Predicting the Winners in Real Estate by Way of Research—with Brad Safalow
Release Date: 11/30/2018
Zillow's Touring Agreement and Consumer Experience Simping
Industry Relations
With buyer agreements having to take place before a showing and Zillow’s new touring agreement what will the end consumer experience be? In this episode, Rob and Greg discuss updates on the NAR settlement and Zillow's new touring agreement. They explore the implications of the settlement for big brokers and the role of the MLS policy committee. They break down Zillow's touring agreement and the industry's reaction to it, highlighting the friction it creates in the seamless consumer experience. This friction resulted in a heated debate between the two, but agreed on the importance of...
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The $250M Settlement That will Impact the Industry
Industry Relations
HomeServices of America has reached a settlement in the slew of commission lawsuits. Now that a huge domino has fallen, what will happen next in the industry? Rob and Greg discuss the next steps in the commission lawsuits and the potential challenges faced by copycat lawsuits. They also discuss the role of lawyers and the potential opt-out strategy for larger builders. And how fair are these settlements and will it potentially impact recruiting and retention efforts? They discuss other major players like Compass, Keller Williams, and EXP, bringing to light the dynamic changes in...
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CoStar Acquires Matterport: The Photography Wars
Industry Relations
How will CoStar’s recent buyout of Matterport affect the industry? In this episode Rob and Greg dive into the recent acquisition of Matterport by CoStar and how Rob and Greg predicted this years ago. How will Zillow respond? And how will other industry giants such as Redfin be affected by this huge announcement? They also talk about Realtor.com's CEO, Damian Eales, and his plans to expand the portal's offerings. But beyond the competition between these portals lies an important conversation about raising the bar in the industry and eliminating low-quality agents for the betterment of...
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Unpacking Pulte Group's Objection to the NAR Settlement
Industry Relations
Join Rob and Greg in this episode as they talk about the recent objection filed by Pulte Homes to the NAR settlements. Are they valid and will they make an impact? Also, what is Real Estate 3.0? Greg expands on what it means and how it will shift the roles of agents. Rob shares his insights from a recent panel he attended and what the potential for state regulators intervening in commission decoupling could mean for the industry. They also take a bit of a Q & A during this special livestream episode. #NARsettlement #RealEstate3.0 Listen to the Industry Relations Podcast, available on all...
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NAR’s Continuing Legal Battles
Industry Relations
Not one week goes by without some huge industry news surrounding NAR. In this episode, Rob ang Greg discuss the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals' reversal in the NAR vs. US lawsuit, paving way for a new probe in the wake of the pending commission lawsuit settlement. Rob and Greg explore the antitrust lawsuit's history, implications of the reversal, and how it aligns with their predictions for the industry and future of NAR. Greg talks about the NAR-DOJ agreement and potential political impacts, while Rob focuses on the long-term effects. The dynamic duo stress on focusing on industry...
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The NAR Settlement Part 2
Industry Relations
Did you catch the sparks fly on the last episode of Industry Relations? In case you missed it, last week Rob and Greg got into a verbal fistfight. Made up. Became friends again. And are now ready for round 2. Rob and Greg continue their NAR settlement talk, post verbal tussle. Exploring NAR's $418 million settlement, they talk about the association's PR challenges, trust issues, and internal rifts. Questioning leadership and missed PR opportunities, they call for urgent reform. Facing a crucial crossroads, the industry risks becoming a societal scapegoat. Rob and Greg urge...
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The NAR Settlement: The Good, the Bad, and the Unknown
Industry Relations
What will the recent NAR settlement mean for the future of real estate, technology, and industry navigation? In this episode of Industry Relations, Rob and Greg discuss the outcomes of the recent NAR settlement. They provide insights on the agreement, exploring their reactions and perspectives on the settlement's details. From provisions to backlash, they discuss public perception, legal frameworks, and implications for agents, brokers, and the market. During the discussion, Rob and Greg also disagree with one another at times, and fight like a married couple. After this episode discussing the...
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A Multi-Million Dollar Settlement: Unpacking NAR's Landmark Deal with the DOJ
Industry Relations
Tune in to this must-listen episode of *Industry Relations* for an incisive breakdown of the NAR's landmark settlement, its ramifications, and the many lingering questions that promise to shape the discourse in real estate circles for years to come. Whether you're a real estate professional, an industry watcher, or just keen on understanding the forces shaping one of the economy's key sectors, this episode is for you. In a pivotal episode of Industry Relations, hosts Rob Hahn and Greg Robertson dive deep into a recent seismic shift within the real estate horizon—The National Association of...
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Is the Real Estate Industry Getting Their Mojo Back?
Industry Relations
What does the future hold for real estate commissions? On this episode of Industry Relations, Rob and Greg discuss the Clarity event and the legal updates regarding real estate commissions. They explore the concept of concessions and the issue of steering in the industry, the need for improved buyer agency agreements and buyer presentations and the defiance of industry professionals and the potential impact of government regulations on real estate commissions. Rob and Greg also cover various topics related to the real estate industry, including the myth of the Australian model, the reality of...
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Does NAR have a competence problem?
Industry Relations
Who bears the brunt of legal defense costs? What financial toll does this uncertainty cast on associations? On this episode of Industry Relations, Rob and Greg dive into the pressing issues faced by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) and its profound impact on local associations, MLSs and brokers. The insurance dilemma that has recently come to light, along with the unclear communication and lack of transparency from NAR is concerning to put it mildly. And the conversation doesn't stop at insurance mishaps. Rob and Greg confront the broader issue plaguing the real estate industry - a...
info_outlineWe can all agree that the real estate industry is evolving quickly. Is there any way to predict who the winners in the space will be over the next few years? Brad Safalow has done nine years of research surveying hundreds of real estate agents on the housing market in general, online lead generation, marketing and technology. Curious what all that data might tell us about the future of industry players like Zillow, Redfin and Realogy? What about the potential market share of the growing iBuyer model? Or how independent brokerages might respond to the competition?
Brad is the founder of Please Act Accordingly Research, an independent research firm providing investment ideas to professional money managers and high-net-worth individuals. He began his career in the leveraged finance group at JPMorgan before joining RiverEdge Capital, a global equity hedge fund, where he specialized in small/mid cap stocks and short idea generation. Brad has been serving clients through PAA since 2009, generating 6+ action-oriented investment ideas annually, with high absolute return potential.
Today, Brad joins Rob and Greg to share a high-level overview of his report on the real estate industry. Brad shares his take on the challenges Zillow is facing with the backlash against Premier Agent 4 and its foray into the iBuyer market. Rob highlights the concentration of power in real estate and its influence on Zillow’s continued success, and Greg asks about the pros and cons of the iBuyer model and its potential share of the marketplace moving forward. Brad also shares his experience working with Redfin versus a traditional brokerage, and they offer insight around how Redfin’s national ad campaign might prove to be a seminal moment in the industry. Listen in to understand how independent brokerages like Keller Williams and Realogy are responding to the iBuyer threat and a potential shift in commission structure—and get Brad, Rob and Greg’s predictions around the winners and losers in the space over the next three years.
What’s Discussed:
The PAA annual survey of real estate agents
A high-level overview of Brad’s report
The reasons why Zillow’s stock is taking a hit
How Zillow’s growth depends on agent teams
Why Zillow launched Premier Agent 4
How Zillow responded to backlash against PA4
The concentration of power in the industry
Why Zillow is pursuing the iBuyer model
The iBuyer’s potential share of the market
How Zillow may profit as a mortgage business
Efforts to improve the consumer experience
Redfin vs. the traditional brokerage experience
The impact of Redfin’s national ad campaign
The effects a shift in commission structure
The fear/panic among independent brokerages
Gary Keller’s understanding of the iBuyer threat
Realogy’s doubling down on traditional strategy
Resources:
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