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In this episode of Industry Relations, Rob and Greg tackle the thorny question of who should have access to real estate listing data. Prompted by a Wired article about college students using Zillow to assess classmates’ wealth, Rob argues that the real estate industry should move some listing details—like interior photos and price history—behind a broker-consumer relationship. Greg pushes back, defending the value of open data and the impossibility of cleanly separating legitimate buyers from “random voyeurs.” The conversation dives deep into VOW rules, privacy, and what it means to be a consumer in 2025.
Key Takeaways
Prompt for the Episode – A Wired article reveals that young people are using Zillow to snoop on classmates’ family wealth, raising privacy questions.
Rob’s Proposal – Rob suggests moving data like days on market, interior photos, and price change history to the VOW feed instead of IDX.
VOW vs. IDX – They revisit the 2006 DOJ/NAR settlement that created Virtual Office Websites and debate whether its definitions still work in 2025.
Who Is a “Legitimate” Consumer? – Rob proposes that anyone willing to speak to an agent qualifies, while Greg argues that even dreamers browsing for years could be future buyers.
Advertising vs. Research Data – They attempt to draw a distinction between marketing information meant to attract interest and data meant to inform a buyer’s decision.
Barriers and Incentives – Greg warns that placing obstacles in front of consumers—even just requiring a lead form—might diminish site traffic and engagement.
Portals and Traffic Obsession – Discussion of how Zillow, Realtor.com, and Homes.com measure success by traffic volume, and why reducing public data might not align with their incentives.
Consumer Privacy vs. Industry Benefit – Rob argues that the industry has no obligation to serve voyeurs, while Greg questions whether we can—or should—attempt to limit access.
A Potential VOW Framework – The episode closes with a thought experiment: Should consumers need to name an agent (or form a relationship) before accessing detailed listing info?
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