Classified Ventures Introduces HomeHunter.com New Internet Resource to Drive Business to Realtors.CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 5, 1998-- HomeHunter.com Previewing at NAR NAR National Association of REALTORS NAR Nucleic Acids Research (journal) NAR National Association of Rocketry NAR Nationale Arbeidsraad (Dutch: National Labor Council; Brussels, Belgium) Convention Harnesses Newspapers' Reach, Reputation and Promotion Classified Ventures, L.L.C., today introduced HomeHunter.com, a new Internet See Web 2.0 and Internet2. resource designed to drive traffic, leads and sales to local real estate agents and brokers by combining an advanced technology platform with the local-market reach, reputation and promotional muscle of local newspapers and their Web sites. Classified Ventures, the Internet Internet Publicly accessible computer network connecting many smaller networks from around the world. It grew out of a U.S. Defense Department program called ARPANET (Advanced Research Projects Agency Network), established in 1969 with connections between computers at the services business formed by eight leading media companies, will showcase its HomeHunter.com service at the National Association of Realtors The National Association of Realtors (NAR) is made up of residential and commercial realtors who are brokers, salespeople, property managers, appraisers, and counselors, and others working in the real estate industry. (R) annual convention and trade show, which runs Nov. 6-9 in Anaheim, Calif. Under the new program, participating affiliate sites will share a common technology platform and the HomeHunter.com name. Zip2 Corporation, a leading provider of Internet platform solutions for media companies, will supply HomeHunter.com's underlying technology. Affiliates will begin rolling out the distinctive, state-of-the-art real estate platform in early 1999. Select affiliates, including the Los Angeles Times Los Angeles Times Morning daily newspaper. Established in 1881, it was purchased and incorporated in 1884 by Harrison Gray Otis (1837–1917) under The Times-Mirror Co. (the hyphen was later dropped from the name). , Washington Post Minneapolis Star-Tribune, and several Knight Ridder
Knight Ridder (IPA: /ˈrɪdɚ/) was an American media company, specializing in newspaper and Internet publishing. newspapers, among them the Miami Herald, Philadelphia Inquirer Philadelphia Inquirer Morning newspaper, long one of the most influential dailies in the eastern U.S. Founded in 1847 as the Pennsylvania Inquirer, it took its present name c. 1860. It was a strong supporter of the Union in the American Civil War. and San Jose Mercury News The San Jose Mercury News is the major daily newspaper in San Jose, California and Silicon Valley. The paper is owned by MediaNews Group. Its headquarters and printing plant are located in North San Jose next to the Nimitz Freeway (Interstate 880). , will preview their sites at NAR. "Local newspapers and local real estate professionals have worked together for generations to develop innovative, effective marketing solutions for local home sellers and buyers," said Bob Bellack, general manager of real estate for Classified Ventures. "HomeHunter.com brings a powerful new dimension to this proven partnership." Bellack noted that local newspapers, on average, reach nearly 60 percent of the adults in their communities every day and often host Web sites that are among the most-visited in their local markets, even exceeding the traffic of well-known national Internet sites. In addition, research shows newspapers are considered among the most trusted sources of local information. "With their reach, strong local content, reputations for reliability, and integrated print and online marketing power, our affiliates are uniquely able to drive traffic to their real estate Web sites and the advertising and listings of their real estate customers," said Marc Kravitz, vice president of HomeHunter.com. "No other provider of online real estate marketing services can match this powerful competitive advantage." With HomeHunter.com, Classified Ventures will provide advanced technologies, tools and information resources (1) The data and information assets of an organization, department or unit. See data administration. (2) Another name for the Information Systems (IS) or Information Technology (IT) department. See IT. to enable participating newspaper affiliates to develop customized state-of-the-art real estate Web sites to serve local real estate agents, brokers and MLS See multilevel security. associations and their local community. Currently, Zip2's enhanced real estate platform includes a rich set of functionality options for consumers, real estate professionals and local service operators. For example, listings may be searched by multiple criteria, from price to proximity, while advanced mapping and direction features enable consumers to get directions to open houses from any starting point Noun 1. starting point - earliest limiting point terminus a quo commencement, get-go, offset, outset, showtime, starting time, beginning, start, kickoff, first - the time at which something is supposed to begin; "they got an early start"; "she knew from the . In addition, graphical editorial tools make it easy for local newspapers, brokers or agents to easily manage and update information. Affiliates will decide for their markets - after discussions with local MLS associations and brokers - how listings will be displayed, what categories of information will be offered, and what types of decision-support tools to be provided. HomeHunter.com will provide a range of advertising services to agents, offices and brokers to complement their other local marketing efforts as well as the ability to link their existing sites to the affiliate site. Relevant real estate and community news from the newspaper's editorial staff will be complemented by information resources available to the HomeHunter.com affiliates. These resources include mortgage and local school information, community and neighborhood demographic, lifestyle, income and transportation data, and insurance quote and credit report services. "The story of HomeHunter.com is local, local, local," said Kravitz. "The specific features and functionality of each site will be determined by our local affiliate, working closely with agencies, brokers and MLS associations to ensure that local home sellers and buyers have access to the best possible local source for resale resale n. selling again, particularly at retail. In many states a "resale license" or "resale number" is required so that the state can monitor the collection of sales tax on retail sales. RESALE. homes and community information." Classified Ventures, L.L.C., based in Chicago, is funded by eight leading media companies - Central Newspapers, Inc., Gannett Co., Inc., Knight Ridder, The McClatchy Company, The New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of Times Company, The Times Mirror Company, Tribune Company The Tribune Company (NYSE: TRB) is a large American multimedia corporation based in Chicago, Illinois. It is the nation's second-largest newspaper publisher, responsible for the Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times, Newsday, Hartford Courant and the Washington Post Company. It provides national and locally branded online services for e-commerce opportunities in the classified advertising marketplace that build upon the capabilities and local expertise of its national affiliate network An affiliate network acts as an intermediary between publishers (affiliates) and (merchant) affiliate programs. It allows publishers to find affiliate programs, which are suitable for their website and it helps websites offering affiliate programs reach its target audience. . Classified Ventures currently operates a national apartments Web site (www.apartments.com), a national car site (www.cars.com), and a national new homes site (www.newhomenetwork.com). For more information, visit www.classifiedventures.com. HomeHunter.com provides enabling technologies and tools, information resources, quality assurance and promotional support to the local-market resale real estate Web sites of Classified Ventures affiliates. HomeHunter.com currently is in development and will begin rolling out to local markets in early 1999. Zip2 is a leading provider of media platform solutions for the Internet. In conjunction with 160 newspaper clients, Zip2 has developed and operates Web sites that give consumers an online resource for local news, events, entertainment and business information. Zip2 builds and operates comprehensive local city guides in cooperation with major media companies by providing an advanced Internet solution. The company offers its clients consulting, sales and marketing support and content feeds to support their Internet services. For more information about Zip2, visit www.zip2.com. (Editor's Note Editor's Note (foaled in 1993 in Kentucky) is an American thoroughbred Stallion racehorse. He was sired by 1992 U.S. Champion 2 YO Colt Forty Niner, who in turn was a son of Champion sire Mr. Prospector and out of the mare, Beware Of The Cat. Trained by D. : HomeHunter has been a brand name for Knight Ridder, which is now an affiliate of Classified Ventures, L.L.C. The HomeHunter.com program is separate and distinct from the Knight Ridder real estate program, whose members will become affiliates of HomeHunter.com. Questions about HomeHunter.com should be directed to Ernie Clark at Classified Ventures.) |
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