Technology - Real Estate, Updates, News & Tips

Most Consumers Want VR Home Tours

Home shoppers are embracing virtual reality, saying they believe the technology will make the buying and selling process simpler and quicker, according to a new Coldwell Banker survey. The survey, which was released Monday—a day before the kickoff of CES 2018, the technology industry’s most prominent tradeshow—also shows that smart-home features are at the top of buyers’ wish lists. Coldwell Banker is sponsoring the Smart Home Marketplace

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Protect Your Devices From New Security Flaws

A pair of CPU flaws known as Meltdown and Spectre can allow hackers to access protected information on your computer’s memory. This could make your passwords, personal photos and email, or anything else you have saved on your computer vulnerable. The flaws could impact phones, PCs, and servers.Apple on Thursday was the latest company to announce that its devices aren’t immune either. Apple said all of its computers, iPhones, and iPads are aff

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REALTORS: Tech That Drove You Forward in 2017

Staying up to date on the latest innovations in real estate and beyond can be a full-time job. That’s why we’re committed to delivering technology news you can use, whether we’re busting popular myths or helping you choose the right tools for your business. As you think about innovations that are on tap for 2018, take a look at our five most popular tech articles this year.7 Real Estate Ideas That Deserve to DiePopular perceptions may drive

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The Dumbest Passwords of 2017

One of the best defenses against hacking is a unique password, but many aren't heeding the call. Indeed, “123456” and “password” continue to rank as the most-leaked passwords, according to SplashData, a password management firm. “Starwars,” “monkey,” and “iloveyou” are new to the list this year, which is based on millions of stolen logins made public in the past year.“Hackers are using common terms from pop culture and sport

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Facebook Cracking Down on ‘Engagement Bait’

Facebook announced that it will no longer tolerate “engagement bait” by making sure posts that solicit likes and comments in sensational ways are demoted from news feeds, thereby reaching fewer people. Facebook is referring to posts that specifically call users to act such as by liking, commenting, or sharing with enticing statements or offers. Brands may use it to generate more responses to a post, with posts such as “SHARE this post with

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Lending Scam Targets California Consumers

The California Department of Business Oversight issued a warning to consumers to beware of email scams purporting to be from representatives of Impac Mortgage Co.The emails originate from a fake email address, impacmortgagecorp@gmail.com, and appear legit, using Impac Mortgage’s logo and invoking the name of CEO Joseph Tomkinson. The scammers are sending unsolicited emails to recipients, offering them loans and requesting that the recipient pa

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Instagram Adds Ability to Follow a Hashtag

Image-focused social network Instagram announced that it is making hashtags more findable and followable. You’ll now be able to follow hashtags to see top posts and stories about a topic on your home page. This opens the door for real estate professionals to easily follow housing-related photos and topics and track conversations on Instagram.“Following a hashtag is just like following a friend,” Instagram explains at its blog. “To get sta

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Inside Engel & Völkers’ virtual reality theater for home tours

Minneapolis office offers clients and their guests an immersive experienceThe moment I put on the Oculus Rift headset, I felt like I was inside one of Engel & Völkers’ listings.It only took a few seconds to master and then I was free to roam the house, admiring the tray ceilings in the dining room, wandering into the cozy den, ascending the stairs and meandering through each of the spacious bedrooms.All of this unfolded in the virtual r

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REALTORS: Hidden Factors That Affect Your SEO Rank

You want prospects to find you easily online. Climbing to the top of SEO rankings, however, isn’t always clear-cut. Google doesn’t publish its search-ranking algorithms or document its evaluation criteria, but tech experts are uncovering some trends.Jayson DeMers, SEO and online marketing columnist for Forbes.com, says firms trying to increase their search rank often focus on more traditional key areas, like the content itself, the site’s

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How Self-Driving Cars Will Change Housing

Experts predict the advent of autonomous cars will radically change homes and towns alike. By 2021, major automakers, like Ford, Volvo, and BMW, are planning to manufacture either fully autonomous vehicles or ones capable of navigating highways on their own. Some automakers are debuting systems even sooner.Private vehicles that usher you to and from work without stop-and-go traffic may become the new way of life. You can work during your commute

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