The following is a roundup of real estate technology news:
HomeAway acquires EscapeHomes.com
HomeAway Inc., an Austin, Texas-based international network of vacation rental Web sites, has acquired EscapeHomes.com, a Web site that connects buyers and sellers of second homes and resort real estate. The terms of the deal were not disclosed.
HomeAway’s vacation rental sites include VRBO.com, Holiday-Rentals.co.uk, Abritel.fr and FeWo-direkt.de. The EscapeHomes.com site is undergoing a redesign, and as part of its re-launch the company is inviting real estate agents to receive free subscriptions for a limited time.
Cyberhomes launches ad network
Cyberhomes Media Group, a part of Fidelity National Real Estate Solutions, is launching a vertical advertising network through a partnership with Adify. The vertical ad network allows companies to purchase geographically targeted ads by leveraging real estate search and valuation site Cyberhomes.com and thousands of broker-hosted and agent-hosted Web sites.
Real estate search and marketing site Trulia.com also has announced the launch of a real estate ad network that allows brokers, lenders and other advertisers to place ads on partner sites including Oodle and Homes & Land, among others (see related blog post about ad networks).
SecondSpace announces MLS partnerships
SecondSpace Inc. a company focused on the second-home market that operates ResortScape.com, LandWatch.com and other Web sites, announced a partnership with Arkansas Regional Multiple Listing Service Inc. and the Texas-based Coastal Bend MLS to display members’ land and second-home for-sale listings on the company’s Web sites in the United States and in Canada and the United Kingdom.
SecondSpace has reported some recent layoffs as a result of a dissolved partnership, though a spokesman told Inman News that the company "is continuing to grow and that our business is very strong. The layoffs were a minor thing for us due to one partner changing their strategic direction."
RE/MAX Regional Services adds foreclosure search tools
ForeclosurePoint, a company that provides nationwide foreclosure property listings with property addresses, filing dates and other details, announced that the company will provide foreclosure information to several RE/MAX companies, including locations in Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Southern Ohio and Southeastern Michigan.
RE/MAX Regional Services, which has about 390 offices and 8,200 sales associates in those states, will use ForeclosurePoint’s BrokerOffice product, which offers foreclosure-search capabilities. The product is intended as a lead-generation tool to attract buyers.
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