The mission of HomesWEB.com is to offer Realtors and consumers the most comprehensive Real Estate oriented links and resources on the Internet, for everyone interested in the industry.

Founded in 1997 by Bryan Ridgley, a Real Estate Broker in Southern California, HomesWEB.com was first conceived as a Personal Agent Website that incorporated a mix of features and educational resources only available from corporate websites. HomesWEB.com was first created for consumers to not only view listings of Bryan’s, but to also have easy access to unbiased information, in order to lift their awareness and confidence towards the Real Estate industry as a whole.

HomesWEB.com has grown quite a bit since its’ inception. Expanding on the model we now provide links to educational resources, services and programs for Realtors to grow throughout the country as well as the most definitive Real Estate Agent an Home Listing directory on the Internet.

A note from the Founder:

Life is about learning, living, loving and being. A simple phrase that one might ask the question “What does that have to do with Real Estate”?

When I began my Real Estate career in 1979, the MLS was the Agents Bible, hidden from the public like the secret doctrines. I believed at the time that MLS information was sacred, and without that, I wouldn’t have service to offer. I learned quickly that there were reasons for everything, and that if the MLS information was not protected in some way, the not so good deed doers would and could take advantage. What I had also felt was that if I built my business upon a foundation of integrity, knowledge and commitment to the best interest of my Clients and their care, all else would follow for everyone’s benefit. I still live by this philosophy in practice. While realizing that I was in a profession regarded by a large segment of the public, akin to suspect and often questionable practices. Over the years I developed my educational credo through earning the professional designations (GRI and CRS) through courses offered by the National Association of Realtors.

With the advent of the internet and the reality of MLS data being made available for public consumption, however limited. Many of the local Realtors in my marketing area feared we would no longer have a profession. As most people learned more about surfing the net, privacy and anonymity became the laws of nature.

Over the last several years, Industry challenges and corporate competition have lead to the development of technology to capture and lure consumers away from their Internet anonymity. IDX Technology is here. IDX, which boasts consumer convenience, has created a vehicle for the real estate industry to once again control, regulate and mystify MLS Property listing data. The concept is very easy. Enter a search, “click here and we will send you all the ‘New Hot Listings’ in your area by e-mail”. This format is the quickest selling add-on to national, regional, local boutique firms and personal real estate agent’s websites. IDX will have your websites MLS data scrubbed and sanitized to make it appear as though the Agent or Company is representing every MLS property listing. With close to 70% percent of homebuyers using the Internet to search for their “Dream Home”, another industry has entered the marketplace and has become sanctioned, the business of lead collection and distribution to the real estate agent community. Web giants such as Homegain.com, HouseValues.com, Service Masters and a host of other Websites competing for the same leads that Agents hope to generate from their own websites. The above Internet sites again, competing for the consumer.

I believe it is all good. I join the many other Americans who believe in profitable enterprise. I also believe that the effort must be rigorously matched with an ethic that equally benefits both company and consumer. I believe in Professionalism and have always strived to be on top of the latest marketing trends, information and education. While many industries and professions struggle to get to their target audience first, consumers are not always encouraged by professionals to continue their quest for outside unbiased information. Agents owe a duty to Clients and Prospects to guide them to making informed decisions about their Real Estate purchases. Consumers should be educated in areas of certain legal aspects, insurance, tax consequences, property inspection and environmental issues prior to making an offer to purchase. Most States prohibit Agents to advise on matters not within the scope of their license, and rightly so. For that purpose, I created HomesWEB.com

Bryan Ridgley, GRI, CRS, e-PRO, RECS
Founder