Author Archives: Mike DelPrete

Opendoor layoffs are a retreat not a defeat

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Opendoor announced it’s laying off 35 percent of its workforce. The move, designed to give Opendoor more runway, increases its chances of survival, but it comes at a competitive cost. Continue reading →

Several US markets see uptick in new listing volume

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Several of the earliest hit U.S. markets, with the exception of New York City, have seen an uptick in new listing volumes over the past week. There is a hopeful possibility that activity has “bottomed out” and has started to slowly recover in those mar… Continue reading →

New listing volumes plunge 50-75% across the globe

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As the pandemic and associated effect on the real estate market spreads, one of the best leading indicators of a decline in transaction volumes — new listings — has dropped an average of 63 percent in the earliest hit markets. Continue reading →

How real estate portals are reacting amid the coronavirus pandemic

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As the coronavirus pandemic and the associated impact upon global economies spreads, the world’s leading real estate portals are all making big moves in response. Continue reading →

Survival of the fittest: What will it take for businesses to outlast this pandemic?

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International and historical data shows that as the pandemic spreads and more stringent lockdown measures are put in place, the volume of real estate transactions will drop significantly — up to 90 percent. Although the drop is temporary, only the most… Continue reading →

How will iBuying fare in a world of social distancing?

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The iBuyer business model is uniquely positioned to thrive in a world of social distancing, where people are putting a premium on the ability to conduct business while limiting direct human contact. Continue reading →

‘Millions More Buyers’: What’s a real estate portal’s competitive advantage?

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Real estate portals benefit tremendously from network effects, which is the key factor that gives them unprecedented market power and an impregnable moat to repel competition. Let’s take a look at international portal leadership across three markets an… Continue reading →

The 3 distinct eras of Compass growth

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As the company navigates a large, complex industry and attempts to find its own place in the world, its growth strategy has evolved. Looking back several years, the company has clearly gone through three eras, each building up to Compass’ current promi… Continue reading →

Purplebricks’ market share ceiling comes into view

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Purplebricks’ H1 2020 financial results highlight a business whose growth has clearly plateaued and reached maturity in the U.K. However, the company appears to have reached peak efficiency, putting a ceiling on its future growth prospects. Continue reading →

A real estate portal’s path to market power: a Zillow case study

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Zillow’s drive to dominance in the greater New York City real estate market — via rental listings on StreetEasy and its hyperlocal Hamptons portal Out East — reveals the path to market power of real estate portals around the world. Continue reading →