Cooperating to Compete:
New Brokerage Models Emerging?

Find the Vision ... Launch the Future… Where is the brokerage industry headed? What questions should you be asking? Where will you find answers? Hint: Go to the PikeNet Expo in New York on October 23-24. Sign up today by registering online or calling 1-888-238-0170. ... Yep, this is a sales pitch. But, hey, I've got the same questions. So I gotta go, too!

Project Octane... Last week, Insignia Financial Group joined Project Octane, which "intends to set the industry standard for the delivery of real estate services via open market, leading-edge online procurement, transaction management and enterprise resource planning (ERP) platforms." Hmm. What does THAT mean? We should find out when Octane, Constellation and the Office Technology Consortium outline their plans on the "Consortium Parade" on Monday, October 23.

Listing Services... Listing services are at ground zero of the Internet battleground. How will they grow and evolve? Which service is best for your company? For example, What new services will RealtyIQ.com add to its real estate transaction "platform"? Will Storetrax.com's retail focus set the standard for product-specific listing services? Does CoStar's Exchange product threaten other listing services? Why did Forbes choose Comro.com as one of the "Best of the Web"? Does Office Building Magazine's brand new MrOfficeSpace.com represent a new generation of content-rich, geographically-focused listing services?

New Tools and Services... Wow, it's hard to keep up with new business models banging on the door. Will DealMover.com enable brokers to handle more transactions simultaneously and increase deal flow? How does NAIDirect.com empower NAI brokers to provide corporate services? Will RealCentric's model dramatically shorten the leasing cycle for tenants? What services does RealEstate.com's portal offer B2B customers? Does TheAskingPrice.com offer substantial savings to owners and buyers?

PikeNet Expo... And the questions go on and on. ... All of these folks will be at the Expo. So ask them directly. ... The Hilton room block is sold out. So we've added a room block at the nearby Park Central Hotel. Here are the Expo Schedule and Exhibitors.

 --Peter / ppike@pikenet.com