Zillow’s New Insight on the Unit Economics of the iBuyer
Release Date: 03/14/2019
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...
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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_outline
DOJ Drops Statement of Interest in the Nosalek Case
Industry Relations
What impact will the Department of Justice's stance on the MLS settlement have on the future of buying and selling houses? In this important episode of "Industry Relations," Rob and Greg talk about a big message from the Department of Justice (DOJ) about the MLS settlement. The DOJ seems to want the court to say no to the settlement. Selling agents might not make as much money as before, and buyers agents might need to show why they're worth their commission more than ever. It's time to start thinking about how we can prepare for change and innovate new approaches in serving buyers and seller....
info_outline
To this point, we assumed that the iBuyer model would target homeowners willing to pay for convenience and that the average consumer would continue to employ a real estate agent—and earn more money for their patience. But Zillow’s Q4 numbers reflect that homeowners can actually make MORE selling to the platform than they would with a realtor. So, how does this information impact the potential market share of iBuyers moving forward? And how will it affect the way agents do business?
Today, Rob and Greg are discussing the change in leadership at Zillow, debating the company’s performance under Spencer Rascoff and Richard Barton’s motivation to return as CEO. They explore the possibility of a merger between Opendoor and Zillow, uniting the former’s mastery of workflow with the latter’s proficiency at lead flow.
Rob and Greg also speak to Redfin’s potential to adopt the iBuyer model and the way of thinking shared by Redfin and Opendoor. Listen in to understand the full implications of Zillow’s Q4 iBuyer unit economics learn how the iBuyer market may impact the industry in light of this new information.
What’s Discussed:
Barton’s motivation to return to Zillow as CEO
Zillow’s performance under Rascoff’s leadership
Opendoor’s complementary mastery of workflow
Zillow’s hiring of Arik Prawer to run iBuyer operations
The shared philosophy between Redfin and Opendoor
The implications of Zillow’s Q4 iBuyer unit economics
How iBuyer unit economics may impact realtors
Connect with Rob and Greg:
Resources:
‘Homeowners Net More Selling to Zillow Than with a REALTOR’ in Notorious ROB
‘Spencer Rascoff Out as CEO of Zillow’ in Vendor Alley
Mike DelPrete’s Presentation at Inman Connect
Our Sponsors: