Letter From the Chair
As an industry, we made a collective decision nearly a decade ago to upgrade the way we transport MLS data. The RESO Web API concept was born. The early days were tough sledding. RETS was a known entity, and it generally did what it was supposed to. “If it ain’t broke, why fix it?”
Yet RETS is an aging, proprietary technology that can be a stunting factor for new entrants into the real estate tech vertical.
Today, despite some continued use of RETS, the impact of the RESO Web API has never been stronger. We have held firm to the belief that it would get faster, become easier to use and provide the expected benefits, including allowing exciting new minds and products into our ranks more easily. We were right.
We have turned a corner on RESO Web API utilization. MLSs covering 55.7 percent of all U.S.-based subscribers have committed to transition completely away from RETS, supplying data to more than 1 million MLS subscribers, and 36.6 percent of the nation’s MLS subscribers have already been converted.
Largely thanks to interest from MLS professionals from all over the world, RESO has produced a Web API Transition Guide to help organizations along on their own journey toward the API standard.
Our recent 2023 RESO Spring Conference featured this progress, including presentations on the measurable benefits, the transition guide, how RESO Analytics displays Web API certification information, and new opportunities with the Web API Add/Edit endorsement.
There will always be holdouts to the modern way of doing things. RETS may never completely go away, just as there may always be holdouts for VCRs and floppy disks. We choose to move forward.
Rebecca Jensen
Chair
RESO 2023 Board of Directors
RESO 2023 Spring Conference Recap
Day 1
After a delightful welcome reception the night before sponsored by one of our two conference Diamond Sponsors, the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR), the crowd arrived rested and ready for a full day of RESO updates and advancements.
Welcome – RESO Board Chair Rebecca Jensen kicked off the event describing the evolution of RESO’s vision.
“Pain will motivate people until vision pulls people. Vision is not just a picture of what could be, but an appeal to our better selves, and a call to be something more.”
RESO started as a small group of dedicated people pushing to solve pain points. But its efforts are now leading to a greater understanding of our technology and expanding our impact. Jensen noted that nearly half of those in the audience were first-time attendees, a tribute to RESO’s growing impact.
From Pain Points to Solutions – The opening session of the conference included a new concept: MLSs talking about the measurable impact that RESO is having on their organizations. Olga Ermolin of MLSListings, Greg Moore of Regional Multiple Listing Service (RMLS) and Hud Bixler of the San Francisco Association of REALTORS® discussed how standards go from ideas in workgroups to impactful specifications. Examples included the Universal Property Identifier (UPI), private vs. public media, industry aggregate data on the Data Dictionary Wiki, image tagging and AI/media alterations.
RESO Today – CEO Sam DeBord framed out the state of RESO’s impact on the real estate industry:
- More than 1,200 certification endorsements with in-depth reports for 500 organizations on RESO Analytics
- Web API services move data 10 times to 100 times faster based on RESO Analytics feedback
- A 1,000% increase in utilization of the Data Dictionary and Web API in the past two years
- Collaboration with NAR and the Council of Multiple Listing Services (CMLS) around technology details, policies and implementations
- Industry-wide aggregate data on the Data Dictionary Wiki, Provider/Market/Consumer Alignment Reports
Expanding International Impact of RESO – Kat Newel from the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver and Vandana Vohra from Leading Real Estate Companies of the World delved into how RESO can help with the global complexity of language translation, currency and measurement within the Data Dictionary and transport-agnostic certification opportunities with the RESO Common Format for international companies.
The Importance of Standardizing Building Data – Ninve James from the Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY) talked about the need to standardize building information vertically to support multifamily real estate. Perhaps the building allows dogs, but the condo unit does not. What does laundry availability mean? Is it in-building or in-unit? Cases were presented along with possible solutions.
Web API Transition Guide – Mathew Kallumadil from Stellar MLS and Kim Everett from Western Arizona REALTOR® Data Exchange (WARDEX) shared how they set their Web API plans into action for optimal results.
The Great Data Stampede: Managing Data at Scale – Al McElmon of CoreLogic, the conference’s second Diamond Sponsor, tackled another live polling project to get feedback about consuming RESO standard data at scale to show real-time data about common problems. He also shared tips and tricks to handle certain issues while highlighting new proposals to ease the transition to the RESO Web API and Data Dictionary.
CMLS Update – Denee Evans provided an update on the latest initiatives, best practices and collaborations with RESO coming out of CMLS.
How Standards Accelerate Proptech Startups – Perchwell’s Brendan Fairbanks shared the journey of a proptech startup using standards to overcome integration and scaling challenges. He discussed how MLSs and tech companies can continue to thrive with greater adoption.
Making the Case for Prioritizing Media Update Standards – Michael Wurzer of FBS discussed the RESO Web API Add/Edit standard, shared how it is being used to deliver new data fields into listings and gave his opinion on why media such as photos, videos and floor plans should be the first big lift of this important new standard.
The Data Dictionary Workgroup, Transport Workgroup and a delightful happy hour sponsored by Constellation1 rounded out the first day. Links to workgroup meeting notes can be found near the end of this newsletter.
Day 2
The day began with a Real Estate Network of Empowered Women (RENEW) walk, followed by breakfast and breakout sessions featuring a Q&A with RESO Chair Rebecca Jensen, a conversation about data protection with Tom Morgan of Bright MLS, more information about how to get involved with RENEW, a wwRED session with RESO’s Brian Ohnesorgen and a coffee chat with Networking Lounge sponsor Homes.com/Homesnap.
RESO Analytics: Product Updates, Dashboard Walkthrough – DaVina Lara of the Bridge Association of REALTORS® and bridgeMLS and Dan Troup of RE/MAX showed off new market, product and consumer alignment reports coming in 2023 thanks to RESO Analytics.
RESO Analytics Shows Us What’s Missing: Now How Do We Fix It? – Jeff Allen and Aaron Smith of CubiCasa dug further into how RESO Analytics helps the real estate industry collectively map and understand the density and flow of property data. RESO Analytics can help identify gaps, creating opportunities to improve.
How Does the “Rest of the Industry” Look at Our Data? – Amy Gorce of REdistribute shared the opportunities and challenges of expanding the benefits of RESO standards to mortgage, insurance and other institutional users of MLS data beyond the friendly confines of MLS data usage by brokers.
Thinking Big About Media in the MLS – Matt Fowler from Triangle MLS and Dan Ray from the California Regional Multiple Listing Service (CRMLS) shared ideas about applying standards to real estate media. How should MLS and technology leaders think about providing rich media such as floor plans, audio tours and 3D video to customers, and how can standards make it easy?
Next in Interoperability: Web API Add/Edit and More – Troy Davis of Ocusell moderated a panel featuring Olga Ermolin of MLSListings, Michael Wurzer from FBS and Chris Haran from MRED to discuss how MLSs and technology vendors are implementing new standards that create opportunities for interoperable listing data capabilities across the industry.
Broker Advisory: Spotlight Speaker – Broker Advisory chair Jeff Bosch from IRES MLS and vice-chair Nina Dosanjh of Vanguard Properties presented a Spotlight Speaker session featuring Nikola Dosev from Skyslope and small broker/owner, Chad Nall from Suburban Spaces, to discuss how standards positively affect their businesses and what more can be done around listings, interoperability and data sharing.
Virtual breakout sessions occurred concurrently with lunch and featured three topics: Working Within RESO Analytics with RESO’s Josh Darnell, Introduction to the wwRED course with RESO’s Brian Ohnesorgen and a Virtual Pain Points hosted by AJ Sulayman of Canopy MLS.
Tracking Member Engagement: PrimeMLS User Telemetry – Mike Price from Relevate moderated a panel featuring Mark Richburg also of Relevate, Sara Fogg of PrimeMLS and the chair of the Internet Tracking Workgroup, Chris Lambrou from Metro MLS, about the Internet Tracking standard and how it offers insights to a broad range of industry stakeholders.
Workgroup meetings for Research & Development, Interoperability, UPI and Distributed Ledger closed out the main stage meetings for day two.
Web API Office Hours – During the second day’s happy hour sponsored by Canopy MLS, RESO offered this new feature. Attendees brought their drinks, questions and issues to an open chat session with their vendor(s) about their RESO-certified Web API services. CoreLogic, FBS, Rapattoni, MLS Grid and Bridge Interactive were all on hand for this inaugural effort to bring more clarity to a standard that is growing in utilization by leaps and bounds.
Day 3
The final day began with a second round of breakfast breakout sessions, this time featuring a chat about common integration standards with Alex Theg of FBS, more questions about transitioning to the RESO Web API with Mathew Kallumadil of Stellar MLS and Kim Everett of WARDEX, highlights about what’s coming in Data Dictionary 2.0 from Data Dictionary Workgroup Chair Rob Larson, and an open discussion about AI in real estate moderated by Al McElmon of CoreLogic.
After breakfast, conference stalwarts worked their way to the main stage for the Certification Analytics Subgroup, Data Consumers Subgroup and ever-engaging Pain Points session, sponsored this year by the San Antonio Board of REALTORS®.
Pain Points – The primary topics discussed were AI, Add/Edit, the UPI, listing contracts and media copyright – topics that RESO workgroups are actively working on thanks to the feedback received at past Pain Points sessions.
The fiery sessions from years past continue to give way to a more even-keeled discourse, as attendees seem to feel their voices are being heard and solutions are being produced.
Although we highlight Pain Points at conferences, it is a year-round event in the form of the Data Consumers Subgroup and all other points of feedback. We are always open to spicy topics for discussion.
Conclusion
RESO continues to operate in a transparent manner and to work on what members ask for. We stand firmly together in our mission to create and promote the adoption and utilization of standards that drive efficiency throughout the real estate industry.
Thank you to those who participated in another exceptional leap forward. Before we sign off on the 2023 RESO Spring Conference, we would like to thank all of our sponsors who make this event possible.
RESO members will soon be able to view pertinent slide decks, videos and workgroup notes within RESO’s Confluence system. Much of this material can also be found on the RESO website.
2023 RESO Fall Conference: Where in the World is RESO? San Diego!
Registration is open for the 2023 RESO Fall Conference, which will be held October 24–26 at Paradise Point Resort & Spa in San Diego, California.
Hotel information will be provided in the registration confirmation. The hotel will definitely sell out for this one, so don’t delay!
VISIT EVENT SITE & REGISTER TODAY!
Product Updates
Data Dictionary
Coming Soon was approved as a new lookup under the ChangeType field, and the workgroup voted to create Agent/Office biography and media fields (business case from R&D Workgroup).
Web API Transition Guide
RESO has produced a Web API Transition Guide to help organizations along on their own journey toward the API standard. We encourage everyone reading this who has not transitioned fully to RESO Web API to add this to your 2023 reading list.
Certification Update
Congratulations to the following organizations for achieving their Data Dictionary 1.7 and/or Web API Core 2.0.0 endorsements and being added to RESO Analytics:
View the certification status of all MLSs on the RESO Certification Map. Please send any address or subscriber count changes to certification@reso.org.
Questions about RESO certification should be directed to your MLS vendor. Questions about self-testing or the technical aspects of certification, may be directed to dev@reso.org.
New Members
DepositLink
DepositLink offers a fast, secure digital payments solution for real estate. You can request and track earnest money deposits, agent commissions, refunds, closing funds and rental payments from anywhere in a single platform.
HomeTown Association of REALTORS®
The HomeTown Association of REALTORS® was chartered by the National Association of REALTORS® in 1960. The association seeks to enhance the ability and opportunity of its members to conduct business successfully and ethically and to promote the public’s right to own, transfer and use real property.
Jointly
Jointly empowers real estate agents, teams and clients to collaborate by helping to create and compare offers, then to close transactions with efficiency and ease. They also handle leases and tenant screenings.
RealtyTek
RealtyTek offers mobile CRM software solutions for real estate professionals that eliminate inefficiencies and elevate customer experience by digitizing registration.
Welcome to RESO!
RESO@
T3 Leadership Summit
RESO will be on hand at this popular annual think tank for residential real estate industry CEOs and executives in Naples, Florida, May 1–3. The T3 Summit is for progressive leaders who want to explore, debate and be at the leading edge of change and innovation.
2023 REALTORS® Legislative Meetings
RESO will be exhibiting on the expo floor on May 8–9 during the 2023 REALTORS® Legislative Meetings in Washington, DC. Stop by Booth 329 to learn more about RESO, what’s new with RESO Analytics and how to obtain the RED-B designation. Or just say hi. We’re nice, and we like nice people.
On the RESO Blog
Announcing the 2023 RESO Award Winners
We are happy to present our list of 2023 Leading Edge Award and Contributor Award winners for leadership in RESO Web API utilization, leadership in promoting industry education with RESO’s wwRED course and outstanding contributions in a RESO workgroup. | READ MORE
RESO Analytics: Alignment Reports Bring Insights for MLSs, Brokers & Tech Vendors
The RESO Analytics platform is bringing a new era of data transparency to organized real estate. Through a variety of new alignment reports built on the foundation of RESO Analytics, a wide range of stakeholders will have more tools to make data-driven decisions about products and partnerships in the industry. Say hello to the Provider Alignment Report, Market Alignment Report and Consumer Alignment Report. | READ MORE
wwRED
RESO’s Working with Real Estate Data (wwRED) course got another jolt of adrenaline at the 2023 RESO Spring Conference, as we ran multiple educational breakout sessions and welcomed a fresh slate of organizations to our Leading Edge Awards recipients for leadership in promoting industry education. | Start working toward your RED-B designation today!
Three Questions
The Three Questions interview series introduces you to real estate professionals with a hint of personality and humor. | VISIT THREE QUESTIONS
Here’s who has been interviewed since the last RESO Monthly:
- Three Questions with David Gumpper of WAV Group and Gumpper Group
- Three Questions with Bill Boyer of Commissions, Inc.
RESO Workgroup Meetings
Commercial Real Estate (CRE) Subgroup | April 5, 2023
The workgroup was presented with the reorganized CRE Mapping Sheet and went through each field to determine which ones were needed for a CRE standard. | NOTES
Data Dictionary Workgroup | April 18, 2023
The Data Dictionary meeting at the 2023 RESO Spring Conference covered how to use tools such as the Data Dictionary Wiki and how to participate and contribute to the group. Discussion topics included defining multiple uses in a single data feed, recommendations for new fields to help with REALTOR® safety, the budding topic of home co-ownership, new biography fields for agents and offices, and a new multi-select field called ImageContains. The group decided to move forward with defining the fields for the Agent/Office Bio business case and approved Coming Soon as a new ChangeType. | NOTES
Transport Workgroup | April 18, 2023
The Transport Workgroup discussed the 2023 Winter Developer Conference and upcoming summer conference in late July/early August (details TBA). Upcoming changes to Data Dictionary 2.0 and Web API Core 2.1.0 Endorsements were reviewed, and RESO will provide a “DD 2.0 Preflight Check” with past certification results that will let providers plan for the changes that are coming. For current topics, please see the Transport Discussion Forum. | NOTES
Broker Advisory Workgroup | April 19, 2023
The meeting held during the 2023 RESO Spring Conference, as with the past couple of conferences, was a Spotlight Speaker session rather than a traditional workgroup meeting. This time, the workgroup chair and vice-chair shared the stage with Nikola Dosev, Product Growth & Innovation at SkySlope, and Chad Nall, a local broker/owner from Suburban Spaces in San Antonio, to discuss how standards positively affect their businesses and what more can be done around listings, interoperability and data sharing. | NOTES
Research & Development Workgroup | April 19, 2023
The R&D Workgroup meeting held at the 2023 RESO Spring Conference reviewed the Internet of Things (IoT) and Payload Filter business cases and voted to pass the IoT case to the Data Dictionary Workgroup. The upcoming subgroup for reviewing and improving the definitions of the Standard Statuses in the Data Dictionary was also discussed. | NOTES
Interoperability Workgroup | April 19, 2023
The Interoperability Workgroup meeting held at the 2023 RESO Spring Conference included a recap of recently concluded and in-progress business cases. Additionally, guest speakers informed the attendees about potential business cases that would improve interoperability. | NOTES
Universal Property Identifier (UPI) Workgroup | April 19, 2023
Current adopters of the UPI were highlighted as well as the work to promote UPI adoption throughout the U.S., Canada and internationally. Some of the barriers that need to be overcome in the creation of UPIs were discussed along with their potential solutions. An outline of the group’s future goals was presented. | NOTES
Distributed Ledger Workgroup | April 19, 2023
The Distributed Ledger meeting at the 2023 RESO Spring Conference included a guest speaker to talk briefly about the business importance of distributed ledgers and the Web3 environment. There was an overview of two future business cases, Invocation of Smart Contracts and Replication Through Distributed Ledger. And there was a recap of the current Listings on Blockchain and User-Defined Terms-of-Use and Tracking business cases, including their next steps. Additionally, there was discussion about three workgroup-relevant RESO Change Proposals (RCPs) – RESO Common Format (JSON), EntityEvent Resource and Replication, and Push Replication with EntityEvent and Webhooks. | NOTES
Certification Analytics Subgroup | April 20, 2023
The main outcome of the meeting was that data-driven badges such as “platinum” will be reintroduced into certification endorsements. The badges would be a way for data providers to market themselves as certified above industry averages and the group will need to create the metrics on which the badges will be based. | NOTES
Rental Subgroup | April 27, 2023
The meeting focused on the pet aspect of rental properties, including potential additions to the Data Dictionary to help convey more detailed information, pet restrictions and process requirements. | NOTES
Upcoming RESO Workgroup Meetings
If you want to participate in any of the following recurring workgroup or subgroup meetings, email support@reso.org to get started.
- Wednesday, May 17: Internet Tracking Workgroup
- Thursday, May 18: Data Dictionary Workgroup
- Thursday, May 18: Certification Subgroup
- Tuesday, May 23: Distributed Ledger Workgroup
- Wednesday, May 24: Universal Property Identifier (UPI) Workgroup
- Thursday, June 1: Research & Development Workgroup
- Monday, June 5: Transport Workgroup
