router—and you’ll save on the monthly rental fee,” he says. “You also have full control over your network configuration, whereas you may have to go through the ISP to make changes to your ISP router.”

Often, when a data breach occurs, hackers will try to use the username and password for other accounts and services that you may be signed up for. By using a unique password for each application, you’ll mitigate the risk of a hacker gaining access to all your accounts. Be sure to change the default password—often it can be as simple as “admin” or printed right on the bottom of the device itself.

Investing in a Firewall

Firewalla(link is external) is a smart firewall that plugs into any router to enhance security of home networks, including the plethora of smart-home devices connected to them that most households now use. It monitors all devices on the network, blocking unwanted sites and ads, with customizable parental controls, and a personal VPN server for security away from home.

It monitors network traffic and uses an “intrusion detection system” and an “intrusion prevention system” to identify and stop any suspicious activities. Users receive an alert from the Firewalla app if any devices on their network start abnormal or unwanted activities, such as uploading data to a server in a particular country or connecting to a video streaming site. Users can opt to stop the activity through the app, or if they decide the activity is normal, they can mute the alert, so they do not receive it in the future. Firewalla will also automatically block hacking attempts.

©National Association of REALTORS®
Reprinted with permission

A new Google feature may help house hunters get an aerial look at neighborhoods and communities before they visit in person. Some recent descriptions of the new feature describe it as a 3D view that is like flying a drone over an area.

The Google Maps’ new “immersive view(link is external)” feature is limited to only a few markets so far, such as New York and Los Angeles, but Google says more areas will be added soon.

Google Maps’ immersive view displays an aerial street view that allows users to drop to street level for a closer look. Users can see nearby areas. The feature allows users to better understand an area’s topography and rotate their perspective to look between buildings, to see nearby restaurants, and to scan the surroundings.

The images in immersive view are all computer-generated, combining Google’s satellite and street view images. “We’re able to fuse those together so that we can actually understand, okay, these are the heights of the buildings,” Liz Reid, vice president of engineering at Google, told The Verge.

©National Association of REALTORS®
Reprinted with permission