This Listing Bits episode is now available on your favorite podcast player!

Overview

Greg Robertson sits down with industry veteran Amy Gorce of REdistribute to clarify what REdistribute actually does, how it differs from display-focused data platforms, and why MLSs should care about the exploding gray-market use of MLS data. Amy breaks down the institutional-buyer use cases, explains how gray-market pipelines emerged, and outlines why MLS participation directly impacts valuation accuracy, AVMs, risk modeling, and overall market health.

Key Takeaways • REdistribute is not a display vendor. Their data is used solely for institutional-grade analytics, AVMs, risk modeling, and portfolio management—never for consumer-facing listing display.  • Owned by MLSs, built for MLSs. The operating agreement limits eligible purchasers and prevents MLSs or brokers from using the data for competitive display products.  • The gray market is real and accelerating. Companies scrape, partner with brokers, or purchase unclear data sources to fuel AVMs and risk tools—often without MLS compensation. REdistribute is actively converting gray-market users.  • AI is making the problem bigger. Scraping tools, automated ingestion, and LLM training pipelines are proliferating. REdistribute is building an MCP server to support AI-specific use cases in a controlled and compliant way.  • Coverage, not demand, is the bottleneck. Institutional buyers are ready, but MLS participation is still below critical mass (~55–60% coverage). More MLSs joining closes the gap and increases revenue potential.  • Economics vary by use case. AVM licensing generates significantly higher value than simple match-and-append use cases—creating real opportunities for meaningful revenue distribution back to MLSs and brokers.  • Joining is simple. MLSs sign a license agreement and can be onboarded in roughly two weeks, with quarterly revenue distributions. 

Links • The Market Value of Listing Data—and the Cost of the Grey Market - White Paper

Contact

Amy Gorce Allison Duggins

Sponsors Trackxi - Real Estate's #1 Deal Tracking Software

Giant Steps Job Board – Where ORE gets hired

Production and editing services by: Sunbound Studios

Overview

Greg Robertson sits down with Michael Wurzer, CEO of FBS (Flexmls), right after CMLS 2025 in Toronto. They reflect on the state of the MLS industry, FBS's growth and culture, and how AI, standards, and industry consolidation are shaping the future of organized real estate.

Key Takeaways

• FBS growth & longevity

  • FBS is now the #2 MLS system vendor with near-100% retention.

  • Employee-owned culture drives long-term stability and customer focus.

• Industry leadership

  • Wurzer has been influential in pushing APIs, RESO standards, and long-term tech adoption.

  • Stresses that standards work is critical and shouldn't be overshadowed by hype around AI.

• AI & MCP

  • New protocols like MCP let large language models connect directly to MLS APIs.

  • This evolution validates years of investment in standards and API development.

• Compass/Anywhere merger

  • Private listing networks challenge cooperation but face adoption hurdles.

  • Consolidation could create distractions; agent adoption remains the biggest barrier.

• CMLS 2025 reflections

  • Strong broker/MLS dialogue, with Craig Cheatham's session a highlight.

  • Local broker engagement remains the most important success metric for MLSs.

• Source MLS revival

  • Effort to clearly brand MLS-sourced listings and improve analytics transparency.

  • Planned launch at the 2026 RESO/REset conference.

• Regionalization & data standardization

  • Florida coast example: six MLSs aligned on one entry system, eliminating duplicates.

  • Push for more regional cooperation to solve overlapping market disorder.

• Vendor vs. MLS-owned tech

  • MLSs entering the vendor space still face the same integration and sustainability challenges.

  • Wurzer argues FBS, as an employee-owned vendor, shares MLS values and long-term commitment.

• Future concerns & opportunities

  • Biggest worry: MLSs losing focus on standardizing data formats regionally.

  • Supports potential CMLS–RESO merger if it leads to stronger professional staffing and delivery of promised value.

Sponsors

Trackxi – Real Estate's #1 Deal Tracking Software

Giant Steps Job Board – Where ORE gets hired

Production and editing services by:

Sunbound Studios

Overview

Greg Robertson sits down with Andy Taylor and Greg Fischer from RetroRate to discuss assumable loans and their potential to reshape real estate transactions. They explore the history and career paths of both founders, the challenges of discoverability in MLSs, and how RetroRate aims to make assumable loans more visible and accessible for agents, buyers, and sellers.

Key Takeaways

• Backgrounds of the founders:

  • Andy Taylor: From gaming at EA, to Apple, to Redfin, to startups like Approved and Credit Karma.

  • Greg Fischer: From brokerage and realtor.com to innovative consumer tools like Doorsteps and Doorsteps Swipe.

• RetroRate's mission:

  • Helps real estate professionals identify and transact on assumable loans.

  • Assumable loans can drastically reduce monthly payments compared to current market rates.

• Market potential:

  • 22–25% of homes on the market have an assumable loan, yet less than 1% are marketed that way.

  • Properly marketed assumable loans can increase sale prices and attract more buyers.

• Challenges:

  • Discoverability in MLSs—fields exist but are often unused or misunderstood.

  • Educating agents and consumers on how assumables work.

  • Equity gaps require creative solutions (cash, piggyback loans, or policy changes).

• Tools & partnerships:

  • RetroRate offers an agent-facing platform, MLS integrations, and a Chrome extension ("RetroRate VHS") to overlay assumable loan info on Zillow, Redfin, and Realtor.com.

  • Engaging with MLSs and realtor organizations to standardize data fields and improve adoption.

• Call to action:

  • MLSs, brokers, and agents should connect with RetroRate to make assumable loans more visible and usable for clients.

Links

• RetroRate

• Contact: [email protected] | [email protected]

Sponsors

Trackxi – Real Estate's #1 Deal Tracking Software

Giant Steps Job Board – Where ORE gets hired

Production and editing services by:

Sunbound Studios

In this episode of Listing Bits, Greg Robertson sits down with Rich LaRue, Designated Broker for HomeSmart Arizona and VP of Corporate Brokerages for HomeSmart's Western region. Rich shares his background in real estate, thoughts on exclusive listings and MLS rules, and his perspective on the evolving role of associations, NAR, and vendors in the industry.

Key Takeaways

• Rich LaRue oversees over 12,500 agents across Arizona, California, Colorado, and Texas, with more than 40 years in the business .

• On exclusive listings: HomeSmart's stance is client-focused—market broadly unless specific client needs dictate otherwise .

• LaRue acknowledges MLS rules can feel restrictive but stresses the need for common guidelines and transparency with clients .

• Predicts exclusive listing programs may be a short-term fad, with market cycles determining their relevance .

• Believes associations and MLSs may eventually separate, but stresses the ongoing local value associations provide, especially around advocacy and forms .

• Notes the recent push for MLS-only membership options and the challenges of balancing form libraries, branding, and NAR's influence .

• Advises vendors to be patient—sales cycles are long, especially in today's market—and to focus on helping agents articulate their value to clients .

• Highlights Raise, a product that helps agents track and communicate their value, as a timely and effective tool for buyer representation .

Links LinkedIn

Sponsors

Trackxi – Real Estate's #1 Deal Tracking Software

Giant Steps Job Board – Where ORE gets hired

Production and editing services by:

Sunbound Studios

In this episode of the Listing Bits Podcast, Greg Robertson sits down with Dalip Jaggi, co-founder of Revive, to discuss his entrepreneurial journey and how Revive is helping homeowners maximize the value of their properties. Dalip shares how his early background in tech led him to real estate, the challenges and lessons of scaling a business, and Revive's unique approach to empowering homeowners through renovation and financial solutions.

Key Takeaways

• Dalip's background: from web development and running an agency to launching Revive.

• Early exposure to real estate tech through working with "Rich Uncles" and scaling investment platforms.

• Why Dalip sold his agency and shifted focus to solving one problem deeply.

• Revive's mission: helping homeowners build wealth through smarter real estate decisions.

• Flagship program: Renovate to Sell, which funds and manages home renovations to maximize sale price.

• Additional equity-extraction program for homeowners needing faster liquidity.

• Difference between Revive and competitors like Plunk and Curbio: Revive acts as a third-party facilitator, not a general contractor, offering oversight, funding, and design support.

• Challenges and opportunities of scaling in California versus national expansion.

• Importance of focusing deeply in one market before expanding.

Connect with Dalip

• Revive Real Estate

• Instagram: @revive.realestate

• Dalip Jaggi Instagram: @dalipjaggi

Sponsors

Trackxi – Real Estate's #1 Deal Tracking Software

Giant Steps Job Board – Where ORE gets hired

Production and editing services by:

Sunbound Studios

Greg Robertson sits down with Michael Lucarelli, CEO and co-founder of RentSpree, to explore how RentSpree streamlines rental transactions for agents, landlords, and tenants. They discuss RentSpree's growth, integration with MLSs and Associations, the role of rentals in agent business, and the increasing importance of data-driven tools for tenant screening and rental management. Michael also shares thoughts on how the rental ecosystem can be improved through standardization and better agent education.

Key Takeaways

• RentSpree's Purpose: Simplifies rental workflows by offering a one-stop shop for applications, tenant screening, rent payments, and more.

• MLS Partnerships: RentSpree is integrated with over 300 MLSs, enabling rental tools directly within agent workflows.

• Agent Opportunity: Rentals are an underused income source for agents; RentSpree helps make them more manageable and profitable.

• Tenant Screening: The platform provides comprehensive tenant screening through credit, criminal, and eviction background checks.

• Data Ownership: RentSpree emphasizes agent ownership of renter relationships and their associated data.

• Market Trends: Institutional investors and consumer pressure are pushing the rental market toward transparency and modernization.

• Standardization Need: The rental process lacks uniformity; RentSpree aims to bridge gaps through tech and partnerships.

• Agent Education: There's a need for more training and awareness among agents about how to handle rentals efficiently and professionally.

Links

RentSpree

LinkedIn

RentEdge

Sponsors

Trackxi – Real Estate's #1 Deal Tracking Software

Giant Steps Job Board – Where ORE gets hired

Production and editing services by:

Sunbound Studios

In this episode of Listing Bits, Greg Robertson sits down with Todd Carpenter, SVP of Industry Relations at Styldod, to talk about the evolution of real estate technology—from mortgage lead gen to photo AI. They dive deep into how Styldod uses artificial intelligence to help agents with virtual staging, automate compliance workflows, and extract property data directly from listing photos. Todd also shares his career journey through early online mortgage startups, NAR, and RE.net culture to where he is today—working on AI-powered tools designed to modernize listing input and photo compliance for MLSs.

Key Takeaways

• Career Journey – Todd shares his path from growing up in real estate, to working in mortgage tech, to leading social media strategy at NAR, and now serving at Styldod.

• Photo Compliance and Automation – Styldod's AI can detect and automatically correct issues like branding, people, pets, or license plates in listing photos based on MLS rules.

• Data Extraction from Photos – The AI identifies room types, finishes, and furniture to help pre-populate listing details and property descriptions.

• AI-Powered Listing Input – Discussion on how AI can assist in streamlining listing input and future MLS integrations without replacing MLS platforms themselves.

• Visual Staging and Marketing Add-ons – Styldod enables decluttering, virtual staging, and style customization through a seamless workflow integrated into MLS photo upload processes.

• Product and Pricing Models – Overview of different pricing approaches for MLSs, agents, and brokers—either as direct charges or revenue-share options.

• Reimagine.AI – Styldod's consumer-facing product with over 2 million users, offering swipe-based before-and-after image tools.

• AI Search and Industry Disruption – Todd and Greg speculate on how on-device AI and generative agents may reshape search, SEO, and real estate monetization in the future

Contact Todd

Email: [email protected]

LinkedIn

Links:

Reimagine

Styldod

Our Sponsors

Trackxi – Real Estate's #1 Deal Tracking Software

Giant Steps Job Board – Where ORE gets hired

Production and editing services by:

Sunbound Studios

In this episode of Listing Bits, Greg Robertson sits down with Ben Kinney, CEO and co-founder of Place, to talk about Place's acquisition of Remine, how Ben built his PropTech empire from the ground up, and what's next for the platform. Ben shares his personal journey from growing up in rural Washington to building a half-billion-dollar business, and lays out his vision for supporting agents, MLSs, and consumers through technology, services, and long-term stability.

Key Takeaways

• Place Acquires Remine – Ben shares why his team bought Remine out of bankruptcy, what they plan to do with the platform, and how MLSs can expect immediate support.

• A Business Built for Agents – Place focuses on helping top teams across brokerages run more profitable and efficient businesses without trying to replace brokers or compete with their models.

• Three Keys to Product Adoption – Ben breaks down his framework for driving usage: show users how, show them why, and show them others who've succeeded.

• From CRM to Services – Place provides agents with everything from CRMs and marketing tools to bookkeeping, HR, title services, and even AI-powered handwritten notes.

• CCP and Cooperation – Ben shares his views on Clear Cooperation and listing exclusivity, emphasizing transparency, consumer benefit, and the importance of cooperation.

• Long-Term Vision – Ben discusses Place's public company aspirations, upcoming acquisitions, and consumer-focused services like moving support—all while keeping control of the business.

Links

Place.com https://place.com

Active Rain https://activerain.com

Mom's "No Bake" Cookie recipe

1 stick of butter

2 c sugar

1/4 c cocoa powder

1/2 c milk

3 c oatmeal

1/2 c crunchy peanut butter

1 tsp vanilla

Stir butter, sugar, cocoa, milk in saucepan until boil. Boil at low for 2 mins. Remove from heat and add in oatmeal, peanut butter, vanilla.

WAV Group Interview: Meet Ben Kinney and Chris Suarez of Place – new owners of Remine - https://www.wavgroup.com/2025/04/22/meet-ben-kinney-and-chris-suarez-of-place-new-owners-of-remine/

Our Sponsors

Trackxi – Real Estate's #1 Deal Tracking Software

Giant Steps Job Board – Where ORE gets hired

Production and editing services by:

Sunbound Studios

🎙️ Listing Bits Episode: The Amazing Annie Ives

Host: Greg Robertson

Guest: Annie Ives, CEO of The MLS™ / VestaPlus

Duration: ~40 min

👋 Episode Summary:

In this episode, Greg sits down with Annie Ives, a true titan in the world of organized real estate. From her early days immigrating from Tunisia to building and reviving one of the most resilient MLS organizations in the country, Annie shares her personal and professional journey with candor, humor, and a hint of rebellion.

They cover everything from her humble beginnings in Los Angeles, to taking down not one but two formidable adversaries (a rogue MLS and the LA Times), and ultimately building a fully-fledged MLS software company from the ground up — all while raising a family and earning her MBA.

🧩 Key Topics Covered:

• Annie's Origins: Born in Tunisia, moved to LA in 1967 post-Six-Day War

• First Jobs in the U.S.: Nanny, Bank of America check processor

• Finding Her Calling: Started in accounting for CLAW (Combined L.A. Westside MLS) in 1993

• The CLS Uprising: How Annie resurrected CLAW after a broker-led exodus and competition from the breakaway "CLS"

• Publishing Power Move: Took on LA Times and launched Southern California Homes & Estates, which remains a staple in the market

• Building VestaPlus: Tired of relying on vendors, Annie led the charge to build a proprietary MLS platform — now adopted beyond their core market

• Checkmate™: Her team's AI-driven compliance tool making waves across the MLS industry

• Team Philosophy: Why taking risks, building a strong team, and staying scrappy still matters

📌 Resources & Mentions:

• The MLS™ / VestaPlus:

• Contact Annie: [email protected]

• Compliance tool: Checkmate™, powered by VestaPlus

• The MLS Summit Event: Annual event hosted by The MLS™

🎙️ Listing Bits: Brian Donnellan, CEO of Bright MLS

Host: Greg Robertson

Guest: Brian Donnellan, CEO of Bright MLS

Episode Summary:

Greg sits down with Bright MLS CEO Brian Donnellan for a candid conversation about leadership, music, and the shifting dynamics in real estate. They dive into design, the Clear Cooperation Policy, Wall Street's influence, and why cooperation—not just compensation—is the heart of MLS value.

What You'll Learn:

• Why Bright MLS invests so heavily in communication and design

• How playing in bands helped Brian lead complex teams

• The real impact of removing compensation from the MLS model

• Brian's take on Clear Cooperation and private exclusives

• What Wall Street's growing role means for brokers and MLSs

Our Sponsors

Trackxi – Real Estate's #1 Deal Tracking Software

Giant Steps Job Board – Where Proptech gets hired

Production and editing services by:

Sunbound Studios