How fair is the American economy and who decides what constitutes “fair”? Should the government intervene with the dealings of major American companies, specifically big tech companies, to break up their stranglehold on the U.S. marketplace and its competition, or lack thereof? And how will Biden’s executive order on fair competition affect real estate? In this episode, Rob and Greg go back and forth on the need for competition, what role the Federal Trade Commission should play, how the stock market might be affected, and how much more blood we can expect in the streets.
Link to the Biden order: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/07/09/executive-order-on-promoting-competition-in-the-american-economy/
Link to Greg’s Bloomberg article:
https://www.vendoralley.com/2022/06/16/looking-for-some-talent/
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When autodialers attack! This episode dives into the Realogy lawsuit and what it means for cold calling in not just real estate but other professions as well. Where does the buck stop when it comes to accountability regarding robo-calling? Between outsourcing calls to reallocating marketing funds to more content creation, Rob and Greg discuss the difference between having a profession versus having a job, and how your passion for your craft can often lead to more unique marketing opportunities over standard over-the-phone promotion/dialing for dollars.
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On this episode of Industry Relations things get chaotic. Rob and Greg break the fourth wall in a desperate attempt to talk to the young people about Biden’s Housing Bill and the American Dream so they decide to bring on the show producers, E.J. and Ben. Rob and Greg have very different definitions of the American Dream. Rob is more Norman Rockwell, while Greg is more in line with impulsivity. They also discuss layoffs and whether the real estate market has become unappealing to potential new agents.
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This week on Industry Relations, Greg is out on a vacation in paradise. In his absence, Rob blesses our listeners with an exciting conversation on real estate brokers with his wife, Sunny Lake Hahn. Sunny has first hand experience with brokers because she worked as one at the beginning of her career. Her account of those years involved whiskey, vodka, and many, many tears. Rob and Sunny agree on one thing though: the future of real estate brokers is bleak.
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On this episode of Industry Relations, Rob and Greg are joined by real estate royalty Saul Klein. He discusses the Black Knight/ICE deal to us like we’re five years old, and we try to understand it. Disagreements about, and arguments over its perceived effects.
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On this week’s episode of Industry Relations Greg and Rob welcome Sam DeBord, CEO of RESO, to the show as they dig deep into data standards and why Sam DeBord & RESO need an axe! The guys talk about how to survive week-long conferences as it is officially convention season in America. They talk with Sam about MLS, Web API, RESO, brokers and vendors, and much more!
Learn more about RESO's CEO Sam DeBord: https://www.reso.org/sam-debord/
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On this week's episode of Industry Relations, Greg is back home from the T3 Conference, and tells Rob what he heard. The event was fantastic with many thought-provoking interviews. The duo also discuss the importance of companies having a “prepper” mindset for taking big risks in the world of prop-tech. Join us!
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On this week's episode of Industry Relations, Rob and Greg take a look at some ongoing lawsuits within the real estate realm. They take aim at some lawsuits that shouldn’t have been dismissed, and speak on some that definitely should be thrown out. They get into the intentions of the companies involved and how the Fair Housing Act can be overlooked unintentionally, but still have consequences for minority groups, elderly people, and disabled people. Join us!
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This week on Industry Relations, Greg is out on a vacation in paradise. In his absence, Rob blesses our listeners with an exciting conversation on real estate brokers with his wife, Sunny Lake Hahn. Sunny has first hand experience with brokers because she worked as one at the beginning of her career. Her account of those years involved whiskey, vodka, and many, many tears. Rob and Sunny agree on one thing though: the future of real estate brokers is bleak.
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This week on Industry Relations Rob and Greg pre-game for the upcoming Inman Connect conference in New York City. Greg will be attending and we make predictions on who is going to be there, what everyone will be talking about, and what kind of vendors he will see. The duo will be having a post Inman Connect show once Greg returns home so watch this episode and see how much we suck at predictions!
Watch Greg’s MLS Rap: https://www.inman.com/2016/02/03/watch-greg-robertsons-mls-rap-2/
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This week on Industry Relations, Rob and Greg go head to head on MLS data. They debate whether the MLS industry will die with Zillow when Rob’s proverbial asteroid hits. Greg disagrees and wants to see a future between MLS and CoStar.
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This week on Industry Relations, Rob and Greg discuss the insanity of the current housing market. In our discussion, Rob gets heated about dollar devaluation and nominal inflation; and Greg tells horror stories of house flipping in California. We both agree on one thing though: we need to bring millennial homeownership above 50% before we see generational warfare. Join us!
Please subscribe to our YouTube channel today so we can be known as simply Industry Relations Podcast, and not: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrUi4dF6sAOpacTSkemskkw
Here is the graphic Rob didn’t tell Greg he had lined up: http://pricedingold.com/us-home-prices/
Here is that study Rob discussed about wealth building from Tobias Peter:https://www.aei.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Wealth_Building_WP.pdf?x91208
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On this episode of Industry Relations, Rob and Greg speak with John Cambell; Managing Director of Stephens Inc. We get John's unfiltered opinion on Wall Street's take on the real estate market, and the future of the industry. We also chat about proptech influence with sites such as Zillow, Redfin, and CoStar.
Connect with John Campbell on his LinkedIn Page
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What is an 'enhanced listing?' Do 'enhanced listings' work? Do sellers and buyers want or need them? As Costar comes onto the real estate scene, what will that look like with competitors like Zillow, Realtor, and Apartments.com? What will that look like for sellers and buyers? Greg and Rob discuss what consumers really want when they're searching online in this episode of Industry Relations!
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Today Rob and Greg talk about Marge vs Brenda (don’t worry they’ll explain) How is the average real estate doing vs the top 10 percent? After things like the real estate stocks and the acceleration trends due to the pandemic, who is winning this epic battle? As they say the ‘internet is undefeated’ but is ‘Marge’ undefeated as well? Greg thinks she is, but what does the notorious Rob think? It’s a great discussion on this week’s episode of Industry Relations!
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On today’s episode Rob and Greg talk about creating the “Bloomberg of Real Estate,” with special guest David Blum. David Blum is the co-founder of ‘Plunk’ where they are working to bring the next generation, real-time analytics platform to residential real estate. What does the future of this prop-tech company hold for the real estate industry? Rob Han and Greg Robertson are your hosts for the re-launch premiere of the Industry Relations podcast!
Learn more about David Blum and the exciting work they’re doing for the future of residential real estate at www.getplunk.com.
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On episode 66 of Industry Relations, Rob and Greg discussed the potential repercussions of ending mandatory compensation. And Rob asserted that without cooperation and compensation, the value of the MLS lies solely in its data and technology tools.
How did those comments sit with MLS leaders?
Justin Landon is the CEO of the Lexington-Bluegrass Association of REALTORS, a 4,000-member MLS based in Lexington, Kentucky. Ryan Castle serves as CEO of the Cape Cod & Islands Association of REALTORS, a 3,000-member MLS serving Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard, and Nantucket. On this episode of Industry Relations, Justin and Ryan join Rob and Greg to share their argument against the assertion that the value of the MLS is tied solely to buyer’s compensation.
Justin and Ryan describe the work they do to ensure that listing agents follow data compliance guidelines, explaining how the MLS has evolved to become a catalyst for the adoption of technology and a distribution mechanism among agents and consumers. Listen in for insight on why compensation is usually offered even when it’s not required and learn about the MLS’s role in building technology that facilitates cooperation.
What’s Discussed:
Justin & Ryan’s argument against the assertion that the value of the MLS is tied solely to buyer’s compensation
The work MLSs do to ensure that listing agents follow data compliance guidelines
Why MLS teams need to know the areas they’re serving
How the MLS has evolved to become a distribution mechanism among agents and consumers
Why Rob suggests that MLSs need to invest in developing their own technology if compensation ends
The MLS as a technology provider vs. catalyst for the adoption of technology
Why compensation is usually offered even when it’s not required
The relationship between compensation and the steering problem in real estate
The potential to add reverse auto prospecting and rental data to the MLS
How NAR’s focus on the distribution of data provides an opportunity for MLSs
The MLS’s role in building technology that facilitates cooperation
What we need to do to prevent the government from making the MLS a public utility
Connect with Justin:
Lexington-Bluegrass Association of REALTORS
Connect with Ryan:
Cape Cod & Islands Association of REALTORS
Connect with Rob and Greg:
Resources:
What if Mandatory Compensation Goes Away? on Industry Relations EP066
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Does everything have to be so fast? Shouldn't some things take time?
Especially if it's the largest purchase/sale of your life?
On this episode of Industry Relations, Rob and Greg sit down with Brian Boero of 1000watt, to discuss his recent blog post, "Pushing Buttons". Join this high-level discussion and talk about the future of online real estate.
Does everything have to be so fast? Shouldn't some things take time?
Especially if it's the largest purchase/sale of your life?
On this episode of Industry Relations, Rob and Greg sit down with Brian Boero of 1000watt, to discuss his recent blog post, "Pushing Buttons". Join this high-level discussion about the future of "push button" real estate.
What‘s Discussed:
The consumer experience with pushing buttons
Redfin's 400 step process
The genius of Zillow's "Super App" marketing messaging
Greg talks "Zuber"
Keeping up with the consumer
What does a "better" real estate experience look like?
Connect with Rob & Greg:
Rob’s Website
Greg’s Website
Resources:
Brian's "Pushing Buttons" blog post
1000watt's website
Amazon's Day One Philosophy
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Who owns the data associated with a house?
As it stands right now, the listing broker is in control. But what if a buyer doesn’t want a floor plan or 3-D walkthrough of their new home available online?
There is growing public concern around data privacy in big tech, yet few are talking about how this translates to the real estate industry.
On this episode of Industry Relations, Rob and Greg sit down to discuss the complexities around who owns real estate data, considering whether homeowners should have ownership rights to the data for their property.
They explain the current privacy laws around street photography and explore the expectation of privacy in public records—including MLS databases.
Listen in to understand how privacy policies might impact different players in the real estate space and learn how to think about who should own property data once the SOLD sign goes up.
What‘s Discussed:
The ruling in the VHT v. Zillow case re: copyright in real estate photography
Who currently owns the data about a house and why it’s such a complex issue
Whether homeowners have ownership rights to the data for their property
The safety concerns associated with making property data available online (for buyers and sellers)
The current laws around photography and privacy
The expectation of privacy around public records and Rob’s take on why the MLS is not a private platform
How Apple’s App Tracking Transparency policy impacts real estate vendors
How privacy policies might affect Compass’ business plan
How we rely on open data to value homes
How the privacy issues surrounding big tech might translate to real estate
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On January 19, 2022, Fannie Mae announced a desktop appraisal option that goes live in Desktop Underwriter in March, making it possible to do an appraisal without a physical inspection.
So, what motivated this change in the rules? Why is it important?
What does a desktop appraisal option mean for appraisers? And how will it impact the real estate industry in general?
NIck Conteduca is the Senior Vice President of Tech Innovation and Subject Matter Expert at Opteon, a global real estate appraisal firm working toward the bold vision of same-day turn times.
On this episode of Industry Relations, Nick joins Rob and Greg to discuss Fannie Mae’s announcement, explaining what a desktop appraisal entails and the rules around who (or what) provides the information.
Nick weighs in on why there are only 75,000 appraisers in the US, describing how challenging it is to become a licensed appraiser and why the appraisal industry has a love-hate relationship with the new rules.
Listen in to understand why it’s unlikely that lenders will start using AVMs over appraisers and learn how the appraisal industry is evolving—and what technology can do to support appraisers, not replace them.
What‘s Discussed:
What motivated Fannie Mae’s new desktop appraisal option and why it’s a big deal
What a desktop appraisal entails and the rules re: who provides the information
How information for a desktop appraisal can be verified through virtual inspection technology
Why there are only 75,000 appraisers in the US and how they’re compensated
The appraisal industry’s love-hate relationship with the new desktop appraisal option
Why it’s unlikely that lenders will start using AVMs instead of appraisers
Why real estate data in public records and on the MLS is so inaccurate (and how appraisers correct the data in Fannie Mae’s Uniform Appraisal Dataset)
How challenging it is to become a certified appraiser as opposed to a licensed REALTOR
The relationships among appraisers, REALTORS and home inspectors
How the appraisal industry is evolving and how tech improvements might affect it
Connect with Nick:
Connect with Rob & Greg:
Resources:
Fannie Mae’s Desktop Appraisal Option Announcement
Fannie Mae’s Desktop Underwriter
Fannie Mae’s Desktop Appraisal FAQ’s
Fannie Mae’s Uniform Appraisal Dataset
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Realogy caused a kerfuffle earlier this month when the real estate industry learned, in unsealed court filings, that brokerage president Ryan Gorman is opposed to NAR’s mandatory compensation rules.
What’s behind Gorman’s stance on compensation? What does it mean for the MLS if the rules change? How would it impact brokers and agents?
On this episode of Industry Relations, Rob and Greg discuss how the value of the MLS would shift in the absence of mandatory compensation, looking at Northwest MLS as a case study around what happens when compensation is optional.
Rob predicts government regulations to eliminate the possibility of steering and Greg reflects on how the conversation around compensation might change in a buyer’s market.
Listen in to understand why optional compensation favors big brands and find out what MLS boards, brokers and agents should be doing to plan for a world where compensation is optional.
What’s Discussed:
What’s behind Realogy’s opposition to mandatory compensation rules
How the value of the MLS would shift in the absence of mandatory compensation
How compensation is optional at Northwest MLS but most offer it anyway
What buyers’ agents would lose by getting booted from the MLS
The prevalence of steering and why Rob predicts regulations to eliminate the possibility
Greg’s take on how the conversation around compensation might change in a buyer’s market
Why optional compensation privileges bigger brands (and hurts small, independent brokerages)
How compensation works in the world of commercial real estate
Why MLS boards should prioritize investments in data and technology
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What were the most important events in real estate in 2021? And how might those events change the industry moving into 2022?
On this episode of Industry Relations, Rob and Greg sit down to reflect on what they see as the most significant headlines of 2021, discussing the real reason behind Zillow’s abrupt exit from the iBuyer market and what Zillow 3.0 might look like.
Rob and Greg explore the significance of NAR’s apology for its racist past and policy changes around hate speech, describing how the ethics complaint against Pastor Brandon Huber reflects a growing division in the industry.
Listen in for insight on the impact of MLSs becoming technology companies and find out why it’s time for you to start learning about the blockchain and what this trend toward decentralization means for the future of real estate.
What‘s Discussed:
Rob & Greg’s take on the most important events in real estate in 2021
The DOJ’s withdrawal from its settlement with NAR and Biden’s subsequent Executive Order on competition
How Zillow’s acquisition of ShowingTime changed the way vendors, MLSs and associations do business
The real reason behind Zillow’s exit from the iBuyer market and what Zillow 3.0 might look like
Rob’s prediction that Rich Barton will retire again in 2022 and why Greg thinks he’s wrong
The significance of NAR’s policy changes re: the transparency of listing data
Why NAR’s apology for its racist past matters and how it might serve as the first step toward reparations
The ethics complaint against Pastor Brandon Huber and how it reflects the growing division in organized real estate
How Greg thinks about MLSs becoming technology companies and what it means for vendors
Rob’s insight on how blockchain technology might impact real estate
Connect with Rob & Greg:
Resources:
Biden’s Executive Order on Promoting Competition in the American Economy
The DOJ’s Antitrust Case Against NAR
The DOJ’s Withdrawal from Its Settlement with NAR
Business Insider Article on Zillow’s Project Ketchup
Rob’s Post on Zillow’s Project Ketchup
Ben Thompson on Zillow’s Decision to Exit the iBuyer Market
Rich Barton on the Stratechery Podcast
NAR Policy Changes on Transparency of Listing Data
Bloomberg Article on the NAR Formal Apology for Past Racism
Changes to the NAR Speech Code
Pastor Brandon Huber’s Lawsuit Against the Missoula Organization of REALTORS
The Bitcoin Standard: The Decentralized Alternative to Central Banking by Saifedean Ammous
Chris Dixon and Naval Ravikant on The Tim Ferriss Show
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