Tech Bytes: News from VestaPlus, NEO, zavvie, Reliance 

Editor's note: Technology is a driving force in real estate. From startups to established players, tech companies are constantly innovating, growing and forging partnerships. Here we highlight some of the latest news about the companies that help power the industry. 

Staten Island MLS adds Checkmate to enhance listings quality

Staten Island MLS is expanding its commitment to data integrity by connecting with Checkmate software from VestaPlus.

Checkmate, which was also recently launched by the Pensacola Association of Realtors, detects listing violations. It will be customized for SIMLS and incorporate new AI-powered photo compliance capabilities.

"Data integrity is the key to the service we provide our subscribers and the consumers they serve," said Sandy Krueger, CEO of Staten Island MLS. "We look forward to enhancing our services using Checkmate."

Checkmate also makes compliance more efficient by pulling all issues and their status into a single report.

Staten Island MLS also recently added DirectOffers' DO AudioTours. This means its residential property listings will include audio descriptions and closed captioning in 10 languages, ensuring that listings "are reaching the broadest audience," Krueger said.

NEO and zavvie call cash offer product 'good news' for first-time buyers

NEO, a division of Luminate Home Loans, and the zavvie power buyer and mortgage platform are highlighting the success of a new product that promises to help homebuyers come to the table with cash offers.

"Finally, some good news for first-time buyers," said Jerry Kaplan, SVP of Capital Markets at Luminate Home Loans, NEO's parent company. "By leveraging zavvie AI-powered technology, more home buyers — including first-time buyers — who work with us have been making a cash offer and winning the deal."

Hundreds of buyers have been helped by the program over the past year, according to a July 17 press release.

And the process can move fast, which is important in a highly competitive market, with cash purchases at their highest point in a decade. Cash offers powered by zavvie can be approved as quickly as an hour, the company said, and it works with traditional mortgages, FHA and VA loans.

Reliance adds AI-powered marketing tools

A new digital advertising integration from real estate tech company Reliance promises to allow its clients to promote its listings with an automated tool called MediaBoosterAI.

Campaigns can promote events, such as open houses, or deliver more general messages, reaching potential buyers through behavior-based targeting. 

"Using AI, a Reliance user's listing's characteristics are carefully analyzed to reach their targeted audience on Facebook and other social media, offering more than 2.5 times better performance than their closest competitor," Nick Villanti, Reliance COO, said in a statement. 

The company also released its AI Copywriter tool, a chatbot that "brings ChatGPT's capabilities directly to Reliance users, enabling them to effortlessly generate high-quality content for various sections of their websites and digital marketing."