The November 2020 DOJ-NAR settlement requires that buyer’s agent commissions are apparent to consumers. But that transparency is just a first step in a push to divorce real estate commissions entirely. Should the other DOJ lawsuits succeed, home buyers will negotiate buy-side commissions directly with the buyer’s agent. So, what happens if the disruptors calling for these changes (like Jack Ryan) get their way?
On this episode of Industry Relations, Rob and Greg discuss Sam DeBord’s passionate Tweetstorm in response to their recent interview with Jack Ryan of REX, clarifying the arguments made by both Jack and Sam and considering how transparency around buyer’s agent commissions is likely to reduce the population of agent-facilitators and drive market share to the true realtor-counselors in the space.
Rob and Greg describe how a rule ending cooperation and compensation would impact the industry long-term, exploring a possible transition from a buyer’s commission to a flat fee or hourly model. Listen in for insight into the questions industry disruptors raise with regard to the role of the MLS, the brokerage, and the agent in the absence of cooperation and compensation.
What’s Discussed:
Lone Wolf’s acquisition of W+R Studios and how Greg & Dan are sharing $1M of the proceeds with their team
Sam DeBord’s passionate Tweetstorm in response to our interview with Jack Ryan of REX
What makes a real estate agent a facilitator vs. a counselor
How transparency around buyer’s agent commissions could significantly reduce the agent population
How Jack Ryan’s background in politics and high finance informs the way he thinks about making real estate better for consumers
How the end of cooperative compensation is likely to disrupt real estate referral networks
The opportunity for vendors to help buyer’s agents demonstrate their value
Why Rob thinks there could be a transition from buyer’s agent commissions to a flat fee or hourly model
What agents and brokers might do to take advantage of the required disclosure of buyer’s agent commissions
The questions Jack Ryan’s line of attack raises re: the value prop of the MLS or the real estate brokerage in the absence of cooperation and compensation
Connect with Rob and Greg:
Resources:
Lone Wolf’s Acquisition of W+R Studios
Greg’s Post on the Lone Wolf Acquisition
Sam DeBord’s Tweetstorm on Jack Ryan
Jack Ryan on Industry Relations EP055
Spencer Rascoff & Austin Allision on Industry Relations EP056
HousingWire’s Acquisition of REAL Trends
Jeff Corbett’s Post on Divorcing Real Estate Commissions
The NAR-DOJ Agreement on MLS Rules
Biden’s Proposed First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit
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What happens when real estate tech royalty get together to brainstorm business ideas? Not surprisingly, a general discussion of underutilized assets lends itself to a new proptech venture.
Spencer Rascoff (former CEO of Zillow) and Austin Allison (co-founder of dotloop) are the Cofounders of Pacaso, a startup working to democratize access to second homeownership. On this episode of the podcast, real estate tech OGs Spencer and Austin join Rob and Greg to discuss how Pacaso solves the problem around the underutilization of second homes and explain how consumers, agents, and brokers alike benefit from the service.
Spencer and Austin describe how Pacaso manages scheduling and dispute resolution, sharing what differentiates their product from a timeshare or the traditional DIY co-ownership model. Listen in for Spencer and Austin’s insight on current events in the industry, including the radical acceleration of tech adoption through COVID, the long-term impact of the DOJ lawsuit against NAR, and CoStar CEO Andy Florance’s attack on Zillow.
What’s Discussed:
How Pacaso solves the problem around underutilization of second homes
How consumers, agents, and brokers benefit from Pacaso
What differentiates Pacaso from a timeshare
How Pacaso handles scheduling and what happens if one owner uses the home much more than the others
Why Spencer & Austin don’t see Airbnb as competition
How Pacaso manages dispute resolution and governance of a property
Why friction among owners is less likely with Pacaso vs. the DIY model
Spencer & Austin’s response to the idea that Pacaso is ‘rich people solving rich people problems’
How COVID has inspired a demand for co-ownership in city centers
How the digitization of real estate has accelerated through the pandemic and what that means for the industry
Why buyer side representation will not go away (despite the DOJ lawsuit)
Andy Florance’s attack on Zillow and how CoStar’s acquisition of Homesnap will impact residential real estate
Connect with Spencer & Austin:
Connect with Rob and Greg:
Resources:
Zillow’s Q2 2020 Earnings Call
Jack Ryan on Industry Relations EP055
CoStar’s Acquisition of Homesnap
Brad Inman’s Interview with Andy Florance
The FTC Suit to Block CoStar’s Acquisition of RentPath
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It has come to light in recent days that REX was the ‘power behind the throne’ in the Department of Justice’s lawsuit against NAR (and subsequent settlement). The suit alleged that the trade group’s rules on commissions artificially inflate the fees paid to real estate agents and put illegal restraints on competition in the market. So, what inspired the upstart firm to take its concerns to the DOJ?
Jack Ryan is the Cofounder and CEO of REX, the digital alternative to the residential real estate agent. REX uses big data and AI to provide consumers with a significant cost savings and an improved customer experience. On this episode of the Industry Relations, Jack joins Rob and Greg to explain why REX went to the Department of Justice and address the perception that his team is hostile to organized real estate.
Jack offers his take on why a commissions drop is not bad news, describing his libertarian vision of the future of real estate and how all involved would benefit—including MLSs, brokers, agents, consumers and communities. Listen in for Jack’s insight on eliminating the friction from the home buying process and find out what would have to change for REX to join the MLS.
What’s Discussed:
Why REX went to the DOJ with NAR’s ‘illegal restraints’ on competition in the market
What differentiates REX from other residential real estate brokerages
What’s behind REX’s decision not to join the MLS
Eliminating repetitive, standardized activities to make the real estate transaction more efficient
What the REX workflow looks like from a buyer’s perspective
Why Jack is more concerned with changing the system than making money
Jack’s argument that a commissions drop is not bad news
How Jack thinks about eliminating the friction from buying and selling a home
How a seller benefits from working with REX in terms of cost savings and level of service
The perception that REX is hostile to organized real estate and what would have to change for Jack to join the MLS
Jack’s libertarian vision around the future of real estate
How REX’s AI continues to improve and Jack’s intent to make the tech available to other brokers and agents
Connect with Jack:
Connect with Rob and Greg:
Resources:
Rob’s Piece on REX and the DOJ
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