Monthly Archives: February 2021

HIS Marketing Admin 5:07 pm on February 25, 2021  

2021 MLS Rules & Regulations Update

The Board of Directors has adopted changes to the Rules and Regulations of our MLS, last updated in January.

These rule revisions are mandatory changes set by the National Association of REALTORS® and must be adopted by all NAR-affiliated MLSs, including Hawaii Information Service.

NAR’s MLS policies are established in its Handbook on Multiple Listing Policy, revised at least annually. How these latest changes are reflected in our rules is explained below.

Listing Accuracy & Corrections

The first change expands what is required for listings submitted to the MLS, adding that “participants and subscribers are required to submit accurate listing data and required to correct any known errors.”

Fair Housing Act

In alignment with NAR’s continued emphasis on the importance of the Fair Housing Act, our rules have been updated to note that “participants and subscribers may report alleged violations of fair housing law.”

Rule Enforcement

Our rules now establish that reports of rule violations must be kept confidential, which was already our practice.

NAR has also laid out specific guidance on how many “administrative sanctions” can be placed on an MLS subscriber or participant before a required hearing.

Please note that notices of rule violations are not “administrative sanctions.” Sanctions are more serious impositions of discipline, such as suspensions or terminations of service, processing or retroactive fees, and required attendance of orientation, courses, or seminars.

For more information, please review Section 13.05.4 (Consequences of Repeated Violations) and Section 14.01 (Authority to Impose Discipline) of the MLS rules.

Review Rule Changes in Detail

To review an annotated (redline) version of the updated MLS Rules and Regulations, click here.

You can also download a copy of these updated MLS Rules and Regulations, which are also always linked on the REsearch login page for easy reference.

If you have questions about rules, or would like to report a rules issue, please send an email to rules@hiinfo.com!

HIS Marketing Admin 9:58 am on February 25, 2021  

The New RPR

Learn about the “refreshed” design of RPR, which has provided powerful tools and client-friendly reports for REALTORS® for over a decade.

In this video, Charlie Oppler, president of the National Association of REALTORS®, covers the major highlights of the “refreshed” design of Realtors Property Resource (RPR), which has provided powerful tools and client-friendly reports for REALTORS® for over a decade!

It’s finally here! RPR is excited to launch a completely revamped version of its website. An upgraded and improved version to help you “wow” your clients and close more deals.

The new RPR is cleaner, simpler, and offers users a more overall intuitive experience. It’s also been reorganized to help you find your most-used features and saved items.

You Asked—We Listened

Why does the platform look and perform this way? Because you asked for it! That’s right, the latest version of RPR is a direct result of your feedback. Months of focus groups and one-on-one user studies provided us a blueprint to rebuild RPR to be more tailored to your most-used features. It’s more powerful, more flexible and more… you.

Reorganized, redesigned and refreshed for your success.

We’re really excited to share the new version with you! It offers the same robust data, tools and reports REALTORS® expect, but with several improvements and new features, including:

A cleaner look and feel

The first thing you’ll probably notice is the overall look and feel. Fresh, crisp, inviting! Just a few of the terms that some of our users have used to describe the new RPR layout. It offers users an overall cleaner interface with more white space. It’s also 30% wider with bigger fonts and larger images.

Search all properties from one spot

This one’s a biggie. You now have the ability to search residential and commercial properties from one search bar area. Just toggle between “Residential” and “Commercial” and the search settings change accordingly. (We’ve eliminated the “Commercial” site, which means less clicks and less confusion.) It also further solidifies RPR as the only residential and commercial site exclusively for REALTORS®.

A user-centric homepage

The new site was redesigned with one REALTOR® in mind—you. The more user-centric homepage was retooled for productivity, with your regular routine in mind. Rethought and rebuilt for efficiency, the new homepage offers “Shortcuts” to tools and features, and personalized “My Market” areas with quick access to property info. Simply put, users can now get more done with less clicks!

Powerful and flexible search results

The data available in the search results has been organized in a more logical and visual pleasing way. Users can now scan properties in multiple views, including List view, Photo view, and Map view. This customizable viewing option allows you to display your search results in a format most conducive to your needs.

Working with a client who is looking for a specific style of home? Click Photo view. Want to compare property facts directly from the results view (or print it)? Let List view sort it all down to the grid that emphasizes text. And the map-based version of search results allows you to consume the data the way you want to consume it.

So many map pins, so little time

Map searches are now easier, faster, and more intuitive for all of your property research and exploring needs. Map junkies will surely appreciate how RPR has tamed the chaos of the previous maps, without losing any content. The data layer functions are a big improvement and will only get better as we roll out even more updates throughout the year.

Get up to speed and down to business

Getting in and taking the new website for a spin is highly encouraged, but it’s not the only way to learn the new RPR. We have multiple training and educational sessions to get you up to speed on all the updated changes and features.

Experience the new RPR now

So… what are you waiting for? Jump in and check out all the new bells and whistles for yourself. The latest “refreshed” version of the RPR website is now live at narrpr.com.

We hope that our users will love it. It’s simplified and reorganized with a razor-like focus on new and productive ways to use the platform. You’ve asked for an easier and more streamlined way to find your items, past searches and saved properties. RPR has listened and learned, and with this new update, we’re confident that we’ve delivered on that and much more.

HIS Marketing Admin 5:41 pm on February 11, 2021  

Office Closed on February 15

The Hawaii Information Service office will be closed on Monday, February 15, 2021 in observance of Presidents’ Day. Normal office hours will resume at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, February 16.

If you need help using REsearch, please check out our knowledge base at help.hiinfo.com, or browse our library of videos on YouTube. If REsearch is not accessible, please leave a message on our emergency line by calling 800-628-3121 (or 599-4224 from Oahu) and pressing ‘*’ (star).

All of us at Hawaii Information Service would like to wish you and your colleagues a wonderful Presidents’ Day weekend! Our next observed holiday will be Memorial Day on Monday, May 31, 2021.

Photo courtesy Jonathunder/Wikimedia.

HIS Marketing Admin 11:14 am on February 8, 2021  

February 2021 Training Schedule

gotomeeting-logo-orangeThis is the schedule of online training classes for the month of February. Even if you’ve participated in a session before, it’s often a good idea to get a refresher. Our live trainers can answer your questions and help you get the most out of REsearch. Descriptions of each HIS webinar can be found here.

To sign up immediately, simply click on the links below. If you are going to attend online classes as a group, only one person needs to sign up. We recommend registering for classes even if you cannot attend live, as many are recorded and made available the next day.

February 8-12, 2021

February 15-19, 2021

February 22-26, 2021

Recorded Classes

TMK Essentials

  • Subscribers to our TMK public records service are encouraged to take our online TMK Essentials training. Learn how to get the most out of your TMK subscription on your schedule, from anywhere, via a recorded training session now available on YouTube!

Remember, after you have participated, please make sure to fill out the survey or e-mail us your feedback so we can continue to improve upon our training efforts!

System requirements for online classes:

    • PC-based attendees – Required: Microsoft Windows® Vista or newer
    • Macintosh®-based attendees – Required: Mac OS® X 10.8 (Mountain Lion) or newer
    • Mobile attendees – Required: Apple iOS 10 or newer, Google Android 4.4 or newer

System requirements apply only to the GoToMeeting webinar service, not to the REsearch system.

Questions? Comments? Please feel free to contact us via training@hiinfo.com or call (808) 599-4224 or (800) 628-3121.