RALEIGH, N.C., March 13, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- At today's Triangle MLS Technology Fair, Triangle MLS and Mobile Realty Apps are pleased to announce that the newly updated Triangle MLS iPad app is the industry's first MLS app to empower REALTORS® with ability to identify and compare homes based on typical drive time to work and other important destinations.
The new search feature in the Triangle MLS iPad app is called INRIX Drive Time™. The app provides subscribers of Triangle MLS with an easy, visual means to find all homes for sale within a specific drive time between respective properties and their work address, schools or other important locations based on typical travel times at rush hour and throughout the day.
According to the National Association of REALTORS®, Seventy-three percent of all homebuyers consider drive time to work a key purchase criterion. "One of our most important goals is to provide our subscribers with the tools to create fantastic home buyer experiences for their clients," said Tessa Hultz, President, Triangle MLS and CEO of the Raleigh Regional Association of REALTORS®, "By adding INRIX Drive Time to our iPad app, we take the guess work out of commuting times and therefore increase the value REALTORS® can bring to their home buying clientele. It's another example of using big data to provide a personalized experience."
"We are excited to be leveraging two important trends for Triangle MLS: The rapid growth of tablet usage among real estate agents and American's measuring distance in minutes, not miles" said Aaron Kardell, Founder and CEO, Mobile Realty Apps. "For the first time, members of any MLS can now instantly help home buyers first pick the right neighborhood based on drivability, and then pick the right house within that neighborhood. Gone are the days of having to drive each of the final home candidates on weekday rush hours to guestimate drive times to work."
INRIX Drive Time is powered by traffic information sourced from the INRIX Traffic Intelligence Platform, which analyzes data from a variety of public and private sources ranging from government road sensors, official accident and incident reports to real-time traffic speeds crowd-sourced from a community of approximately 100 million drivers. INRIX analysis of traffic speeds also factors in impacts common to the day of the week, season, local holidays, current and forecasted weather, accidents and road construction giving drivers insight that helps them save time, fuel and avoid frustration every day.1 INRIX real-time traffic information is refreshed every minute then archived into an historical database updated every 6 weeks ensuring Triangle MLS always has the most current drive time information.
"In a world where real estate professionals are having a hard time impressing and delighting their clients with accurate and timely data, we are very pleased to be working with Triangle MLS and their app developer, Mobile Realty Apps, to become the first U.S. MLS to offer search by INRIX Drive Time to its membership" said Kevin Foreman, General Manager, GeoAnalytics, INRIX. "We are taking the guess work out of commute times and helping homebuyers find homes that fit driving needs as well as their financial needs."
1 INRIX real-time traffic information has been found accurate within 3 mph of actual traffic speeds under all driving conditions 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Source: I-95 Coalition Validation of INRIX Data Summary Report.
About Triangle MLS, Inc.
Triangle MLS, Inc. (TMLS) is a regional multiple listing service with a jurisdiction covering 16 counties in the greater Triangle region of North Carolina. TMLS provides a wide variety of valuable products, programs, and services for over 7,000 REALTORS® and appraisers. TMLS equips subscribers with tools to facilitate the home buying and selling process, encourages cooperation and efficiency between REALTORS®, and provides a single repository of property information in the Triangle region.
TMLS strives for accuracy and excellence by enforcing adherence to the organization's rules, regulations, policies, and bylaws which support industry professionalism, brings order and efficiencies to the real estate market place, and enhances cooperation between participants. TMLS is a wholly owned subsidiary corporation of the Raleigh Regional Association of REALTORS®. For more information, please visit us at: http://www.trianglemls.com
About Mobile Realty Apps
Mobile Realty Apps creates award winning native mobile apps for North America's top real estate brokers and MLSs. The company is the creator of HomeSpotter, a fascinating augmented reality technology that is a feature of its white-labeled smartphone and tablet apps. Founded in 2009 and based in Minneapolis, Mobile Realty Apps now services over 125,000 agents working with various brokers and MLSs including NorthstarMLS, Edina Realty, Reece and Nichols, and NorthwestMLS. Visit mobilerealtyapps.com for more information.
About INRIX
INRIX is one of the fastest growing big data technology companies in the world. The company leverages big data analytics to reduce the individual, economic and environmental toll of traffic congestion. Through cutting-edge data intelligence and predictive traffic technologies, INRIX helps leading automakers, fleets, governments and news organizations make it easier for drivers to navigate their world. Our vision is simple – to solve traffic, empower drivers, inform planning and enhance commerce.
Whether through an in-car or smartphone navigation application, a local newscast or our INRIX Traffic app, our up-to-the-minute traffic information and other driver services reach more than 150 million drivers to help them save time, fuel and frustration. INRIX delivers traffic and driving-related insight, as well as sophisticated analytical tools and services across six industries covering nearly 4 million miles of road in 37 countries. For more information, visit us at www.INRIX.com.