Can You Regulate “Public Marketing”?
Industry Relations
The Industry Relations Podcast is now available on your favorite podcast player! Overview Rob and Greg open the episode by honoring Glenn Kelman’s retirement from Redfin, reflecting on his leadership style, industry impact, and memorable moments. The conversation then pivots to new state-level legislation in Wisconsin and Washington targeting listing transparency, and whether laws attempting to regulate “public marketing” will actually change broker behavior—or simply create loopholes. Key Takeaways Glenn Kelman’s legacy: Widely regarded as a first-ballot industry Hall of Famer for...
info_outline
Compass Closes, CoStar Cuts, TAN Stirs the Pot.
Industry Relations
The Industry Relations Podcast is now available on your favorite podcast player! Overview Rob and Greg dive into a packed week in real estate: the Compass–Anywhere deal officially closes, CoStar announces major spending cuts for Homes.com, and the recently settled Top Agent Network lawsuit raises big questions about the future of Clear Cooperation. They debate what these moves mean for MLSs, brokers, and portals—and preview the industry shake-ups still to come. Key Takeaways MLS Reset is sold out, with Rob returning as a featured speaker. Compass–Anywhere deal closes, surprising some...
info_outline
What if the MLS Becomes Optional?
Industry Relations
The Industry Relations Podcast is now available on your favorite podcast player! Overview In this episode, Rob and Greg dive into the implications of a future where exclusive listings become the industry norm. They explore how this shift could reshape brokerages, MLS operations, agent recruitment, consumer transparency, and portal business models. With a slow news week in real estate, the discussion becomes a deep speculative analysis of what happens if the market fully embraces private listing networks, how big brokers consolidate power, and whether the MLS becomes a “nice to have” rather...
info_outline
Forecast 2026: Mortgage Rates, MLS Wars, and Industry Consolidations
Industry Relations
The Industry Relations Podcast is now available on your favorite podcast player! Overview Rob Hahn and Greg Robertson close out the year with their annual predictions episode. They debate where housing transactions, interest rates, and home prices are headed, then turn to broader market forecasts. The conversation shifts to industry-specific predictions around lawsuits, private listings, MLS policy, portal strategy, and where consolidation may reshape brokerages and real estate technology next. Key Takeaways Existing home sales, interest rates, and median home price predictions — with very...
info_outline
2025 in the Rearview: Who Got It Right?
Industry Relations
The Industry Relations Podcast is now available on your favorite podcast player! Overview Rob Hahn and Greg Robertson close out the year by revisiting their 2024 predictions and grading how they actually turned out. From transaction volume and mortgage rates to MLS power shifts, NAR’s role, Zillow’s influence, and major industry moments, the episode becomes a candid year-in-review on what really changed—and what didn’t—in real estate. Key Takeaways Greg outperformed Rob on most economic predictions, including transaction volume, mortgage rates, and median home prices. The stock...
info_outline
Who Runs Bartertown?
Industry Relations
The Industry Relations Podcast is now available on your favorite podcast player! Overview Rob Hahn and Greg Robertson dig into the escalating conflict between Zillow and MRED over private listing networks (PLNs), IDX rules, and Zillow’s Listing Access Standards (ZLAS). What starts as a dispute over listing visibility quickly becomes a deeper conversation about power: who ultimately controls listing data—the MLS or the portal? The episode explores MRED’s emails to brokers, Zillow’s outreach for direct feeds, potential January disruptions, and why this fight could set a precedent for...
info_outline
How Much Transparency Is Too Much?
Industry Relations
The Industry Relations Podcast is now available on your favorite podcast player! Overview In this episode, Rob and Greg dive into the recurring issue of embezzlement and financial mismanagement within small Realtor associations. Using recent cases as a jumping-off point, they debate what “transparency” should actually look like in a member-driven nonprofit, whether associations should provide full access to financial records, and what safeguards could reasonably prevent future financial failures. The discussion gets spirited as they explore audits, member oversight, governance culture, and...
info_outline
From ‘Raise the Bar’ to ‘Lower the Stakes’: Real Estate’s Consistency Problem
Industry Relations
The Industry Relations Podcast is now available on your favorite podcast player! Overview Rob and Greg break down the newest developments in NAR governance, the fallout from the failed referral-fee disclosure vote, and the rapid moves by industry players like eXp and CAR to implement their own transparency standards. They also examine broader structural questions: Should MLSs raise the bar? Is the NAR brand salvageable? The conversation then turns to Zillow’s decision to remove climate-risk scores, shifting public sentiment, and the growing political and economic pressures facing housing,...
info_outline
Compass and Zillow Play Chicken
Industry Relations
The Industry Relations Podcast is now available on your favorite podcast player! Overview In this episode, Rob and Greg dive into the newly surfaced Zillow–Compass court documents, a leaked Zillow strategy plan, and Mike DelPrete’s analysis of the preliminary injunction hearing. They also discuss the broader market context—from the real cost of living in 2025 to generational tension—and debate whether the lawsuit will meaningfully change industry behavior. The conversation closes with predictions, stakes, and possible compromise paths between Compass and Zillow. Key Takeaways A...
info_outline
MLS Emancipation?
Industry Relations
The Industry Relations Podcast is now available on your favorite podcast player! Overview Rob and Greg break down what happened at NAR NXT in Houston — from the empty expo floor to major MLS–Association policy changes. Greg shares on-the-ground insights from meetings, parties, and conversations with MLS leaders, while Rob analyzes the strategic implications of NAR’s 18-point PAG recommendations and what he calls the “emancipation” of MLSs. They also discuss winners and losers of the policy shifts, potential impacts on associations, vendors, portals, and brokers, and tee up a future...
info_outlineThe Industry Relations Podcast is now available on your favorite podcast player!
In this episode, Rob and Greg dive into Zillow’s legal strategy in its defense against Compass's lawsuit, focusing on Zillow’s surprising claim that it only facilitates a “single-digit” percentage of real estate transactions. They debate the strategic implications of this position—especially how it could undermine Zillow’s perception of power in the industry—and analyze the broader impact on listing presentations, MLS relationships, and competitors like Compass and Homes.com. They also preview the upcoming Inman Connect in San Diego and discuss potential industry sentiment and attendance given the market’s current challenges.
Key Takeaways
-
Zillow's Legal Strategy: Zillow argues it is not a monopoly, claiming it only facilitates a single-digit percentage of home transactions.
-
Strategic Risk: Rob questions why Zillow would make this claim, suggesting it weakens their perceived power and brand strength in the industry.
-
Agent Sales Impact: The claim could hurt Zillow's Premier Agent business by giving competitors a compelling narrative (“why pay for single-digit exposure?”).
-
Compass Lawsuit Context: The lawsuit stems from Compass’s perception that Zillow’s policies harmed their three-phase marketing strategy and listing exposure.
-
MLS Relationships: Rob and Greg wonder how MLSs might reevaluate their relationships with Zillow after this shift in positioning.
-
eXp-Zillow Data Feed Deal: Rob questions why eXp is sending direct data feeds to Zillow when MLS feeds already exist.
-
Inman Connect Preview: Greg expects a smaller, more introspective crowd due to market conditions. He plans to gather MLS sentiment on the ground.
-
Industry Power Perception: Rob contends Zillow is still the most powerful entity in organized real estate—more than NAR post-clear cooperation—making its current legal stance all the more surprising.
Connect with Rob and Greg
Watch us on YouTube
Our Sponsors:
Production and Editing Services by Sunbound Studios