Should home floor plans be copyrighted intellectual property?

In a brief filed last week, the National Association of Realtors suggested an ongoing lawsuit waged by Designworks Homes could lead to lawsuits “against homeowners who make or display floor plans of their own homes.” Continue reading

Homeowner support grows for mother-in-law units: Survey

Homeowners, long resistant to new apartments in their neighborhoods, are increasingly open to other ways of adding housing units, according to a new survey by Zillow. Continue reading

Trulia’s former president on what makes a ‘world-changing’ company

Ahead of Inman Connect New York this month, former Trulia president and current proptech investor Paul Levine talks iBuying, company culture and the future of real estate. Continue reading

Meet Playhouse, the app that wants to turn Zillow scrolling into a game

Playhouse is brand new, features a price-guessing game and has recently had an infusion of venture capital. The pitch is that it’s TikTok, but for real estate. Continue reading

Nonwhite renters saddled with higher security deposits, study says

Renters of color pay security deposits more often than white renters, and deposits they pay are typically $150 more than those paid by white renters, according to an analysis by Zillow. Continue reading

Opendoor disciplined in North Carolina for disclosure lapses

Regulators say the iBuyer misrepresented a home and didn’t get the proper permits for another. Its license was suspended for 18 months, but the North Carolina Real Estate Commission has stayed the suspension, allowing Opendoor to continue operating. Continue reading

ShowingTime takes page from Open Table with live showing scheduler

Debuting in Dallas, Houston, Denver and Atlanta, the consumer-facing software update will speed up home showings in light of the reduced number of days listings remain on the market. Continue reading

Opendoor brings iBuying services to New Jersey, New York state

The move will see Opendoor make cash offers in 17 counties in the two Northeastern states. New York City is not included in the expansion. It also brings Opendoor’s market count to 46. Continue reading

Hollywood agents (ranked), finding inventory now, essential daily habits: Inman’s Top 5 this week

Looking for a quick catch-up on the buzziest stories of the past seven days? Here’s Inman Top 5, the most essential stories of the week, according to Inman readers. Continue reading