Overview and History

Real Estate Information Network, Inc. (REIN, Inc.) officially formed in August of 1997. It is the product of a merge of two multiple listing services into one; the former Metro MLS, Inc. which served real estate brokers in the cities of Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Portsmouth and Suffolk and outlying areas west of Suffolk since 1970, and the Virginia Peninsula Association of REALTORS® MLS which served brokers in Hampton, Newport News and Poquoson and the counties of York and James City. The two MLSs combined their listing databases into one system, and today REIN, Inc. serves real estate brokers from Williamsburg, east to Virginia Beach and south to the North Carolina border.

REIN is an independent MLS owned by broker stockholder members. REIN's customers are the broker stockholder firms and their real estate agents, appraiser members and affiliate businesses. Currently, there are approximately 516 member firms, which represent approximately 660 offices, 8000 real estate agents and 160 appraiser members.

REIN, Inc. is governed by a nine (9) person Board of Directors. In addition to the Board of Directors, a Sales Manager Advisory Committee (SMAC), comprised of nine (9) sales managers, keeps all forms and contracts up-to-date and to consider all requests from the Board of Directors.

Mission

REIN's primary purpose is to assist members in rendering better service to the public by providing a medium through which real estate may be merchandised promptly and efficiently, thereby benefiting both the selling and buying public. The "medium" through which REIN offers services to its members is the regional database that contains approximately 14,000 active listings for sale, over 470,000 off market listings that can be used for comparables, on-line photos and approximately 1660 active rental listings.

REIN real estate professionals have the means to thoroughly research properties for sellers and buyers through REIN's regional database. This medium also includes free updating of listing information and photos to over 1000 MLS Certified Websites. Through all of REIN's ancillary services, sellers receive greater exposure of their listed properties and buyers have a greater selection of properties for sale.