This week Re/Max founder Dave Liniger announced a dip into the lending sphere, we wrestled with a future of driverless cars and Zillow was busy launching a Facebook ad feature for agents. Here’s what you had to say about all that and more.
Nicole Solari · Commented on Special Report: Why Aren’t More Women In Real Estate Leadership?
I am lucky to have been born in the second portion of the century rather than the first, as my mother was, or the beginning of the 20th century, as my grandmothers were. I owe my own freedoms and opportunities to the pioneering generation of women ahead of me—the women now in their 60s, 70s, and 80s who faced overt sexism of a kind I see or imagine when watching Mad Men, and who knew that the only way to make it as a woman was to act exactly like a man. To admit to, much less act on, maternal longings would have been fatal to their careers.
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But thanks to their pioneering, a different kind of conversation is now possible. It is time for women in leadership positions to recognize that although we are still blazing trails and breaking ceilings, many of us are also reinforcing a falsehood: that “having it all” is, more than anything, a function of personal determination. Men are still socialized to believe that their primary family obligation is to be the breadwinner; women, to believe that their primary family obligation is to be the caregiver. Until society accepts the change and women can view ourselves as equals the “gender gap,” although smaller than ever, will still be there. This isn’t a problem in real estate it’s a problem in society.
Eve Alexander · Commented on Meet Motto Mortgage, Re/Max’s mortgage brokerage franchise
Ok, I am in the real estate trenches every day and I “get” the affiliate or controlled business arrangement…ugh! Sure it is “legal” if you set up some kind of ownership interest and claim to disclose it to the buyer who does not understand what that means.
Every listing office that has an affiliate tries to jam it down the buyer throat. I can see it now “buyer must be prequalified with “Motto” before presenting an offer…”
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This is no different than the listing agents who will threaten to kill the deal if you refuse to use THEIR title company. If there was no benefit, the agent would not work as hard to sell their affiliate.
It is only about one thing…the money.
J Philip Faranda · Commented on Zillow rolls out Facebook ads for agents
I’m impressed that one article gives the haters enough information to formulate all the conspiracy theories with such ease.
If you don’t like it, don’t use it. Frankly, I’m fine if my competitors don’t utilize this.
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Wendy Hooper · Commented on Who needs location, location, location when you can go anywhere?
The comments are as interesting as the article itself. There is much with which to agree and disagree. Bottom line, we know the technology is coming – eventually. My observations are these.
Some communities will embrace carlessness more than others. Those areas will also need to be walkable and “Walk Scores” will become as important a search criteria to home buyers as ever. However, many Uber and Lift drivers will still be driving their own cars and will need a convenient place to store them. Home garages will not become obsolete over night. Additionally, as a classic car enthusiast myself, I see personal garages becoming a brag worthy home feature, much as a personal wine cellar is for oenologists. Garages will likely become a feature for the affluent.
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Uber, Lift and autonomous vehicles will, we’re told, predominantly be stored en masse in remote locations, where they will undergo constant maintenance. The composition of our communitites will likely morph into residential versus “auto” zones, where commuter cars are relegated, and where I would venture to guess car enthusiasts will converge to drive recreationally and meet up.
Lastly, and sadly a topic no one here has addressed, is the issue of the heretofore homebound citizens who will experience freedom via ridesharing, etc. I didn’t drive for many years when seizures of unknown origin plagued me. It was a supremely frustrating way to live. Think of the elderly, disabled, medically incapacitated and others who will benefit from having an affordable driving service to take them places. The unintended consequences of this is staggering and truly wonderful.
I personally look forward to this “brave new world”.
Judy Orr · Commented on Brokerage captures heart of artistic community with design
I’ve never quite understood why we must photograph the house without any inhabitants in it. I realize sometimes they might not add a positive spin on the property and some posing is necessary. I also realize that unfortunately some buyers will be turned off seeing pets in a home they might otherwise consider buying, but I purposely left my 2 little dogs in an outdoor shot of the treehouse in my prior home (they were hard to see in the photo- they were on the grass – but I didn’t take them out). I love lifestyle photos but in my area I’d probably be considered unprofessional photographing sellers enjoying their homes.
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Greg Hague · Commented on Zillow Group: Why millennials are the future of real estate
Tomorrow’s Realtor will focus on how to earn more by charging less. Every other industry does it. It’s time we caught on. The millennials will force our hand.
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Top comments are compiled by Inman’s editorial staff in no particular order.