Real estate search and marketing company Trulia is making strides in its push to cooperate with multiple listing services nationwide in order to better the quality of listing information online.

The company announced this week that it has signed up all five MLSs in the San Francisco Bay Area to its quality assurance system, Trulia Direct Reference, The system allows MLSs, brokers and agents to identify discrepancies between real estate listings from MLSs and listings on third-party syndication sites.

Trulia introduced the system last year. Participating MLSs provide Trulia Direct Reference with accurate data on factors such as list price and status. The system then automatically reports discrepancies back to the MLS, broker and listing agent. The agent then has the option to visit the third-party sources and correct the information. MLSs can participate in the system at no cost whether or not they syndicate listings to Trulia.

The five participating Bay Area MLSs are East Bay Regional Data Inc. (EBRDI), San Francisco Association of Realtors, MLSListings, Bay Area Real Estate Information Services (BAREIS), and Bay East Association of Realtors. MLSListings and BAREIS also syndicate listings to Trulia.

EBRDI was the latest to sign up. “TDR will ensure that our listings are accurately displayed and provide the highest quality exposure and experience for our members,” said Rosemary Scardina, CEO of EBRDI, in a statement.

With all five MLSs participating, “Bay Area homebuyers, sellers and renters will have access to high quality property information to help them complete their home search,” said Matt Dollinger, Trulia’s head of industry relations, in a statement.

Listings quality is a long-standing issue across the online real estate space. Some brokerages have cited listing inaccuracy as one of the reasons they’ve stopped syndicating listings to Trulia and other third-party sites. Trulia and rival Zillow have recently offered brokers incentives to feed the portals listings data directly and both companies say they prioritize listing information that comes directly from MLSs and brokers.

In a letter to brokers in May, Trulia CEO Pete Flint emphasized the company’s desire to partner with the industry.

“We know that direct data feeds from brokers drastically improve data accuracy. We ask for your help and support, and are committed to continue to work with the industry to improve data quality on all levels,” he said.

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Article source: http://www.inman.com/news/2012/09/28/trulia-working-with-more-mlss-listing-data-quality

Manatt, Phelps Phillips, LLP, announced that Kristina D. Lawson has
joined the San Francisco office as a partner in the Real Estate and Land
Use practice. Lawson comes to the firm from Miller Starr Regalia, where
she was a shareholder.

Lawson has substantial experience in obtaining land use entitlements and
permits from local, state and federal agencies for real estate and
energy projects, and has a sophisticated understanding of matters
involving the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Additionally, Lawson has
extensive environmental compliance experience and frequently serves as
an advisor to public and private clients on water quality, air quality,
hazardous materials, and other regulatory matters. More recently, her
practice has focused on climate change-related matters, including those
related to AB 32, SB 375, the Bay Area Air Quality District’s CEQA
Guidelines, and the San Francisco Bay Plan.

“Kristina has worked on significant land use projects throughout
California, including a wide variety of residential, commercial, retail
and mixed-use projects. She is known as an adaptable and creative
thinker – key qualities in the land use entitlement and real estate
space – and someone who can successfully complete challenging projects,”
said Susan K. Hori, co-chair of Manatt’s Real Estate and Land Use
practice group. “We are thrilled to welcome her to the team.”

Lawson regularly appears before state and local agencies throughout the
Bay Area and California on behalf of private clients. In addition, she
often serves as special counsel to public agencies on complex land use
and environmental matters, including matters involving California’s
tidelands trust, and emergency water supply projects.

“Structuring a real estate project has become increasingly complex due
to increasing economic, political and regulatory challenges,”
said Clayton B. Gantz, co-administrative partner of the San Francisco
office. “Manatt’s Real Estate and Land Use practice is nationally
recognized for delivering successful projects from conception to
acquisition to disposition, and Kristina’s talents and experience
provide additional depth to help us help our clients achieve their
objectives in Northern California.”

Lawson’s broad advisory and advocacy practice focuses on all aspects of
California land use and environmental law, from the interpretation and
application of local General Plans, specific plans, and zoning
ordinances, to local land use initiatives and referenda, to state and
federal natural resources, air, and water law.

“Manatt has a well-deserved reputation for excellence and a true
commitment to land use and environmental law,” said Lawson. “I am
excited to join Manatt’s prominent national real estate land use
practice.”

A frequent author and lecturer, Lawson is an elected member of the
Walnut Creek City Council, and is an appointed member of the TRANSPAC
Board of Directors, in Contra Costa County.

Lawson earned a B.A. from the University of Arizona and a J.D., cum laude,
from Santa Clara University School of Law.

About Manatt, Phelps Phillips, LLP

Manatt, Phelps Phillips, LLP, is one of the nation’s leading law
firms, with offices strategically located in California (Los Angeles,
Orange County, Palo Alto, San Francisco and Sacramento), New York (New
York City and Albany) and Washington, D.C. The firm represents a
sophisticated client base – including Fortune 500, middle-market and
emerging companies – across a range of practice areas and industry
sectors. For more information, visit www.manatt.com.

Manatt, Phelps Phillips, LLP
Lawrence Martinez, (310) 231-5443
/

Article source: http://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/11/08/b1826726/manatt-expands-real-estate-and-land-use-practice-in-northern-california

Real Estate Expert Named VP at Insurance Broker

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SAN FRANCISCO, June 13, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Robert L. Johnson, Jr. has joined Lockton in San Francisco as a Vice President and Producer in the firm’s Commercial Insurance Division.  

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20090415/CG99351LOGO)

The addition of Johnson expands Lockton’s depth of expertise in the institutional real estate space. He will be based in Lockton’s San Francisco office and will have a lead role in growing Lockton’s presence in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Johnson has held many key business development and management roles during his career. Immediately prior to joining Lockton, he was owner of Johnson Independent Advisors, Inc., a consulting firm focused on institutional real estate. He has also held various positions with real estate and financial services companies, including AMB Property Corporation, La Salle Investment Management, and the Ernst and Young Kenneth Leventhal Real Estate Group.

Johnson is a graduate of California State University, earning a B.S. in Accounting and Finance, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, earning a M.S. in Real Estate Development and a M.B.A.

“Robert brings a wealth of experience and deep relationships in the institutional real estate community, a major focus for our office. He is a remarkably strategic thinker and proven problem-solver. We are excited to have him as part of the Lockton team,” remarked Adam McDonough, President and CEO of Lockton’s San Francisco operations.

Robert can be reached at 415.568.4116 or rjohnson@lockton.com.

About Lockton

More than 3,800 professionals at Lockton provide more than 15,000 clients around the world with insurance, benefits, and risk management services, offering an uncommon level of client service. From its founding in 1966 in Kansas City, Missouri, USA, Lockton has grown to become the largest privately held insurance broker in the world and 9th largest overall. Business Insurance recognized Lockton as a “Best Place to Work in Insurance.”   You can learn more at www.lockton.com

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Article source: http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/robert-johnson-jr-joins-lockton-in-san-francisco-123754529.html