REsides boosts fraud protection; Rechat debuts ‘Testimonials’ 

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. 

Rechat adds native testimonials tool to AI platform

Rechat has launched Testimonials, a built-in feature that enables agents to collect, manage and use client reviews across marketing materials and listing presentations from within the company's AI-powered operating system.

Available at no additional cost to Rechat users, the feature stores client testimonials alongside contacts, transactions and marketing assets, allowing reviews to flow automatically into campaigns, listing presentations and other marketing content, according to the company. The release is designed to eliminate the need for third-party review tools or manual transfers between platforms, Rechat said in a news release.

"AI assistants are already deciding which agents get recommended, and they make that call based on your online reputation," Rechat CEO Shayan Hamidi said. "Testimonials exist so that when an AI is choosing who works and who doesn't, your track record is impossible to miss."

RealPage acquires real estate data firm

RealPage has announced the completion of its acquisition of real estate data intelligence company Cherre. That addition of Cherre's technology, RealPage said, will strengthen the data foundation behind its AI-powered software and analytics platform.

The acquisition combines RealPage's property management and operational technology platform with Cherre's data integration and governance capabilities. The combined platform is intended to help customers connect property-level information with portfolio- and fund-level insights, supporting decision-making across a range of real estate asset classes, according to a news release.

Cherre's platform, which aggregates and governs real estate data from multiple sources, will continue to operate as an open platform compatible with a variety of property management systems and third-party applications, the companies noted.

RealPage said its customers will gain access to enhanced data intelligence capabilities, while Cherre customers will continue working with their existing teams and receive additional engineering and deployment resources through RealPage's global technology platform. The companies also said customers will retain existing data governance controls and security protections.

Property Shield expands REsides partnership, strikes deal with SCWMLS

Property Shield is making a new tool available to REsides subscribers and has entered a new partnership with South Central Wisconsin Multiple Listing Service (SCWMLS).

In South Carolina: REsides, an independent MLS serving the South Carolina Lowcountry, has launched Property Shield Ownership Verification, becoming the first MLS in the U.S. to offer subscribers a tool that verifies a seller's identity and property ownership before a listing is entered into the MLS, according to a news release. The new tool is available immediately to all REsides subscribers.

The service expands REsides' existing partnership with Property Shield, which monitors listings for fraudulent activity and unauthorized use. The new Ownership Verification feature is designed to confirm before a listing agreement moves forward that a seller is the recorded property owner. That confirmation process involves biometric identity verification, a government-issued ID check and a comparison against county property records, the MLS said.

The rollout comes as concerns over seller impersonation and vacant land fraud continue to grow, noted REsides CEO Colette Stevenson. With Ownership Verification, "we are giving our subscribers something no one else has: the confidence that the person on the other side of a listing agreement is the rightful owner of the property," Stevenson added.

In Wisconsin: SCWMLS has partnered with Property Shield to provide all members with the threat intelligence platform's fraud detection technology at no additional cost.

Property Shield will monitor SCWMLS listings across the internet using AI to detect unauthorized or fraudulent advertisements as part of the deal, according to a news release. The platform compares listing photos, property details and ownership information to identify potential scams, then alerts members and works to remove fraudulent listings.

SCWMLS said the service is intended to help protect agents, buyers, sellers and renters as listing fraud becomes more common nationwide. Property Shield said the partnership reflects a broader effort to help MLSs strengthen consumer protections by identifying fraudulent listings early and reducing the risk of scams affecting real estate transactions throughout south-central Wisconsin.

Beeline acquires AI firm MagicBlocks

Beeline Holdings has completed its acquisition of AI company MagicBlocks, giving the mortgage and title tech company full ownership of the artificial intelligence platform that powers its customer-facing chatbot and workflow automation tools.

Beeline said the acquisition will allow it to expand AI-driven automation across mortgage origination and title operations, with the goal of improving efficiency, reducing production costs and streamlining the borrower experience. MagicBlocks' technology currently powers Beeline's AI assistant, Bob, which the company said has increased lead-to-lock conversion rates by 8% when used across its website, SMS communications and point-of-sale platform.

The company plans to integrate the technology more deeply into its operations to automate additional workflows and support internal decision-making. MagicBlocks will continue licensing its AI platform to other mortgage lenders and financial institutions, according to a news release.

Editor's note: AI was used in the initial drafting of this content, which was then thoroughly reviewed, fact-checked and revised by a Real Estate News editor.