Inman News announced their annual nominations for the Finalists for their prestigious Inman 2009 Innovator Awards. The category winners of the 12th annual awards will be announced in San Francisco in August during the Inman Real Estate Connect Conference August 5th - 7th. According to Inman, the award "honors companies that use technology and innovation to enhance the real estate transaction process and improve the overall experience for consumers and real estate professionals."

MetroBrokersTV.com was announced to be a finalist in the category of Most Innovative Media Site, which is an extremely exciting recognition. MetroBrokersTV is indeed an innovative corporate portal for Metro Brokers to take their Internet presence to the next level. It is a complete Web 2.0 PR machine - with built in video syndication, custom SEO pinging services for Metro Brokers to increase their Internet brand presence. MetroBrokersTV is a custom built blogging platform, with custom built video players for all MetroBrokersTV productions. In essence, it is a complete corporate IPTV portal to expose the organization in the totally new transparent media trend that is spreading throughout the entire real estate industry.

MetroBrokersTV was built to increase visibility of the brand in the new world of SEO and search. Besides extensive online storage for the player videos, the built live streaming capabilities also provide unique educational and meeting experiences. It also offers an easy outlet for that human touch through video that potential real estate clients are looking for - there is no learning curve. Brokers that are new to the tech side of life, so to speak, will be able to advance quickly and easily as well, and this has become such an important area of focus in today's competitive real estate arena. This is exactly what Colorado real estate consumers are looking for in their next real estate agent and we have it, all in one package.

Congratulations to all of the nominees. MetroBrokersTV is thrilled to be amongst such creative, innovative, forward thinking businesses throughout the entire real estate industry. And of course, MetroBrokersTV will be broadcasting live from the Inman Real Estate Connect conference here on MetroBrokersTV and BrokerIPTV, so tune in live as the winners of all of the categories are announced.

Here is the entire list of 2009 Inman Innovator Awards finalists:

Most innovative brokerage or franchise
@properties
Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate
Coldwell Banker
John L. Scott
Nest Realty Group
Redfin

Most innovative new technology
Closing.com
Dwellicious
SmarterAgent
Walk Score
Zillow iPhone app

Most innovative Web service
Animoto
FranklyMLS.com
Proxio
SmartZip
Ubertor

Most innovative blog
Clean Slate Blog -- Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate
IanWatt.ca video blog
MyTechOpinion.com blog
The Phoenix Real Estate Guy blog
Trust Me I'm a Realtor blog -- Frankly Realty

Most innovative media site
Breaking News local media sites -- Domus Consulting
TheClozing.com
Coldwell Banker On Location
MetroBrokersTV.com
RealEstateTalk.com.au

Posted in Metro Brokers, Real Estate Industry, Technology And YOU, Web 2.0 Marketing, National News

BrokerIPTV: Today we are talking with Mike Bradley from Metro Brokers Eagle View Properties and Mike, thanks for being with us. How are you?

Mike Bradley: Thank you, I am very good.

BrokerIPTV: We are talking about a topic that's kind of near and dear to my heart. I am a fitness junkie and it sounds like you are going to put on a triathlon. Is that right?

Mike Bradley: Yeah. This will be first our annual triathlon.

BrokerIPTV: And how did the idea come about? Why a triathlon?

Mike Bradley: Well, Metro Brokers really want to appeal to a new market segment. We had traditionally had golf tournament and it is kind of difficult to get people participate in golf tournament. There is a lot of golf tournaments to choose from. So, we said, "Well, what's something new that we could get a new audience, new participation and still benefit Special Olympics and continue our 10 year partnership with them."

BrokerIPTV: Talk a little bit about that, what's that all about and how you benefit them.

Mike Bradley: All proceeds will be benefitting Special Olympics of Colorado.

BrokerIPTV: Wow. Great.

Mike Bradley: So, for a first year event, we don't really know what to expect.

BrokerIPTV: Right.

Mike Bradley: As a charity event, it's a little bit different from the competitive race, the whole goal is to get it done, prove to yourself you can do something and help a worthwhile charity.

BrokerIPTV: And when you were coming up with this idea in the conference room with all the people involved, did anyone push back and go, "Ooh, exercise?"

Mike Bradley: Yeah. Realtors® are traditionally older, somewhat overweight, in some places and so this is definitely something that's going to change attitudes and it's really appealing to everybody. It's not just real estate agents. In fact, we don't know how many Metro Brokers will be doing it, but that's not our target market. This is just for the public and for the benefit.

BrokerIPTV: So, the public can participate in addition to the Realtors®?

Mike Bradley: Oh yeah, definitely.

BrokerIPTV: Okay. Tell me a little bit about the format?

Mike Bradley: Well, let's say sprint triathlon and it starts with an open water swim in Cherry Creek Reservoir.

BrokerIPTV: How far?

Mike Bradley: It's half mile.

BrokerIPTV: Okay.

Mike Bradley: So, that's about 880 yards or approximately 34 lengths of the swimming pool and then that's followed by a 12 mile bike, and a three mile run.

BrokerIPTV: Okay.

Mike Bradley: And then we have the finish line and we have a catered dinner from Lodo's Bar And Grill and beer and party and music and awards and everything.

BrokerIPTV: So, you can reward yourself if you complete this thing.

Mike Bradley: Yeah.

BrokerIPTV: When is it?

Mike Bradley: It's on Friday, June 5th and it starts at 6 p.m. So, you don't even have to wake up early.

BrokerIPTV: So, it's appropriate we are talking about this now. So, we give people plenty of time to get in shape and get ready for this. Is that right?

Mike Bradley: Yeah, you need about three months of good training.

BrokerIPTV: All right. What are the critical things that have to happen to make this successful in the first year?

Mike Bradley: We have been very lucky to bring on Ian Adamson, who has... he is going to be our race director and producer. He has produced over 36 events around the world, including the 24 hours of triathlon at the Boulder Trail Triathlon and then multiple iron man type events around the world. So, his expertise and the USAT sanctioning that we are going to get along with that really will make this a success.

BrokerIPTV: I think it's a different idea. I applaud you guys for thinking out of the box. I mean are you ready?

Mike Bradley: I am getting there.

BrokerIPTV: All right.

Mike Bradley: Work on the run.

BrokerIPTV: Now, if somebody wants to participate because it's absolutely a worthwhile event, how do they find out more information?

Mike Bradley: All the information is posted at metrobrokerstriathlon.com and there is online registration, mail in registration, and we are even looking for volunteers.

BrokerIPTV: Excellent. Mike, great event. Thanks so much. Appreciate you stopping by.

Mike Bradley: Thank you. Thanks.

Posted in Metro Brokers, Real Estate Industry

Brian Macmillan from Metro Brokers is a great young example of a proactive business generation lifestyle. Are you still waiting around at home for someone to call you about buying or selling a house? You've all heard about "joining a leads group". This story will get a couple things straight. #1, you have to go out and get business. #2 They are not called leads Groups #3 Business is out there for the taking. #4 You need to take the bull by the horns and start your own club.

BrokerIPTV: Welcome to Broker IPTV and today we are talking with Brian Macmillan and this is part of our Gen X Gen Y section in Broker IPTV where we talk to some of the younger producers and I mean people that are actually producing in the business. Brian is with Metro Brokers and Brian, why don't you tell us a little bit about yourself, like how long you have been in the business?

Brian MacMillan: This is actually the beginning of my fourth year in the business.

BrokerIPTV :Great. So, tell me a little bit about your business? Where does most of your leads... where do most of your leads come from? Is it via Internet...?<more>

Read more »

Posted in Headlines, Metro Brokers, Traditional Marketing, Gen X-Y

BrokerIPTV: Maurice Giroux of Metro Brokers caught you here on the forward Inman Connect in New York City 2008. I know I saw you the other day at Brad Inman's opening speech and he was talking about some of the past themes, which is social networking, video transparency in the market. How do those things relate to your role back in Colorado?

Maurice Giroux: Well, there is no down market, video is doubling the way of the future and Metro Brokers, we are going to take a real close look at that, this next few months and that is going to be part of our advertising programs.

BrokerIPTV: And what you seen as far as transparency, blogs what is your opinion and take away on blogs here?

Maurice Giroux: If you are not blogging now, you better start. I came to my first Inman Conference a year ago and did not even know what a blog was at that time. I started blogging just a few months ago and right now I am number one in my market place.

BrokerIPTV: Wow, fantastic.

Maurice Giroux: Yeah, it is fun, it takes time, but it is lot of fun.

BrokerIPTV: So what is your take on the market, you have seen what Brad is talking about?

Maurice Giroux: As you probably know market in Colorado, we have a lot short-sales, a lot of foreclosures, there has been a lot of doom and gloom talk now for years, but the truth is we are doing better than most parts of the country. Yeah, there is a little parts of New York, well little New York is doing well and but in general they are talking about prices dropping anywhere from 10% to 40%, huge. I dont think we are going to see that in Colorado and lot the express that I have been talk to, say the same thing, they hearing good things about Colorado.

BrokerIPTV: Yeah that is fantastic; I wish the press back home, we get the same news out, alright?

Maurice Giroux: Absolutely, it is time to start doing something and I think we are at the bottom of the market and even though again the media, like you say in general, they always paying poor picture of way things are, that is not the case, it is time to act. I think depending on what a MSAs you look throughout the nation, a lot of times you are not talking about Dallas, you are not talking about Seattle, you are not talking about North Carolina, Denver. The numbers we have seen is saw at most year-to-year change on sold values with incentives, is less than 1% in Colorado which is fantastic really.

BrokerIPTV: Exactly, right Moe, I have enjoyed talking with you.

Maurice Giroux: Great seeing you at Inman.

BrokerIPTV: Thank you. Alright we will see you next time

Maurice Giroux: Alright.

Posted in Headlines, Metro Brokers, Blogging, Real Estate Market Conditions, Colorado Association Of Realtors, Real Estate Industry, Real Estate Industry Trends, Inman Real Estate Connect, Technology And YOU

William Roberts -Denver Board Is About "providing the best resources possible"

William (Will) Roberts is With Metro Brokers BrokerforDenver.com

BrokerIPTV : Today we are talking with William Roberts, President elected Denver Board of Realtors, welcome, glad you are here.

William Robert: Glad to be here.

BrokerIPTV : Talk about issues, water shed issues, hot button issues, what is on the mind at the Denver Board in 2008.

William Robert: Sure, there is four primary issues on the mind right now, not just Denver Board of Realtors, but also the Colorado Association Realtors. One of those issues being the tenant-land lord issues, you want to make sure that, tenants should be interviewed fairly and the same time protecting land lords, another issue is 1031 exchanges, couple of years ago, there is 1031 funds that were pretty much embezzled away from the appropriate clients. So we want to make sure that there is a possible like regulation in there for some of those 1031 exchange companies.

BrokerIPTV : Want to talk about the board itself an organization's local organizations, what do you think is the future of Local Board Organizations?

William Roberts: Well it looks like people talking about consolidations. It is really more of economies scale and power in numbers, so I think that is one dynamic that we may see of the next few years.

BrokerIPTV : Strategies for the Denver Board in 2008, what are they?

William Roberts: Well one of our visions is mixture that we were providing the best resources possible for members and so our strategies are the very consistent with the past , website, making sure that we were broadcasting for example webinars been able to provide more links directly to our members, course educations always fundamental for us and government affairs making sure that were are watching the zoning issues and protecting our members and their clients.

BrokerIPTV : You have a long history of been a participant in various boards and committees and so forth are you sure you know what you are getting in to President elect?

William Roberts: I am looking forward to it, it is going to quite time commitment, it's already quite a time commitment now, I am sure you can imagine, so I am looking forward to it, I think it is going to be a lot of fun and service our firm is already a leading service.

BrokerIPTV : Well fantastic talking with you, great meeting you, thank you. I appreciate it.

William Roberts: Thank you, glad to be here.

Posted in Headlines, Metro Brokers, Real Estate Industry, Gen X-Y