Jones Fridman International brings on Straser Silicon Valley team

The merger brings on Katy Thielke Straser’s seven-person team and allows Jones Fridman International to expand its market area into Northern California. The team now represents about $25 billion in career sales. Continue reading

Ryan Serhant’s flashy ‘Owning Manhattan’ raises bar for reality TV

The Netflix series focuses on Serhant’s agents and lifts the stakes on real estate-focused reality TV thanks to high production values and sophisticated plotting, reporter Lillian Dickerson writes. Continue reading

Marilyn Monroe’s former home achieves cultural monument status

The home’s current owners, heiress Brinah Milstein and reality TV producer Roy Bank, had hoped to demolish the home and said that instead of selling, they will continue their legal fight against the city of LA. Continue reading

Pending home sales fall by 2.1% in May as buyer demand softens

Elevated mortgage rates continued to curb homebuyer activity in May, NAR reported. As inventory increases in upcoming months, slower home price growth will follow, and likely more buyers hitting the market. Continue reading

Tal Alexander joins brother, Oren, in stepping down from Official

Official co-founder Nicole Oge said the decision for Tal to step away from the firm was a mutual one. Tal’s lawyer, Deanna Paul, said he wouldn’t let recent rape claims “be a further distraction” to the firm or clients. Continue reading

‘NAR swat team’ strikes Arizona home in wild new marketing video

The Instagram video shows agents with “NAR” along the back of swat team jackets bursting into a home before tackling, tasing and hogtying a Realtor who failed to remove an offer from the MLS. Continue reading

Compass, eXp, Redfin and others file joint motion to dismiss Batton 2

Defendants in the case, which also includes Weichert Realtors and United Real Estate, say the claims lack standing, are untimely and an attempt to “parrot” arguments made in Batton 1. Continue reading

Case-Schiller Index breaks all-time high as HPI appreciation slows

Figures in April 2024 for both indices suggested a strong market going into summer. Both the S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller index and the FHFA HPI rose 6.3 percent on an annual basis. Continue reading

Ben Belack is excited to help agents navigate the industry

The team leader of the Ben Belack Group shared thoughts on crime and home insurance in LA’s market, Gwyneth Paltrow’s “fantastic” house for sale and his big plans for Las Vegas in July. Continue reading

DOJ urges court to overturn judgment in REX v. Zillow

“The judge’s decision created a loophole that could allow associations to sidestep antitrust scrutiny by cloaking restrictive rules as optional,” the DOJ’s filing states. The brief may give REX a new leg up in its case. Continue reading