4 ms·

I posed a similar question in another thread. Why hasn't an alternative emerged for SAP? For Concur? All these tools reputedly universally hated, all have near-

I posed a similar question in another thread. Why hasn't an alternative emerged for SAP? For Concur? All these tools reputedly universally hated, all have near-monopolies. Why? Because few are motivated enough to tackle 'boring' problems. Who wants to design a real estate database when you could be working on self driving-crypto-cloud-next level bullshit?

echelon 3y ago
> Because few are motivated enough to tackle 'boring' problems. Lots of people take on "boring" markets. I don't think that's the problem. Zillow and Redfin are a few steps removed from being MLS themselves. But for some reason they cannot morph into it.
- housemusicfan 3y ago
  Quite literally they ingest and aggregate MLS data and present it differently with little other value (other than wildly speculating on property values). An MLS "alternative front end" if you will.
  - echelon 3y ago
    They've built most of the systems already. Their next step is to reach out to Keller Williams, Re/Max, and the rest to offer direct listings. If MLS threatens to shut them off, that might be grounds for an antitrust lawsuit. Maybe they're too afraid to risk the business on it? Maybe they did the risk analysis and decided it's not worth it?
    - linsomniac 3y ago
      I think you've got this a bit turned around. KW, Re/Max, etc, they don't WANT the MLS out of the way. They ARE the MLS. The MLS is the database of the Realtor association. It's just a tool that the Realtors and Brokers use to market the properties to other Realtors and Brokers, and sometimes to the public as well. Zillow makes money by selling placement on the listings to other agents. Many Realtors really dislike Zillow because of this ("This is MY listing and they are putting someone else's name on it, taking 3% away from me.").
  - deleted 3y ago
    [deleted]
  - fatnoah 3y ago
    > Quite literally they ingest and aggregate MLS data... FWIW, I spent time at a large national "disruptor" broker and this is a non-trivial process. There are hundreds of MLS systems in the US, each with its own data, quirks, and synchronization issues. One has to manage so many feeds, cleanup, normalization, etc. Throw in the many data sharing agreements between various MLS systems and the simple act of deduping suddenly gets complicated. For consumers, the value is that they can see an aggregate list in one place without having to sign up for them via an individual broker's site.
- stevehawk 3y ago
  redfin tried to disrupt the real estate market a decade ago and found out very quickly how anti competitive business markets work

echelon 3y ago

> Because few are motivated enough to tackle 'boring' problems. Lots of people take on "boring" markets. I don't think that's the problem. Zillow and Redfin are a few steps removed from being MLS themselves. But for some reason they cannot morph into it.

housemusicfan 3y ago
Quite literally they ingest and aggregate MLS data and present it differently with little other value (other than wildly speculating on property values). An MLS "alternative front end" if you will.
- echelon 3y ago
  They've built most of the systems already. Their next step is to reach out to Keller Williams, Re/Max, and the rest to offer direct listings. If MLS threatens to shut them off, that might be grounds for an antitrust lawsuit. Maybe they're too afraid to risk the business on it? Maybe they did the risk analysis and decided it's not worth it?
  - linsomniac 3y ago
    I think you've got this a bit turned around. KW, Re/Max, etc, they don't WANT the MLS out of the way. They ARE the MLS. The MLS is the database of the Realtor association. It's just a tool that the Realtors and Brokers use to market the properties to other Realtors and Brokers, and sometimes to the public as well. Zillow makes money by selling placement on the listings to other agents. Many Realtors really dislike Zillow because of this ("This is MY listing and they are putting someone else's name on it, taking 3% away from me.").
- deleted 3y ago
  [deleted]
- fatnoah 3y ago
  > Quite literally they ingest and aggregate MLS data... FWIW, I spent time at a large national "disruptor" broker and this is a non-trivial process. There are hundreds of MLS systems in the US, each with its own data, quirks, and synchronization issues. One has to manage so many feeds, cleanup, normalization, etc. Throw in the many data sharing agreements between various MLS systems and the simple act of deduping suddenly gets complicated. For consumers, the value is that they can see an aggregate list in one place without having to sign up for them via an individual broker's site.
stevehawk 3y ago
redfin tried to disrupt the real estate market a decade ago and found out very quickly how anti competitive business markets work