mconnolly

Sort of, but for highly complex systems (take something like real estate for example) describing it in this way is difficult not because of lack of product and targeting knowledge, but because the customer is so far behind in their knowledge of how the process works.

Do you know when exactly you got the invite?

Same for us

Maybe..but I'd bet a fair number of final reviews take place today

Received an invite last year at 8:15 pm est so looks like we have around seven hours to go if we're judging by that.

See @OpenListings. They're doing exactly that

Smart, yes. Disruptive and beneficial to the customer? Not really.

This ^^

This isn't game changing, this is just good marketing. The real game changers are the ones over at OpenListings (YC F15) who are giving back commission checks and doing their best to eliminate the real estate agent entirely.

He's not trying to fundamentally change the market. Just like someone else mentioned, this basically a bonafide residential REIT.

They're introducing MORE costs to the transaction, creating a closed marketplace where another closed marketplace already exists, and framing it as some revolutionary startup. They're only doing this because they're big name valley guys who raised a ton of money.

Disagree with this. Multiple times YC has written positively on describing yourself as the X of Y where X is a well know existing product.

In the spirit of trying to pass time, my application idea: A service that allows you to not only search for homes, but also make an offer directly online, and receive a 50% commission refund in cash upon purchase.

Additionally, all questions that you have about properties, neighborhoods, or any suggestions a typical agent might give you our service can too thorough AI.

The premise is simple: Zillow meets home buying. Imagine making an offer directly on a home that you find on Zillow? Not only is this necessary in extremely competitive housing markets such as Boston, LA, and Denver, but the 50% commission discount is possible by generating the documents automatically.

Thoughts? Not sure how many of you have purchased a home, but the experience of working with an agent is so outdated. Their value is gone now that most homes are available online through Zillow. All they really do is write contracts. We can do that an automate their knowledge with AI, as well.