Hi,
I use a dell PDA with Windows Mobile. I am looking for a cool real estate program to download MLS listings, pics and client info. Anybody have any suggestions? Thanks!

MassRealEstateGuy,

Most of our customers use a tablet p.c. with wireless access. This way they store the information on the tablet and import the data into our backoffice application. Minimizes the number of applications to keep current.

Regards

Jim Beauchamp
www.voyager360.com
www.kayyah.com

I would recommend www.pocketrealestate.com for a very good PDA RE program. I am a bit legacy here with Clie' Palm 5.XX and carrying a reg cell phone.

I am contemplating a change to either a smartphone with MS OS mobile pc or sticking with the 700 Palm as new model is slated next month. Either way for 4 years now its on the hip when the laptop is on the autodesk in the car, or tucked away and I need the calculations for mortgages, mls listings and pics. You won't be disappointed.

I've worked with direct MLS exports before, and of all the MLS's I've dealt with, a LOT of them have at least a Pocket Real Estate export. That leads me to believe that Pocket Real Estate is pretty widespread. The more people use a program, the better the support for it will be, and the more features they will offer.

The other big contender is Top Producer, which has Palm/handheld integration . Top producer is pretty big too, but their main focus isn't the handheld game, so their product might not be as good. That's pure speculation though.

The Tablet PC thing seems like it could be the next big thing, if it isn't already. Combine a tablet PC with forms software, digital signing software, and a tech-savvy agent, and you've got a near-paperless real estate transacation. Personally, I've never used a tablet PC or any of the Real Estate software for it, so I can't really vouch for it. Seems neat though.

I absolutely could not live without my CanaleCalc. It's a mortgage calcualtor for PDA, and it's wonderful. It will let you figure out payments, PITI on the fly, and you can really impress your clients. Go to www.canale.com to find it.

I've got both the Treo 650 and a Gateway Tablet PC. I have an absolutely paperless digital transaction from begining to end. It's fantastic! When the offer is completed -- I fax it to the office so that they have an offer. Less trips ... more time to make more business or relax!

My clients and I craft an offer on the computer -- they sign it and I e-mail it to the agents.

They in turn print go over and have their clients sign and fax it to me at my internet fax service. (No unecessary trips to the office to pick up a fax. I get them wherever I am. If a file comes in through the fax to my office (haven't reprinted Bus. Cards with new number) then I simply fax it to myself and it appears in my e-mail box.)

I then have my file the completed offer in a folder with other pending transactions and it's faxed off (just like sending an e-mial) to the attorneys etc.

The Smartphone is terrific -- it syncs with Outlook so my contacts are always with me. The schedule is there and it reminds me of appointments -- and most importantly family obligations. Our Lockboxes are going to be all infrared so we'll be able to use the phone to access that soon too (complete with all MLS data listings and 30 days worth of closed business (mobile CMA's) as well as rosters with numbers and so much more! It'll be great all for about $10 more a month than the plain key FOB)

I also just got Tom Tom GPS for the Treo phone. It's a great software that costs a fraction of what a standalone unit would cost. I love the software and the fact that I'll soon only have 2 things to carry -- the phone and tablet. This is also a huge timesaver ... no more printing mapquests from point a to point b ... I just leave and plug the info into my phone or select a contact and hit navigate to and it's done!