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Caroline Gerardo, C. G. Barbeau the Loan Lady nmls 324982 (Licensed in 20 states)

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Rainmaker
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Candice A. Donofrio
Next Wave RE Investments LLC Bullhead City AZ Commercial RE Broker - Fort Mohave, AZ
928-201-4BHC (4242) call/text

OK:

I do not think Costar will choke out Zillow  . . . but they have sure become LIKE Zillow which is why I won't give them my specific data, and I do not believe I am alone in this . . . their 'research associates' change as frequently as undies and they call incessantly usually on a Monday morning or Friday afternoon, yeah the best times to bother a broker, to ask for free data that they charge us for, then sell to others? F dat. They never get a hold of me and I keep my listings updated which is all they need to know!

MLS can't protect itself; they screwed the pooch when they invited the Z-vampire into their lives. But Costar is not residential and Z is not commercial. So most MLSs should be focusing on better residential solutions and tools for THEIR members.  

PS: our MLS is proactive AF, the penalty for sharing passwords is high (relative to our area), and they fine folks and then they share the stats - how many fines and for what - so we know they're not just giving warnings. Violations went WAY down when they quit giving chances. 

Oct 03, 2022 04:03 PM
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Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

Zillow never really had an impact on my business, I suspect I will be able to ignore this disruptor too.

Oct 03, 2022 05:50 PM
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Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

Well now, I learned more today reading this ... searching Mr. G, and reading the comments.  I am glad Emily Medvec asked for more information and you provided it Caroline Gerardo 

How do we protect our MLS? Great question!

I see this as another opportunity for MLS's to let more horses out of the barn.

Oct 03, 2022 04:53 PM
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Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - Wanda Can!
Red Rock Real Estate (435) 632-9374 - St. George, UT
St. George Utah Area Residential Sales Agent

Candice A. Donofrio is a commercial agent and may have some insight here.

Oct 03, 2022 03:30 PM
Rainmaker
459,182
Emily Medvec
eXp Realty LLC - Santa Fe, NM
Broker | Realtor | Serving Santa Fe & Northern NM

First, I am clueless beyond knowing about the CoStar 250mn purchase of homes.com and homesnap. Can you provide more info on how they are going to zap our MLS system.

Oct 03, 2022 02:29 PM
Rainmaker
2,781,173
Richie Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

The MLS reminds me of a type of sitting duck i.e., vulnerable to something better, faster and cheaper coming along. THINK: the game king of the mountain where the existing ruler gets pushed and another takes the reigns for now...always for now

Oct 04, 2022 06:19 AM
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Brian England
Ambrose Realty Management LLC - Gilbert, AZ
MBA, GRI, REALTOR® Real Estate in East Valley AZ

I know nothing about Costar but I know that I don't care much for zillow, haha.

Oct 04, 2022 04:13 AM
Rainmaker
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John Pusa
Glendale, CA

Hello Caroline Gerardo it is an important topic to fallow, and hopefully all will benefit and protect MLS.

Oct 03, 2022 02:51 PM
Rainmaker
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Doug Dawes
Keller Williams Evolution - 447 Boston Street, Suite #5, Topsfield, MA - Topsfield, MA
Your Personal Realtor®

Competition creates more focus and efficiency, imo. That which will survive will do so because they stayed involved and made adjustments to stay competitive

Oct 05, 2022 07:14 AM
Rainer
378,517
Don Baker
Lane Realty - Eatonton, GA
Lake Sinclair Specialist

my wife runs my local MLS and it's small and very unique.  And if people start photographing listings in my state to advertise without written authority they are going to have a problem.

Oct 04, 2022 10:21 AM
Rainmaker
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Eileen Burns 954.483.3912
Trans State Commercial Realty Inc. - Fort Lauderdale, FL
FLorida Real Estate Connector

When CoStar acquired Loopnet they forced signups for information that agents willing provided to them to build their commercial business model.  Not only do they have a broker program that includes multiple monthly payment investments for often times accurate information; but they then go after each agent in that office to sign up for their own account for access.   National companies have no problem with this model.  However, boutique offices have limited budgets.

CoStar is becoming a monopoly with their acquisition campaign. Make no mistake they have very deep pockets and can penetrate any market space.

My local Board has made a contract with One Home to deliver our status information and I feel they do not deliver accurate updates every 15 minutes as Realtors advertise to differentiate themselves.

Why is it Zillow will haunt you with your criteria imput at locations outside the scope of your 4 counties and we have to pay for that information from our local Boards?

 

 

Oct 04, 2022 06:10 AM
Rainer
337,854
Adam Feinberg
Elegran - Manhattan, NY
NYC Condo, Co-op, and Townhouse Advisor

We don't have a true MLS here in NYC. Citysnap (Co-star) just launched a few months ago. I don't find Citysnap usable as it exists today- typically missing a huge percentage of listings. Streeteasy (owned by Zillow) is the most comprehensive listings site for my market that I have accessible- but I prefer using a NYC home grown site for brokers - despite missing a lot of the listings and that it's ridiculously slow- it does have the most searchable ways for me to search for properties for clients- and then supplemented by Streeteasy.

Costar is still trying to win over the brokers here with Citysnap...but they are going to have to make massive changes to their systems before they win me over (and lots of other brokers here too). I think they spent too much time, energy effort launching a generic system without considering our market and a lot of the brokers I have spoken to tried it once and have not used it since. 

Oct 04, 2022 05:58 AM
Rainmaker
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Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
Real Estate Broker Retired

Costar/Homesnap is not choking out anything. Another 'upstart blend' that's got too much 'wind' in the media.

MLS problems with shared passwords? Since when? It's been made a top offense in all boards. A rare problem.

Do you really believe Notorious Bob's OPINION. Dude has never sold a house in his frickin' life yet he has lots & lots to always say.

Oct 04, 2022 05:45 AM
Rainmaker
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Tony Lewis
Summit Real Estate Group - Valencia, CA
Summit Real Estate Group Valencia & Aliso Viejo

I don't promote any other company other than my own.  Zillow isn't going anywhere for quite a few decades.  They are well established.  It took a century and general motors is still around just like general electric.

Oct 03, 2022 06:31 PM
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Debe Maxwell, CRS
Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC
The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!

I don't sell commercial property but, I feel that our MLS Boards are always behind the 8-ball. So, not sure what will come of this for commercial brokers.

Oct 05, 2022 07:19 AM
Rainmaker
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Ryan Huggins - Thousand Oaks, CA
https://HugginsHomes.com - Thousand Oaks, CA
Residential Real Estate and Investment Properties

Homes.com and Homesnap are not major players.  Was not aware of CoStar buying them, but I don't have any issues with it.  Their expertise is commercial.  I think this is the wrong move for them and it'll take a large capital expenditure to make either of those companies viable competitors in the residential space.

 

I don't see this ending well for them.  With so many "disruptors" on life support and the US and world economies in turmoil... I would not be pursuing this purchase at this time if I were CoStar.

Oct 04, 2022 11:24 AM
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Alan May
Jameson Sotheby's International Realty - Evanston, IL
Home is where the hearth is.

I am familiar with CoStar, but am unfamiliar with the controversy.  Thanks for bringing it to my attention.

Oct 04, 2022 06:47 AM
Rainmaker
901,535
Carla Freund
Keller Williams Preferred Realty - Raleigh, NC
NC Real Estate Transition & Relocation 919-602-848

I honestly didn't know a lot about this. I thought CoStar was only commercial. I've also heard they weren't very good at the commercial piece but I've never personally used them. Let Z and Costar waste their time trying to outdo one another.

On another note, I really wish our MLS would come up with a way to protect data. Honestly, we work hard to collect data and share with good intentions. Others are benefiting from it and exploiting it.

 

Oct 04, 2022 05:35 AM
Rainmaker
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Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Chicago, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

Being retired, no skin in the game! So parked and reading.

Oct 04, 2022 04:13 AM
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Bob "RealMan" Timm
Ward County Notary Services - Minot, ND
Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker

What is my opinion? I don't have a horse in the race Caroline Gerardo but when I listed commercial I enjoyed working with Costar and never had a hassle with them. Never heard the accusation of them being litigious so I'll ask you: With who? Over what?

As you know I am now retired so maybe I missed something here.

Oct 03, 2022 12:40 PM
Rainmaker
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Philip A. Raices
Turn Key Real Estate - Great Neck, NY
1 of the Most Knowledgeable Brokers on the Net!

Hi Caroline,  When Z raised its head 16+ years ago, I warned our Long Island MLS to do more online advertising to compete.  Was there a law that we had to provide them with all our listings?  Not sure, but that is what did us in and those who paid them crazy money to sell back to their agents the client information.  From what I understand their monthly budget is around $12,000,000, which is paid for by all the agents paying for their subscriptions.  The majority of MLSs around the U.S. were way late to the game and allowed the techs to infiltrate our business.  But was it really better for the sellers and buyers?  If you base it on the sometimes crazy and sometimes inaccurate info and the way that they do their marketing and advertise properties to have your phone ring, I truly don't think so.  Especially when you find out that what is advertised is noted in small print as "not on the market" but seems to be unless you have 20/20 vision, lol

Oct 30, 2022 04:39 PM