What’s in store for the real estate industry moving forward into 2018?
Some might consider this a supplement to Rob's article on Inman News, 7 predictions 2018: Disco Fever. But it was recorded before the article was published. In this episode Rob and Greg try their hand at anticipating what’s ahead, offering predictions around the outlook for the MLS, Bob Goldberg and the NAR, the housing market, brokerages, technology and the culture of the industry. They begin with the ‘Blame the MLS’ debate caused by Bob’s response to the Inman Upstream article and Greg’s subsequent South Park blog post. Next, they offer an overview of leadership changes among major industry players and work through the big mystery surrounding RE/MAX’s failure to report Q3 earnings.
Rob and Greg speak to Facebook’s entry into real estate, discussing the differences between the social media powerhouse and Zillow as well as the potential for a syndication deal with Facebook in the coming year. They cover how MLS of Choice is likely to affect the industry, the continuing trend toward the tech-enabled brokerage model, and how NAR’s success in making changes to the tax plan might play out in the 2018 campaign season. Listen in for Rob and Greg’s insight on how the cultural phenomenon that is #MeToo might rock real estate and who will make the biggest splash in the technology space this year.
What’s Discussed:
The tendency among industry players to ‘blame the MLS’
The mystery around RE/MAX’s failure to report Q3 earnings
Facebook’s entry into real estate
The potential for a direct syndication deal with Facebook in 2018
Real estate as the ‘last frontier of disruption’
Greg’s insight around the rise of virtual MLSs
How MLS of Choice could trigger the first ‘hostile takeover’
The likelihood of non-contiguous consolidation activity among MLSs
Rob’s take on how HAR could leverage MLS of Choice
NAR’s big win on Capitol Hill regarding the tax plan
NAR’s increase in political spending in 2018
The trend of brokerages to adopt a tech-enabled model
Mergers and acquisitions in the vendor space
The probability that #MeToo will rock real estate in 2018
Who is apt to make the biggest splash in real estate tech this year
Resources:
Andrea’s Upstream Article in Inman
‘Blame the MLS’ on Vendor Alley
Everybody Wins: The Story and Lessons Behind RE/MAX by Phil Harkins and Keith Hollihan
Mike’s Breakdown of Facebook vs. Zillow
Inman Article on Using Facebook for Lead Gen
Connect with Rob and Greg:
Take a moment to reflect on the past year in real estate… What were the hot topics of 2017? The appointment of a new NAR CEO is probably on your list, along with Zillow jumping into the iBuyer game and Redfin going public. Maybe the Upstream pivot came to mind, or one of the many stories around venture capital and private equity investing in tech-enabled brokerages.
Rob and Greg are taking the time to look back at 2017 and discuss the top five issues that rocked residential real estate this year. They start with the appointment of Bob Goldberg as the new leader of NAR, evaluating his performance so far and how the proposed tax bill will test him in this role. Rob and Greg go on to cover 2017 as the year of the iBuyer, explaining how the model is yet to be profitable and the circumstances under which platforms like Opendoor and OfferPad might become more mainstream.
Rob offers his take on the dynamics between Redfin and Zillow, discussing why he considers the Redfin IPO to be the biggest thing in real estate this year. Greg raises the issue of SoftBank’s investment in Compass, speaking to the influx of capital pouring into the space and the many examples of consolidation in the industry. They walk through the impact of MLS of Choice and what might change as a result of the new policy as well as the question of what success looks like for RPR as Upstream appears to lose relevance. Listen in for Rob and Greg’s overview of the hottest stories in real estate this past year and their insight on what’s to come in 2018.
What’s Discussed:
The appointment of Bob Goldberg as NAR CEO
How the tax reform bill will serve as a test for Bob
What made 2017 the year of the iBuyer
How market conditions and margins impact the popularity of iBuyers
Why Rob considers Redfin going public the biggest event of 2017
Redfin’s employee-agent model and culture of consumer focus
The influx of capital pouring into residential real estate
- SoftBank’s $450M investment in Compass
- Consolidation and tech-enabled brokerages
The significance of ‘MLS of Choice’
The proposal to shut down RPR
Upstream’s apparent loss of relevance
Resources:
“Why Does Compass Keep Winning?” in Inman
Connect with Rob and Greg: