Opinion

Feb

15
2013

Big listing portals, by the numbers

With the three biggest online real estate companies all reporting year-end 2012 earnings this week, I thought it might be interesting to compare the three and see how they stacked up.

Here are the three releases, in case you want to play along:  more...

Feb

13
2013

Feb

12
2013

Redfin: 'Offer Insights' showcase agents' expertise

Re: 'Redfin's theatrics serve no constructive purpose' (Feb. 8)

Dear Editor:

In a Feb. 8, 2013, letter to Inman News about Redfin's new website feature for sharing details with our customers about offers we won or lost, Coldwell Banker CEO Budge Huskey argues that "exposing confidential information pertaining to individual buyer/seller negotiations ... is a theatrical side show [that] serves no constructive purpose."  more...

Feb

8
2013

Redfin's theatrics serve no constructive purpose

Re: 'Redfin surfacing details of buyer, seller negotiations' (Feb. 7, 2013)

Dear Editor:

I am stunned that Redfin actually believes that sharing confidential information pertaining to individual buyer/seller negotiations is a worthwhile idea.  more...

Jan

31
2013

Words, copy, content and opportunity

Jessica Swesey

The content opportunity in real estate has been obvious for a decade. A well-executed content strategy helps you get found on search engines, engages site visitors, lends authority to your brand, and differentiates you from your competitors.

But in 2013, it's time to get even more specific about content. We're no longer talking about slapping together a WordPress blog, filling it with pretty charts, market data, listings, a few posts here and there about local events and sending it off in a tiny URL over Facebook and Twitter.  more...

Jan

22
2013

Jan

15
2013

Mobile opportunities in 2013 and beyond

Joel Burslem

Let's start with the big picture. I could throw lots of stats at you, but you already get it. Mobile is huge. Bottom line? There is a massive paradigm shift underway as computing moves away from large desktop and notebook PCs to smaller, more portable, and always-on mobile devices.

And real estate, just like every other online activity, is going to have to adjust.  more...

Jan

11
2013

$8.5B settlement with loan servicers opens a big can of worms

Daren Blomquist

In a surprise announcement, 10 big mortgage loan servicers that were facing enforcement actions for allegedly deficient practices in loan servicing and foreclosure processing have agreed to pay $8.5 billion in cash and "other assistance" to more than 3.8 million borrowers whose homes were in foreclosure in 2009 and 2010.

The servicers were operating under enforcement actions issued in April 2011 by federal bank regulators that required them to retain independent consultants to conduct independent foreclosure reviews for borrowers who requested them.  more...

Jan

9
2013

Jan

7
2013

You can't plan success

Matt Beall

Some people make New Year's resolutions. I don't.

I don't set goals.  more...