News Roundup, October 2024

Ed, Harvey and Simon discuss potential lawsuits against Rightmove and Zillow, the impact of AI investments on Rightmove's share price, and financial updates from major real estate companies. The conversation highlights the ongoing challenges and legal issues faced by these companies, as well as the evolving landscape of PropTech and real estate marketing.

Ed, Simon and Harvey discuss the restructuring of SeLoger in France, the potential sale of Yad2 by Aviv Group, the cancellation of Dubizzle Group's IPO, and financial highlights from major marketplaces like Scout24. The conversation also highlights emerging trends in product innovation, particularly the rise of AI search functionalities in real estate portals.

Ed, Simon and Harvey discuss CoStar Group's recent Q3 results, legal challenges with Zillow, and the growth of Homes.com. They explore the implications of AI integration in real estate, the competitive landscape, and the ongoing acquisition strategies of CoStar. The conversation highlights the contrasting business models of CoStar and Zillow, as well as the challenges and opportunities in the rental market.

Ed, Simon and Harvey got together in a networking break at PropTech & Portal Watch Madrid 2025 to discuss the conference, the trends speakers are bringing up and how to frame narratives as a speaker.

Ed and Simon Baker engage with Joost Dop, CEO of Funda, to explore the dynamics of the Dutch real estate market, emphasizing the importance of engagement metrics over traffic volume. They discuss the challenges of housing shortages, Funda's role in addressing these issues, and the unique ownership structure that fosters strong relationships with brokers. The conversation also delves into pricing strategies, the development of tools for brokers, and the impact of AI on the real estate industry, highlighting the need for continuous adaptation and learning from global market trends.

Edmund and Simon are joined by Stefan Gunnarsson, CEO of PropTexx. They explore the competitive landscape of AI in real estate, the importance of user experience, and how PropTexx bridges the gap between real estate and retail. The conversation delves into customer segments, implementation challenges, and the evolving role of agents in this new ecosystem, while also addressing data privacy concerns and technical considerations.

Ed, Harvey and Simon preview the upcoming PropTech & Portal Watch conference in Madrid. They discuss what attendees can expect from this year's speakers, who'll be at the event and how the narratives around the industry have shifted since last year's conference.

Ed and Simon are joined by SearchSmartly CEO, Taha Dar to discuss the Portal Standards Report 2025. They explore the current state of real estate portals, the importance of data and technology adoption, and the need for features like commute time search. The conversation delves into the challenges faced by portals in integrating new technologies, the role of AI in property search, and the cultural attitudes within real estate companies. Taha shares insights on how SearchSmartly can assist portals in their innovation journey, emphasising the importance of user-centric features.Read the report here: https://mailchi.mp/onlinemarketplaces/portal-standards-2025

Ed, Harvey and Simon discuss significant developments in the real estate marketplace sector, including Scout24's acquisition of Fotocasa and Habitaclia, the changing ownership landscape of Idealista, and the management shakeup at Opendoor. They also cover Zoopla's financial performance, the public listing of Swiss Marketplace Group, and ongoing legal troubles faced by Zillow. The conversation highlights the competitive dynamics and challenges within the real estate industry.

Harvey and Simon are joined by Remy Fabre, CEO of Zefir - a rapidly growing real estate marketplace in France. The conversation delves into Zefir's innovative use of AI to streamline the home buying and selling process, the company's business model, and the challenges faced in establishing a new category in the real estate market. Remy shares insights on recent developments, future goals, and the role of AI in transforming real estate transactions. The discussion also touches on the competitive landscape and the potential for Zefir to become a leading platform in the industry.