RE/MAX invests in its technological future with new hire
A 20-year proptech pro joins the franchisor’s C-suite, fortifying its “powerhouse executive team.” Plus, new property insight tools; an AI marketing assistant.
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.
RE/MAX adds tech veteran to executive team
Real estate technology pro Tom Flanagan is joining RE/MAX Holdings as chief digital information officer, the brokerage company announced today.
Flanagan will lead engineering, data, technology security and compliance teams and operations companywide — including at Motto Mortgage — while working in coordination with other top executives, according to a news release.
Prior to his appointment at RE/MAX, Flanagan was chief innovation officer at The Group, Inc. Real Estate and president of Group Financial Partners. His career in brokerage technology spans more than 20 years.
"Tom brings a rare blend of technical expertise, strategic insight and deep industry experience," Erik Carlson, RE/MAX Holdings CEO, said in the announcement. "His ability to bridge marketing and technology, combined with a forward-thinking approach to AI and data, makes him an ideal fit for our organization."
Flanagan characterized RE/MAX as "an iconic brand, which continues to carry the heart and mindset of a startup," adding: "For both real estate and mortgage affiliates, there's a tremendous opportunity to move forward and integrate cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence into the workflow, driving efficiencies that allow them to focus on what they do best: serving their clients."
The appointment is the sixth executive hire at RE/MAX so far this year. Also new to the company in 2025 are Chris Lim, chief growth officer; Don Kottick, president of RE/MAX Canada; Daniel Dennis, SVP of sales and service; Travis Saxton, EVP of strategy; and Vic Lombardo, president of Mortgage Services — "a powerhouse executive team poised to accelerate the Company's evolution as a tech-forward, agent-centric organization," RE/MAX said in the release.
RealReports, Restb.ai partner on MLS property data tools
Two real estate technology companies are bringing together their expertise in property data and computer vision to offer MLSs "appraisal-grade condition, quality, and visual insights" — an industry first, according to a news release.
Property intelligence provider RealReports has partnered with Restb.ai, a developer of image recognition and data enrichment software, to provide deeper data insights to MLS subscribers, the companies announced.
Their integrated software products aim to help agents better understand property conditions via a free "Snapshot Report" featuring "photos displayed in a cleaner, more intuitive format," and a paid "Seller Report" that allows agents to see side-by-side comparisons of rooms and exteriors, and includes condition and quality scores that offer "clearer insights into both the subject property and comps."
First MLS in Georgia and MLS Now in Ohio are among the first MLSs to sign on.
"We're delivering to our members AI-driven analyses that go far beyond traditional property data," said Jeremy Crawford, FMLS president and CEO — data that "empowers them to present clients with a level of clarity and confidence that sets our members apart in today's competitive market."
MLS Now President and CEO Garry Marsoubian concurred, saying the tools help "members build trust faster, guide smarter decisions, and deliver tomorrow's advantage today."
Lofty introduces digital marketing assistant
Lofty's real estate CRM platform continues to expand with the launch of its latest tool, Lofty AI Marketer, an AI-driven social media strategist.
Earlier this year, the company introduced Lofty Copilot, an AI assistant focused on lead conversion tasks and business management.
The new AI Marketer product helps agents automatically create social media posts that align with their brand and can develop different strategies based on the agent's market and goals — including brand awareness, traffic, lead generation and SEO performance, according to a news release.
"We know that in real estate speed matters, but connection still wins," said Brian Hoialmen, Lofty's chief strategy officer. "AI Marketer is another example of our commitment to delivering purposeful AI innovations that can help real estate professionals transform how they work and grow their business with clarity and confidence."