Making the transition to commercial real estate can be challenging for agents who come from a residential background. Transactions take longer to close, appraisals are more complicated, and agents must learn to grasp the finer points of zoning in the areas they serve.

On top of that, novice commercial agents need to embrace new technology tools in order to be successful. RPR Commercial is one of those tools. Launched in 2012, the application gives commercial agents access to dynamic search and reporting features, demographic and zoning information, and beyond.

We recently spoke with Sydney Machat, CCIM, CRE, a veteran small town commercial broker and consultant in Maryland. As one of the earliest adopters of the solution, Machat is well versed in its many uses. He shared how RPR helps his real estate practice thrive.

One User's Story

RPR Commercial helps Machat support buyers in a transaction by enabling him to send comps to financing institutions and banks. "Banks want BPO-type information for real estate counseling assignments. I support seller and landlord brokerage clients with current market data initially from RPR."

RPR reports are valuable for sellers, too. "Working with seller and landlord clients constitutes one's brokerage and consulting profile," he says. "RPR is truly a commercial real estate broker's online 'one-stop shop.' One critical listing task is to quickly gain basic property data, including ownership entity, mortgage lender, street maps, downloadable aerials, tax map overlays, actives and sold comps, hybrid aerial photography, and local zoning ordinance classifications."

By giving him easy access to the property data he needs, Machat says that RPR has lowered his costs while saving him time. "Saving time and money, at one time, is a unique advantage. The site has what I would call web gravitas in terms of its speed and accuracy."

Machat also praises the accuracy of RPR's tax data, which he describes as a "huge convenience" because it offers the subject's town or county zoning classification.

Features for residential and commercial-investment REALTORS®

In addition to his experiences, Machat wanted RE Technology readers to know about RPR features that may be of interest to both residential and commercial agents:

• One click to go from RPR Residential to RPR Commercial
• Customized RPR Report cover sheets with agent photo option, firm logo, contact info
• "Learn to Use RPR" training videos, online seminars for both residential and commercial sites
• Reports available via PDF or email
• Multiple options for photography, including Bird's Eye, Tax Map "hybrid" overlay, road map, and larger-smaller configuration for user printouts
• Financial analysis tool, "Property Analysis for Investors," calculates up to a 10-year holding. Separate Excel spreadsheet option.
• Real Analyzer® Analysis provides for user's statistical variables, e.g., Aggressive/Moderate/Conservative.

About Sydney Machat

Syd Machat, CCIM, CRE has been involved with commercial real estate for more than 40 years as a broker, consultant, educator and speaker. Machat specializes in commercial real estate and land consulting assignments. A leading member of the real estate community, Machat holds a number of prestigious certificates and honors, most recently the Pen-Mar Regional Association of REALTORS® 2012 Distinguished Service Award. He was a State of Maryland Real Estate Commissioner for 13 years and the 2008 president of the Association of Real Estate License Law Officials (ARELLO). Machat operates Sperry Van Ness-Miller Commercial Real Estate's Hagerstown area office in Keedysville, MD.c

Next Steps

• Learn more about RPR Commercial in our Product Directory
• Explore more Public Records/Tax solutions
• Read more articles about Commercial real estate