I use a Mac. Do your Focus 1st products work in a Mac environment?

We have several customers who are using our Focus 1st products in a Mac environment. This does require you to use the Windows parallel environment. While our software is packaged as a Macro in the Excel environment, the programs are fairly sophisticated. Thus, the Mac version of MS Office is not compatible with the Focus 1st applications. Thanks to Gary Mankellow for providing these steps for Mac folks who want to run the Focus 1st Applications:

1. Install VMWare – Fusion software to emulate Windows on the Mac.
2. Install the Windows Operating System (Windows Vista or Windows 7).
3. Install the MS Office for Windows.
4. Install the Focus 1st products.

Gary then saves the output in a file, and exports the output file into the Mac environment to print (saving him from learning how to use printers in the Windows environment).

Several other Mac customers noted that once they ran the Focus 1st products they were unable to view the graphs until they executed the ‘Print Preview’ functionality. We suspect that there may be some printer related incompatibilities with their conifguration.

I’m currently using Metrolist and the MYMLS interface. However, I’ve heard that PrimeAccess will be replacing MYMLS soon. When will the PrimeAccess interface be supported?

The PrimeAccess interface into Metrolist just recently implemented their export functionality and is now supported.  For the Neighborhood Buying Pattern application to recognize PrimeAccess, you just need to read in the updated configuration file.  See the Reading in New Configuration File post for information on how to update your configuration.

My MLS has changed, and I’ve been told that I need to read in a new “configuration file”. How do I do that?

The Neighborhood Buying Pattern Application has a configuration file which contains information about the charateristics of export files from each MLS that is supported in the application.   While you don’t have to understand the contents of the configuration file, you may need to update your configuration file if your MLS makes a change.  To update your configuration file first download the most recent configuration file by selecting the link below and saving the file to your desktop. 

     Download Configuration File

Once you have save the most recent configuration file, you are ready to read that file into the Neighborhood Buying Pattern application. 

Use the “Focus1st->Read in Configuration File…” menu item.  Or, use the link below to see the instructions. 

      How to Read in New Configuration File

Once you read in the new configuration file, be sure to SAVE the application (this will save the new configuration file with it).   If you are using the Vista operating system, you may need to save it in a different location.

Can you explain the thinking behind the Time to Sell being tied to closing date instead of the under contract date.

There are a couple of reasons why we decided to focus on the SOLD Date (closed date) rather than the under contract Date. 
 
The first reason was based on what our view of what the customer is really trying to accomplish.  Our thought was that what the customer is really trying to determine is, when they put their house on the market is how long will it take before they can move on?  In some cases, the customer may have already purchased another home and they may be concerned with having to carry double mortgages.  So how long do they need to budget for, before their home is sold.  In both of these cases the customer is really focused on the closed time rather than under contract time.  Of course, you can go back and forth to either date by adding the 4 weeks (or so). 
 
We also wanted to make sure we keep the consistency with the Buying Patterns graph and the Time to Sell graph.  While initially we didn’t feel as strong about which date should be on the Time to Sell graph, we did feel stronger that the actual closed date should be on the Buying Patterns graph, and that we should be consistent with the two graphs. 
 
We also came up with scenarios that we thought might be difficult to address if we went with the under contract date.  For example, how would we treat Active/Backup or Pending properties?  Since they were under contract, should we include such data on the graphs as well?  If we wanted to include under contract dates/data, it would seem that we should include them.  Now we wouldn’t know the under contract price, but we could just include them at their list price.  Maybe we could include them but highlight them differently.  If we are creating the perception of a property that is under contract, is sold (not closed but sold) should we include them as a “sold” in the odds of selling graph as well?   All of a sudden, we felt that the problem was becoming more difficult to explain. 
 
Then we found out that on many MLS, the under contract date isn’t provided in their exported data.  This is true for IRESIS.  I’d love to do some real pricing analysis based on list date, time on the market, price drops, etc.  but this data is unavailable in the exported data.  Without going through a lot of detail, I can understand why this isn’t exportable.  The “MLS history” of a listing is difficult to provide because it requires a relational database to describe rather than the flat file system database that is currently being exported in the export formats. 

That being said we do have an exception.  In Canada, properties that are “pending” are treated as SOLD.  The Canadian model works somewhat different that what we do here in the US.

I was looking at the software for the Fannie Mae 1004 MC form (Visual Appraisal for Real Estate). Does it insert the data into my appraisal software (I use Bradford Clickforms)?

The Visual Appraisal for Real Estate does import data into the Fannie Mae 1004MC form (also referred to as Freddie Mac form 71) for you.   Additionally, if you use your own Form Based software, you may ‘copy’ and ‘paste’ the appropriate cells into your forms based software from the 1004MC form created by the Appraisal software.

Now that it is 2009, how do I get the Neighborhood Buying Patterns to show 2009 data? Do I need to purchase an upgrade?

To show 2009 data, no upgrade is necessary.   The “Neighborhood Buying Pattern” and “Visual Appraisal for Real Estate” applications show data for two years.  This is to help make identifying trends easier for you.  Once you move into a new year, the applications will look to display data for the new year.  However, in the beginning of the new year, the amount of data is small enough that moving to the new year right away would not provide enough information to be valuable.  We think you would prefer to see the previous two years until there is enough data to make sense to move to the next year.  

So, how much data is enough?  The program will wait until after the end of September (month 9) before it decides to move to the next year.   However, if you’d prefer to see the new year’s data plotted earlier (or later) you can adjust the “ChangeOverMonth” value.   This is the month when the new year’s data will be plotted.  Of course, you may easily change the “ChangeOverMonth” value back and forth if you’d like.  

To change the “ChangeOverMonth” you will need to run a special macro.  The easiest way to run a macro is to bring up the Macro dialog box.   To do so hold the <alt> key down and press <f8>.   Once you’ve accessed the macros you will see a dialog box similiar to that shown below

Macro Dialog Box

Select the “ChangeOverMonth” macro and press the “Run” button.  You will be prompted to enter a value from 1 to 12.   The change will be effective for your next export file.

I’m using the Competitive Price Lines and would like to base it on price per square foot instead of price. Will that work?

The Competitive Price Lines application will work if you decide that you prefer price per square foot.  The application assumes that if you are using data that is less than $1000 than you are intending to make use of the price per square foot option.  The data you then put in will then be created accordingly (just try it).  Note that while you may make use of the price per square foot option, the program doesn’t allow you to provide data with any decimals.   It will round the value.

I’d like to purchase your products and have been on your website. However, I’d prefer to send you a check. Can I do that?

Absolutely!  To purchase directly from our website require the use of a credit card.  However, if you prefer not to do that, we do take personal checks as well.  The order process would be to go on-line and select your product to determine the final cost.  Then print out the “Order Form” and enclose your check in an envelope to:

Focus1st, 2501 Jadestone Court, Fort Collins, CO   80525

Please provide the address where you would like your order to be shipped to.   Your order will be shipped 1-2 business days after your order is received.

I’m thinking about purchasing the full suite. Is there a yearly renewal fee?

The full suite consists of the following programs: Neighborhood Buying Patterns, Competitive Price Lines, Scattergram Pricing, and Contract Calendar.   There is a discount for the purchase of them in the suite.   There is no yearly renewal fee for any of these programs.  It also doesn’t make a difference if you purchase them in the suite or if you purchase them individually.   There is a yearly renewal fee for the Visual Appraisal for Real Estate tool.

My MLS is not on the list of supported MLS? or We recently changed MLS’s in our area? What do we do?

If your MLS is not listed on the “Supported MLS” list (http://www.focus1st.com/Focus1st/MLSExport/MLSExport.htm ), we can quickly and easily support your MLS.   Send an email to sales@focus1st.com and include your contact information.   We will contact you directly to show you how to export data from your MLS and then with a one line change in our configuration file, we will have you up and working shortly thereafter.