Finding a Niche Within a Niche, with Margaux Scalisi

Margaux Scalisi joins the podcast to talk about her niche portal, Vefaonline, the difficulties in building and scaling her business from brokering deals to getting paid, and the problems that keep her up at night.

Ed, Harvey and Simon discuss significant developments in the real estate and prop tech industries, including the ongoing Clear Cooperation Policy battle in the U.S., Zillow's market power and ethical considerations, CoStar's strategy with Homes.com, Immobiliare's expansion in Croatia, and DomClick's controversial data-sharing practices in Russia.

Simon and Ed talk to Abdelrahman Zohairy, CEO of Property Sorted. They discuss the challenges and opportunities in the Egyptian real estate market. He emphasizes the importance of user experience, claiming a 10X improvement over competitors, and outlines their commission-based business model. The discussion also covers innovative marketing strategies, including viral content and AI integration, as well as insights gained from participating in the PropTech & Portal Watch Pitch Club.

Ed and Simon are joined by real estate strategist Mike DelPrete to discuss the nuances of data presentation in the industry, and the global perspectives on real estate portals. He delves into Zillow's lead generation strategies, the complexities of profitability in real estate, and the lessons that can be learned from international markets. The role of AI in enhancing the search experience and the significance of basic practices in real estate are also highlighted, emphasizing the need for a balance between innovative technology and fundamental relationship-building in the industry.

In this episode of the PPW pod, hosts Edmund, Harvey, and Simon discuss significant developments in the real estate marketplace and prop tech sectors. Key topics include Immobiliare.it's expansion into Spain, Rocket's acquisition of Redfin, CoStar's bid for Domain in Australia, the launch of an MLS by Russian developer Samolet, and the Spanish government's proposed intervention in property portal algorithms. The conversation highlights the competitive landscape of real estate portals and the implications of these changes for the industry.

In this episode, Richard Hayes, COO of Zoopla, discusses the company's position in the UK real estate market, its strategies to compete with Rightmove, and the innovative tools being developed to enhance homeowner engagement. He emphasizes the importance of regional dynamics, the role of data in driving user confidence, and the future of monetization through seller leads. The conversation also touches on the impact of AI on property searches and the evolving landscape of real estate portals.

In this episode of the PPW pod, host Edmund Keith and Simon Baker engage with Tony Blamey, who shares insights from his extensive career in digital classifieds and his current role leading real estate businesses in Spain. The conversation covers market dynamics, the impact of recent acquisitions, and strategies for growth in the competitive landscape of real estate portals. Blamey discusses the differences between the Australian and Spanish markets, the importance of marketing and product features, and the role of AI in enhancing customer experience. The episode concludes with advice for young professionals and a look at the future goals for Fotocasa and Habitaclia.

In this episode of the PPW podcast, the hosts discuss key insights from the PropTech and PortaWatch conference in Bangkok. They explore the concept of the Dominant Advertising Portal (DAP), emerging business models in the region, the importance of clear messaging in real estate, and the evolving role of AI. The conversation also touches on the need for honesty in business presentations and the future of property portals in the age of agentic search.

Edmund Keith, Simon Baker, and Toby Chapman discuss the evolving landscape of real estate marketplaces, focusing on the role of AI and the potential disruption it poses to traditional property portals. They explore how AI can transform search experiences and the importance of adapting to new technologies to avoid complacency in a rapidly changing market.

In this episode, Edmund Keith and Simon Baker engage with Toby Chapman from OC&C Strategy to discuss the dynamics of real estate marketplaces. They explore the role of OC&C in the industry, the challenges faced by property portals, and the implications of the REA and Rightmove deal. The conversation delves into vendor paid advertising, the sustainability of traditional business models, and the impact of CoStar on the market. Additionally, they compare the US and UK real estate markets and debate centralized versus decentralized strategies in marketplace operations.