Sam DeBord 
[Note: These are the personal opinions of Sam DeBord and do not represent the position of RESO, the National Association of REALTORS, or any other organization associated with the writer.] R.O.B and Greg Robertson recently interviewed Jack Ryan of REX on their Industry Relations podcast. The story of REX isn’t a new one. It’s a brokerage … Read more
(The following are the personal opinions of the author, Sam DeBord. They do not necessarily reflect the views of RESO or its members.) The “Clear Cooperation Policy” proposed by the National Association of REALTORS’ MLS Technology and Emerging Issues Advisory Board is creating plenty of industry discussion. The policy would ensure that MLS participant brokers … Read more
Rob had some good questions yesterday that many in the industry are probably asking, in “OK, I’ll Ask: How is CoreLogic Threading the Upstream Needle?” For a lot of us in the industry, it can be frustrating when these questions are left hanging over a vacuum fit for conspiracies. Let’s fill some of that void, especially … Read more
April 1, 2018 – Greenville, SC For Immediate Release: Robert Hahn, real estate industry consultant and regulation activist, has taken a position on the board of directors for Language Health University’s Consumer Trust Housing Unit. A quasi-government agency focused on safeguarding speech between the public and real estate professionals, CTHULHU gains a strong advocate for … Read more
Rob had a fascinating “what if” yesterday. In a nutshell, after NAR MLS policy changes this year, Realtor MLSs divest some of their Realtor ownership so they can avoid NAR policy, and stave off their impending defeat at the hands of non-Realtor MLSs. It was good… If you’ve read Rob’s work long enough, you may … Read more
Redfin’s long-awaited IPO is here. Rob’s as-usual-lengthy breakdown is here. It’s full of interesting angles to consider, and some real positives for Redfin’s outlook. As you probably guessed, since I’m here guest posting again, I think a few points might need refining. Why, you might ask, would a broker be giving credit to a competitor? … Read more
12 MLSs are the future organized real estate: that was the lukewarm consensus of a recent panel at Inman in New York. The general feeling of the speakers (MLS executives included) seemed to be that consolidation will end with a dozen or so large, well-run MLSs. Inman News headlined the coverage “Is Your MLS Doomed?” … Read more
Well, this should be fun. After Rob’s critique of my last piece about Upstream, I thought it would be appropriate to step into the Notorious octagon. Considering I’m not a trained attorney, that’s probably a mistake (yes, that’s the first of many self-deprecations to bloat my handicap on his turf). I once put a foot … Read more