Frequently Asked Questions
For support, contact the MRIS Support Center at 301-838-7200. If out of the metro area, call 888-838-8200. Or email them at helpdesk@mris.net.
If you need to contact RBI directly about billing or account information, please email us at info@rbintel.com.
How do I access SmartCharts?
SmartCharts offers two service levels, one is free of charge (SmartCharts), the other (SmartCharts Pro) requires a monthly or yearly subscription. To access the free stats available in SmartCharts, users simply need to register with a valid email address and, if a Real Estate Professional, a valid Agent ID and Broker Code. Once you have logged in, you will be redirected to the statistics application on future visits.
What is SmartCharts Pro?
SmartCharts Pro is our premium offering, which has substantially more statistics, features and functionality than the free version of the product. SmartCharts Pro offers market gauges, 37 market indicators (see the full list of metrics here).
Note, if you were an "rbiEXPERT" customer, you are automatically subscribed to SmartCharts Pro - log in with the same user name and password and you're all set.
How do I log in to SmartCharts?
For new users, your user name will be the email address you entered when signing up and the password will be the same as the one you entered during registration. For legacy rbiEXPERT customers, your user name and password credentials will be the same as those you used on rbintel.com, where the user name was often a combination of your first name and your agent ID.
I'm used to rbiEXPERT...what's new here?
Since we launched rbiEXPERT a few years ago, there have been a number of common requests and suggestions. We've solved almost every one of them in this next gen product. 15 highlights:
1. 37 metrics now available, including $/SqFt and Months of Supply (rbiEXPERT had 10).
2. Charts have been consolidated into one area, saving clicks (rbiEXPERT had 4 charts, requiring users to rebuild facets when changing to new metrics).
3. Facets and metrics will be retained when you change locations (rbiEXPERT users had to rebuild the chart when changing locations).
4. Charts let you compare metrics (rbiEXPERT only offered one metric at a time)
5. Charts go back 10 years (rbiEXPERT went back 5).
6. Charts now have quarterly increments as well as monthly (rbiEXPERT only had monthly)
7. Percent Change charts now available. (rbiEXPERT required users to export to Excel to see $ or sales appreciation).
8. We've optimized the colors in the charts to more clearly differentiate between side-by-side series.
9. An "Explore" feature on steroids
10. Compare stats for all subdivisions within city or county (rbiEXPERT didn't let you compare subdivisions).
11. Compare all cities in a county or region (rbiEXPERT only let you compare ZIP codes)
12. Compare all ZIP codes in a region, like Northern Virginia. (rbiEXPERT only let you compare a region's counties)
13. Sixteen stats can be "Explored" (rbiEXPERT only had 6)
14. Export any list to Excel (rbiEXPERT didn't have an Export function in Explore)
15. Get Year-to-Date metrics for any locations within a given county or region.
I was an rbiEXPERT customer. How do I get into SmartCharts Pro?
Simply log in with your rbiEXPERT user name and password and you're all set. If you've forgotten your rbiEXPERT credentials, enter the email address you have associated with your RBI product on this page and we'll email you a new password.
I can't remember my password, now what?
No problem, just click on the "Login" link at the top right of any page. On the login screen, there is a link to 'Forgot password?' Click on the link to send yourself password information via email.
Don't forget to add rbintel.com to your trusted email sites to ensure you receive the password emails in your inbox.
How much does a SmartCharts Pro subscription cost?
Less than a tank of gas! We have a low monthly pricing option, no sign-up fees, and no long-term commitments - finally giving real estate professionals access to business-changing statistics without breaking their budget. The monthly subscription costs $23.99/month.
The annual subscription option is only $199.88, representing a 30% discount compared to the monthly rate. While this payment would be made upfront, it averages out to just $16.66/month. Whether you sign up for the monthly or annual plan, you will automatically be given a 14-day test drive. Cancel any time during the Test Drive period and no charges will be incurred. If you choose to continue, your credit card will be automatically charged at the end of day 14.
Click here to start your test drive
If it's a 14-day free test drive, why do you need my credit card?
All new subscriptions require a valid credit card be supplied at sign up, though no charges will be incurred at that time. There is no charge until the 14-day trial is over, and you may cancel online prior to the end of the trial period in the "Your Account" section.
How am I billed for my SmartCharts Pro subscription?
Billing charges will appear on your credit card as a charge from RealEstate Business Intelligence (RBI). If you need to change your credit card or update the expiration date of your credit card, click on Your Account link in the upper-right hand corner of the screen and click on the link for Billing Information.
Statements are sent to the email address you entered when signing up. Make sure you have trusted rbintel.com to ensure you receive your billing-related emails.
If you have further questions about billing, please email billing@rbintel.com and be sure to include your full name and contact information when sending an email to us.
If an MRIS subscriber is suspended for non-payment, will their RBI subscription be suspended as well?
Since all RBI service is prepaid, their RBI service will continue until their prepaid period ends, either the end of the current month or the end of their annual subscription. There is no automatic termination of RBI accounts. If their RBI account expires and they try to re-subscribe to RBI after they have been suspended or terminated by MRIS, they no longer appear in the MRIS active agent table, and their re-subscription cannot be completed.
Note: When RBI credit cards are declined due to expiration, decline or closed account, RBI will attempt to collect and notify the RBI customer for a period of 21 days before the customer’s account is automatically cancelled. If the customer wishes to re-subscribe anytime thereafter, all they need to do is sign up for a brand new subscription and provide new or updated credit card information.
Where are the RBI MarketWatch videos?
We're still offering the free MarketWatch videos for anyone to view and/or embed on their website. The videos will continue to appear on rbintel.com. You can find them here: http://www.rbintel.com/marketwatch-videos.
Where does SmartCharts data come from?
Our data comes directly from the Multiple Listing Service (MLS).
What stats are available in SmartCharts Pro?
View the "Charts" section on the MRIS-wide location page to get a view all the stats available, and more importantly, check out how easy it is to compare various metrics and drill down by housing characteristics. This will let you play with the actual product interface, but against too wide of an area to be of tremendous use to your business..
Here is the complete list of stats available (see the Definitions page for more information):
Supply and Demand
Months of Supply
Contract Ratio
Absorption Rate (New Pendings)
Absorption Rate (Closed Sales)
New Pending to New Listing Ratio
Seller Success Rate
Market Activity
Number of Sales
Number of New Pendings
Number of All Pendings (end-of-period)
Number of New Listings
Number of Active Listings (end-of-period)
Pricing Trends
Median Sale Price
Average Sale Price
Median List Price for Sales
Average List Price for Sales
Median List Price New Pendings
Average List Price for New Pendings
Median List Price for New Listings
Average List Price for New Listings
Median List Price for Active Listings (end-of-period)
Average List Price for Active Listings (end-of-period)
$ per Square Foot
Median Sold Price per Square Foot
Median List Price per Square Foot (Sales)
Median List Price per Square Foot (New Pendings)
Median List Price per Square Foot (All Pendings)
Median List Price per Square Foot (New Listings)
Median List Price per Square Foot (Active Listings)
Average Sold Price per Square Foot
Average List Price per Square Foot (Sales)
Average List Price per Square Foot (New Pendings)
Average List Price per Square Foot (All Pendings)
Average List Price per Square Foot (New Listings)
Average List Price per Square Foot (Active Listings)
Pricing Ratios
Median Sales Price to Original List Price Ratio
Average Sales Price to Original List Price Ratio
Median Sales Price to List Price Ratio
Average Sales Price to List Price Ratio
Days on Market
Median Days on Market
Median Contract to Settle
Median Days to Settle
Average Days on Market
Average Contract to Settle
Average Days to Settle
When are new data and reports released?
Monthly market activity reports are released on the 10th day of each month at 10am. If the 10th occurs on a weekend or holiday, the reports will be published at 10am on the next business day. Publishing on the 10th allows agents to update their sold listings within a few days after the end of the previous month. It also allows data to be reviewed and cleansed to provide accurate results.
How do I view stats for a different location in my MLS?
Just start typing in any location in the "Change Location" box at the top of the page. The location types you can access depend on your account type. Free users can access (limited) stats and reports for the following location types:
MLS-wide
Regional
County
ZIP code
SmartCharts Pro users have access to interactive charts, market gauges, Local Market Insight reports, and more for the following location types:
MLS-wide
Regional
County
City
ZIP code
Advertised Subdivisions
Legal Subdivisions
How do I embed a custom chart on my website or blog?
If you want to embed a chart on your site or blog, follow these easy steps:
1. Choose the EMBED option below the chart. You will get a secondary screen with various options.
2. Choose the EMBED TYPE. The auto-update feature will allow you to embed the chart and 'set it and forget it'. Each month, the chart will automatically update with new data if that option is chosen. If you are writing a blog and talking about the data in the chart, that's when you might choose the Fixed Date Range Version instead.
3. Choose the SIZE desired.
4. Copy and paste the HTML code into your website's editor.
5. If desired, add a title or paragraph explaining the chart for your customers.
6. You're all set! Your customers will now have access to the chart you chose. Here's an example:
How do I interpret the dashboard gauges?
Each gauge on the dashboard provides critical info about a key metric for the location selected. It provides a single view of the indicator for the most recent month and how it compares with the 5-year minimum for that month, the 5-year maximum for that month and the 5-year average for that month. Due to the seasonal nature of real estate statistics, the ability to compare stats vs. the same period in the past is a great way to gauge market health.
The following graphic should help you understand the key points of our gauges:
What happens when a ZIP Code straddles multiple cities?
The US Postal Service (USPS) database is used to determine each ZIP Code and its corresponding city name. When a ZIP Code straddles multiple cities, the USPS standard is followed and the default city name is used on the report. However, the data for the entire ZIP Code is in the report regardless of how many city names may refer to the ZIP Code.
Who can see subdivision-level statistics?
All stats for subdivisions are available exclusively for rbiEXPERT customers. A free, 14-day test drive of rbiEXPERT is available for all new subscribers. If you cancel before the 14 days are up, your credit card will not be charged.
Why isn’t my subdivision available?
Subdivisions were added based upon a minimum number of sales in the past two years. Any legal or advertised subdivision that has fewer than 12 sales over the past two years (averaging less than half a sale per month) was excluded from the product. For statistics to be useful, this minimum was necessary or the reports would just have a bunch of zeroes.
Why do you have both Legal and Advertised subdivision?
The legal Subdivision is provided by the public records for a listing. These are filled in for most listings, but sometimes they are not the known name for the area. For instance, in DC, the Georgetown area is shown as Old City #1. The Advertised Subdivision can be entered by the agents when adding a listing and represents what an area is locally known as. Statistics for both have been provided because there is value in looking at both sets of statistics.
What is the difference between Legal and Advertised Subdivision?
Legal Subdivision is the name of the subdivision as provided by the taxing jurisdiction and cannot be edited by the Listing Agent for the listing. The Advertised Subdivision is available in a listing to provide the subdivision name that may be more locally known and the Listing Agent has the ability to edit it in the listing.
The number of sales in an Advertised Subdivision appears to be low, why?
If you are looking at an Advertised Subdivision, some listings may be missing in the stats due to agents making typographical errors or other mistakes when entering a listing into Keystone. Another reason: The Advertised Subdivision field defaults to the Legal Subdivision name, some agents may choose to update that name while others leave it as is. The data reported is solely based on the final input in that user-editable field.
Why do I see the same subdivision with more than one city name?
Some subdivisions cross City Names/Zip Codes due to how the subdivision was built over the years. Also, subdivision names are not unique and the best way to represent them was to include the city name with each.
Another agent entered a listing in the wrong advertised subdivision, how do I get this corrected?
Contact the Compliance Department with MRIS to let them know of any listing that may have an error in it.
Who can see city-level statistics?
All stats for cities are available exclusively for SmartCharts Pro customers. A free, 14-day test drive of SmartCharts Pro is available for all new subscribers. If you cancel before the 14 days are up, your credit card will not be charged.
What was the methodology followed to aggregate “city” statistics?
The United States Postal Service groups one or more ZIP codes into what’s referred to as a “USPS Preferred City Name”. RBI ran all of the MRIS ZIP codes against the USPS Preferred City Name database in order to map every ZIP code to a city. Once we had every ZIP associated with the applicable Preferred City Name, we then ran all listing activity for applicable ZIPs, which were then stored in the City rollups. This methodology was the ideal way to get to a standardized list of cities
How can a city and ZIP code have the same stats?
Whenever there is only 1 ZIP code associated with a “Preferred City Name”, then the stats will be identical. In such cases, if you were to compare the city with its ZIP code, you will only see one line charted.
What areas constitute the "Mid-Atlantic Region"?
The Mid-Atlantic Region includes the jurisdictions relating to the MRIS Shareholders (Associations and Boards of Realtors). Below is a list by state of the jurisdictions included in the Mid-Atlantic Region.
DC - Washington, DC
Maryland - Allegany County, Anne Arundel County, Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Calvert County, Caroline County, Carroll County, Cecil County, Charles County, Dorchester County, Frederick County, Garrett County, Harford County, Howard County, Kent County, Montgomery County, Prince George's County, Queen Anne's County, St. Mary's County, Talbot County, and Washington County
Pennsylvania - Franklin County and Fulton County
Virginia - Alexandria City, Arlington County, Caroline County, Clarke County, Culpeper County, Fairfax City, Fairfax County, Falls Church City, Fauquier County, Frederick County, Fredericksburg City, King George County, Loudoun County, Madison County, Manassas City, Manassas Park City, Page County, Prince William County, Rappahannock County, Shenandoah County, Spotsylvania County, Stafford County, Warren County, and Winchester City
West Virginia - Berkeley County, Grant County, Hampshire County, Hardy County, Jefferson County, Mineral County, Morgan County, and Pendleton County
I see regional roll-ups, which counties make up each region?
Baltimore Metro - Anne Arundel County, Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Carroll County, Harford County, Howard County
DC Metro - Alexandria City, Arlington County, Fairfax City, Fairfax County, Falls Church City, Montgomery County, Prince George's County, Washington, D.C.
Eastern Shore - Caroline County, Cecil County, Dorchester County, Kent County, Queen Anne's County, Talbot County
Maryland Suburbs - Montgomery County, Prince George's County
Northern Region - Caroline County, Cecil County, Dorchester County, Kent County, Queen Anne's County, Talbot County
Northern Virginia - Alexandria City, Arlington County, Fairfax City, Fairfax County, Falls Church City, Fauquier County, Loudoun County, Manassas City, Manassas Park City, Prince William County
Southern Maryland - Calvert County, Charles County, Saint Mary's County
Southern Region - Caroline County, Culpeper County, Fredericksburg City, King George County, Madison County, Orange County, Rappahannock County, Spotsylvania County, Stafford County
Western Region - Allegany County (MD), Clarke County (VA), Frederick County (VA), Garrett County (MD), Hampshire County (WV), Hardy County (WV), Mineral County (WV), Page County (PA), Pendleton County (PA), Shenandoah County (VA), Warren County (VA), Winchester City (VA)