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MLS Property Information Network Celebrates Five Year Anniversary
MLS Property Information Network, Inc., (MLS PIN), the largest multiple listing service in Massachusetts, as well as New England celebrates its five year anniversary as a corporation.
The company is a result of a merger between the previous Bay State MLS and MLS-1. The initial objective during the formation of the two companies and at the incorporation in 1997 was a private REALTOR® owned multiple listing service that would provide the real estate community in Massachusetts with one database, one set of rules, one form, and one state-wide lockbox system. The outcome and accomplishments since this goal have been more than ever anticipated.
MLS PIN officially opened its doors on February 5, 1998 after selling stock to the Designated REALTOR® office owners in Massachusetts. At the time there were approximately 2,800 real estate offices in the state, and therefore, 2,800 shares of stock were made available. The corporation sold its first 500 shares and purchased the stock and assets of Bay State MLS and MLS-1. When the doors officially opened for business on February 5, 1999 there were just over 11,000 subscribers to the service.
“It took approximately four years of work on the task force to bring MLS PIN to its opening day” said Carolyn Chodat of Classic Properties in Milford. “I will never forget the focus of the initial task force to bring a non-board owned, private MLS corporation to fruition. A statewide MLS had been talked about for years, but making a stock offering of shares to its REALTOR® offices was a novel approach for Massachusetts. It wasn’t always easy, but all in all I am pleased to have been on that first task force, and to have served two consecutive terms as its Chairperson”.
“A huge amount of work by many people was put into the formation of MLS PIN” said Arthur Zweil, Jr., of Barbara Goldberg Associates in Beverly. “The end result has been more gratifying and successful than anyone could have ever imagined. It was a major leap forward for the real estate professionals of Massachusetts”.
“Finally in 1998 Bay State MLS and MLS-1 merged and formed a private REALTOR® owned MLS. MLS PIN is now the largest privately owned MLS in the United States. It has provided the Massachusetts real estate professional the tools they need to prosper in our fast moving industry” said Gordon MacPhee of Stony Farm Realty in Holden and current Chairperson of the corporation.
Kathleen E. Condon has served as President and CEO of the corporation since its inception. In 2002 MLS PIN purchased a building and moved its operation from Worcester to Shrewsbury to provide a more convenient location and an in-house training center to all of its statewide customers. The MLS presently staffs thirty-five employees including a fully staffed customer service and technical support department. They have extended their hours of operation to include Saturday support, and as of this month there are more than 18,700 real estate professionals in Massachusetts that subscribe the service.
Since its foundation MLS PIN has been able to disburse three dividends to its stockholders, as well as decrease fees to its customers by twenty-percent. At the same time the services and benefits of belonging to MLS PIN have increased considerably.
MLS PIN is a member of the Northeast Alliance which allows its subscribers the advantage to share a database of homes for sale with both Connecticut and Rhode Island and vice versa at no additional cost. All Single Family, Multi-family, Condo and Land listings entered into the MLS PIN database automatically appear on the national real estate site Realtor.com, and MLS PIN subscribers also reap the benefits of the statewide electronic Supra lockbox system. In addition to products offered by Fidelity, MLS PIN has implemented its own in-house products to include WebHunter and WebAssist. These programs allow MLS PIN subscribers to send automatic email updates to their customers at no additional cost, and also allow the framing of personalized websites with the MLS PIN data. Most recently, PINwheel 360 virtual tours have been added to the array of services to give personalized, fast and affordable virtual tour options to MLS PIN subscribers.
“From a struggling start-up company to one of the most successful multiple listing services in the country, Happy 5th Anniversary MLS PIN. This is the place to be for all of your MLS needs. I don’t believe anyone can successfully market any home in Massachusetts without the use of MLS PIN. Don’t leave home without them.” added Dave Miller of Hughes and Hughes Real Estate Company, Inc., in Natick.
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