Rain City Guide

As many of you know, Redfin was featured on 60 Minutes last night. Although, I read Inman’s copy of the NAR head’s up prior to watching the report, so it was interesting to read their spin prior to watching it. At any rate, I didn’t see Redfin’s blog post until after I watched it. I [...]

First Zillow releases a new version of their web site.
Then Microsoft releases a new Virtual Earth (VE 3D in Firefox).
Then the a new Beta of Realtor.com is released.
Galen releases new ShackPrices features.
Ardell is using her Verizon EVDO card in Vegas, probably while playing the slots and sipping drinks with umbrellas in them.
Then I discover, Redfin [...]

Zillow.com Launches Home Q&A
“Ask Questions, Share Answers”at the heart of numerous new features harnessing knowledge of agents, homeowners and neighbors!”
“Home Q&A is the ability for anyone to ask questions and share information and insight about more than 70 million U.S. homes.”
(and you all thought The Redfin Mavens writing dignified little articles on homes for sale [...]

Inman News announced this morning, that the industry is being asked to consider and support the following “Real Estate Consumer Bill of Rights”.
1. Choose the services you pay for: Laws in more than a dozen states forbid brokers from refunding commissions to you, or require brokers to provide services you may not want to pay [...]

In a follow up to Dustin’s post, I started to examine Redfin’s numbers in a bit more detail.
Redfin released a report today (it was yesterday, but I am on vacation… I guess you can say Maui Time :)) that opens saying, “Finds .904% Negotiating Advantage, 1.952% Average Commission Refund, 95% Customer Satisfaction; The Most Common [...]

…to come up with the most provocative (and interesting!) commentary on Redfin’s press release from today…
Some more opinions from around the web:

Greg gives a thorough round-up (as usual) with more than a dash of opinion thrown in
Straight from Redfin
The Freakonomics take on the date

I will start with a caveat. I am a owner in a real estate development company and I am not primarily shopping homes for clients, but instead buying properties to develop and build. That being said, you may think I have nothing but critiques for any other real estate company… not true! Dustin and I [...]

Redfin Integrates Microsoft Virtual Earth Map Platform,
Continues Expansion in Greater Seattle and San Francisco Bay Areas
SEATTLE – Jan. 12, 2007 – Online real estate broker Redfin Corporation today released a new version of www.redfin.com based on the Microsoft Virtual Earth map platform, offering home-buyers powerful new ways to explore a neighborhood. With today’s announcement, Redfin [...]

The contributors at Rain City Guide (RCG) have been falling over themselves talking about the folks at Redfin. Don’t know who they are? Not a shock. They’re a real estate firm based in the Seattle area with offices in the Bay area of San Fran which has a discount model for services. Earlier this [...]

Redfin creates Red Faces
With Redfin I think they create red faces in the market, mostly from competitors, not their very own clients. With all the debating taking place (see last few comments) about variations of service levels and discussion about saving $20,000 in commissions but losing $100,000 in price for an agent’s [...]