The Future of Real Estate: Is Zillow Realty Coming?

Published by Joseph Ferrara October 21st, 2007 in Real estate and zillow.com.

The domain names Zillowrealty.com and Zillowrealestate.com are registered to Zillow.com (Zillowrealtor.com was taken by Primec Services– go get ‘em NAR)
Is this just protection against others trying to capitalize on their name or is a Zillow brokerage a part of their grand ~~scheme~~ plan? It would be nice to know if your ad dollars are funding your future competition.

Since Zillow is licensed as a broker in many states (as yet undisclosed) it is certainly a possibility.

Just curious Rich, Lloyd, David— care to be transparent?

Technorati Tags: zillow, zillow realty, zillow real estate, marketing

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Kevin Boer

I vote for option 1: Protection against others capitalizing on their name. Early mis-steps notwithstanding, Barton et. al have made it pretty clear they're not in the transaction business. Running a media company is an entirely different business than running a nationwide brokerage.

David G from Zillow.com

Hi, it's David from Zillow.com

We have no plans to broker real estate transactions. We do however actively protect our brand.

Jeff Brown

Kevin - You're probably right, but...

David - I believe you. That said, you guys will be in the brokerage business, in my opinion, before Christmas of 2009. You won't be able to resist the potential tsunami of revenues, not to mention you, also in my opinion, at least on the house side, have the real life potential of being the Google of real estate.

Oops! Did I say Google? Another reason you'll be a brokerage before too long. If 'they' get into the fray first, it'll likely be too late for you guys.

Phil Hoover

Zillow also owns www.zillowsucks.com ~ perhaps a smart move?
I own www.helpusellsucks.com and www.help-u-sellsucks.com and would sell them if anyone is interested?
HELLOOOOO . . . . . :)