Game Changing Ideas Help Realtors® Respond to Challenging Real Estate Market

Washington, May 12, 2010

The National Association of Realtors® has selected 14 winning ideas from its “Game Changers Challenge” to create innovative programs that help Realtor® associations and their members respond to and excel in today’s challenging real estate market.

NAR issued the Game Changers Challenge in August 2009 to its 1,400+ local and state Realtor® associations and affiliated institutes, societies and councils to encourage innovative, game-changing ideas for new products, programs, processes or services that assist Realtor® associations and members with their business and help them better serve consumers.

“Realtors® are industry innovators and the Game Changers Challenge demonstrates NAR’s commitment to investing in our associations and members, at a time when they need it most,” said NAR President Vicki Cox Golder, owner of Vicki L. Cox & Associates in Tucson, Ariz. “The 14 game-changing ideas were selected because of their ability to change the way we do business and help bring long-term benefits to the real estate industry, Realtor® associations, NAR members and consumers. We hope that all associations and members eventually benefit from these amazing initiatives.”

NAR received more than 200 submissions to the Game Changers Challenge, in the areas of international and commercial real estate services, Realtor® education, community networking, special events, leadership development, marketing, customer service, networking, technology and social media. Entries were judged by NAR leaders and a panel of housing industry experts. Over $1.7 million was given to the 14 winning organizations to help carry out their initiatives; 22 runners-up also received $171,000 to further develop their ideas. Winning organizations were also assigned a coach, a successful industry leader, to help implement their projects.

The 14 winners of the Game Changers Challenge are:

Bay East Association of Realtors® (Pleasanton, Calif.) – For its Realtor® Resume, an integrated customer relationship management tool that allows Realtors® to schedule trainings, arrange services or identify association tools they may not be using. Brokers can also use the tool to measure agent productivity and guide agent development.

Chicago Association of Realtors® – The Hero’s Welcome Home project educates Realtors® about working with disabled war veterans to find specialized housing and access government support programs and Veteran’s Administration home loans.

Chicago Association of Realtors®, Mainstreet Organization of Realtors®, Northshore-Barrington Association of Realtors® and Realtors® Association of Northwest Chicagoland – The Community Alliance of Chicagoland Realtors® is a collaboration of four Realtor® associations; while remaining independent, the goal is to work together collaboratively to provide broader, higher quality programs, products and services and reduce costs.

Houston Association of Realtors® – To develop the Realtor® Finder, a website to help consumers find a Realtor® based on several criteria.

Inland Gateway Association of Realtors® (Corona, Calif.) – The Virtual Association of Realtors® will be a dynamic, interactive website that better engages members and includes online services such as podcasts, legislative briefings and consumer initiatives.

Institute of Real Estate Management (Chicago) – To develop I-Learn, a tool that allow members to design their own educational programs according to their schedules, learning styles and technical preferences.

Metro Indianapolis Board of Realtors® – A proposal for NAR to acquire the trademarked term Broker Listing Cooperative® – to replace the current, unprotected “multiple listing service” moniker – and establish it as a brand that represents the integrity of the data and listings owned by Realtor® brokerages.

Missoula County Association of Realtors® (Missoula, Mont.) – To develop Front Porch, a website that establishes Realtors® as community builders and local neighborhood experts. The website will be community focused and include blogs, photos, videos, and other social media to highlight the experience of living in a specific neighborhood.

Montana Association of Realtors® (Helena, Mont.) – To develop Sharing Landscapes, an initiative to utilize current technology, communications strategies, and infrastructure to improve communications between the state Realtor® association, the fifteen local boards and members.

Northwest Mississippi Association of Realtors® (Nesbitt, Miss.) – For its Realtime Membership Communications, a messaging dashboard that increases the timeliness and efficiency of messages delivered to Realtor® members, who can choose their preferred method of communication.

Peoria Area Association of Realtors® (Peoria, Ill.) – To create Rate Your Experience, a consumer rating website for all providers of the real estate transaction, including real estate brokerages, agents, lenders, inspectors, attorneys, title companies, builders, home warranty companies, contractors, and moving companies.

Pinellas Suncoast Association of Realtors® (Clearwater, Fla.) – For the development of Real Estate Quick Smart, a 26-week educational program for new real estate professionals that is delivered electronically and with a mentor’s guidance.

Sacramento Association of Realtors® (Sacramento, Calif.) – The Homeowner’s Auxiliary Membership provides consumers with temporary membership to the local Realtor® association website, including information about home buying and selling, local market and community information, and important legislation affecting private property rights.

West Volusia Association of Realtors® (Orange City, Fla.) – To develop the RE-Worx Dashboard, a Web-based, customizable management tool to help Realtors® easily access and control all of their business programs, including websites, transaction management software, e-mail, social media, news feeds and market statistics.

To read more about the Game Changer Challenge or the 14 winners, visit www.realtor.org/gamechangers. Updates on the winners were presented during the Realtors® Midyear Legislative Meetings & Trade Expo here this week. For more information about the meetings, visit www.realtor.org/midyear.

The National Association of Realtors®, "The Voice for Real Estate,” is America’s largest trade association, representing 1.1 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries.

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Information about NAR is available at www.realtor.org. This and other news releases are posted in the Web site’s “News Media” section in the NAR Media Center.