Will Zillow's Trulia acquisition end traditional real estate brokerage

If this merger takes place we should stop paying NAR dues as they failed to protect us.  I think local agents will still provide a much needed service but most consumers are already using Zillow and Trulia to search for homes.  Better be ready to adjust your business plan on the fly

Very interesting comments about Z and T and also about NAR.  I really like knowing that it is optional in Georgia to belong to NAR.  I would like to see that happen in Missouri also and am going to bring that up.  I am lucky to be in the same office with next year's President of MAR so I don't have to go very far to find an ear!

Richard, Of course that is what they are after. Any broker who thinks it will remain just the same as it is has their head in the sand.

Real estate sales continues to evolve, and it won't stop.  Who remembers pushing down hard on your pen as you write offers so it will show up on the bottom page?  Who remembers the MLS books where the agent was the gatekeeper of real estate listings? Now that everything is freely available on the Internet, agents have to be deal brokers, hand holders, and find other ways to add value to the transaction.  If you can't add value, you will be phased out.

I do fully agree with you Richard.  There are some deep filled clouds on the horizon.  I heard a well known speaker talk a few years ago that technology made major changes every 5 years, then 3 years, then 1 year and recently that it is making major changes every 28 days.  I.e. Trulia's recent acquisitions of Active Rain and Market Leader.

I got the email from Peter Flint, how awesome for them...

Ken~ the deal needs to go through the process and get the proper approval.... I would hang out until its official, even though it does not look good...

Ken~ I understand your position.... & I don't like what the future holds for the RE industry if and when this deal gets approved....

WHY?

Why are we allowing access to our listings?

Imagine if we STOPPED it, today?

Then, we could build our one-stop consumer web portal, the way it SHOULD('ve) be(en) done at Realtor.com. WE would benefit from the insanely huge profits Zillow and Trulia are enjoying, (and derive at our expense). WE would no longer get those daily/weekly e-mails and calls telling us to buy this or that lead generator! All leads would come directly to us, no more middle man (woman).

I understand that in the beginning, we felt we needed the exposure that 3rd party sites could offer. We, and our association, felt professional 3rd party sites could do what we could not. Why do $7/hr work when as Realtors we could contract it out - leverage!

But now, it's time to completely rethink this arrangement. It's time that we consider stopping access to our listing inventory. I, for one, am SICK of witnessing the power games and profit mongering of these sites - all monies we could be using to build our Realtor brand and strengthen our community.

Please, start the discussion. Start to re-think WHY we really need to give up our listings. Let's explore the pros and cons. Until we do, we are relegated to watching from the sidelines as others profit from our work.

Zillow purchase of Truliaa is done. Keller Williams Realty is well aware of the transaction and has taklen steps to protect agent inventory in the marketplace.

Richard - just for the record, you very well may have 2 billion theories of why Zillow will become a brokerage my friend, (and I can respect and appreciate your opionions and theories) but let me leave you and readers with just one simple fact. Zillow has no desire nor will we ever become a Brokerage or an MLS. Our primary focus has been and always will be to provide consumers with data and a starting point, then connect them through the web and mobile to local real estate pros.

Speculation and rumors will always surface and circulate but if you really want to know what we're up to, what we're doing, and how we plan on doing it, feel free to contact me anytime. You know my door is always open to you.

What is everyone afraid of?  What is the worst that can happen?  Realtors are still needed at street level.  Real estate will always be local and sales of it will need somebody on the ground at the site.  Be that person, and have some value.

Clearly I'm on record saying "watch out for GodZillow"

I am with Keller Williams but I do think that this is a""red flag" warning to beef up our local presence and usefulness to our prospective clients. How much service do we offer in finding financing, staging,and all the many other things that need to be done to bring the sale to closure?  The proccess just starts with finding the right home. I am very disappointed in the merger, but as a warrior, I will work through it or around it. W

Still planning to be the best local resource for my buyers and sellers.....much like other major real estate related websites, they can't sell the house on-line.