In this episode, Simon Baker shares his extensive journey with the REA Group, detailing its founding, early challenges, and the evolution of its business model. He discusses the competitive landscape of real estate portals, the importance of vendor paid advertising, and the strategies employed to build relationships with real estate agents. Simon reflects on the lessons learned from international expansion, the challenges faced during his tenure, and the circumstances surrounding his departure from the company. He concludes with insights on the future of real estate portals and the importance of understanding market dynamics.

In this episode, Ed, Harvey and Simon discuss significant developments in the real estate marketplace, including CoStar's acquisition of Domain, the competitive landscape with REA Group and Zillow, and the implications of recent controversies in the UK and India. They explore the evolving trends in mergers and acquisitions within the industry and the importance of innovation in maintaining market relevance.

Edmund, Harvey and Simon get together for a quickfire rundown of the biggest news from the world of real estate portals and proptech in the last couple of weeks.

0:00 intros (and powercuts!)

2:20 CoStar Q1 results and VPA trial

10:50 Zoopla for sale?

17:30 Zillow CCP updates and two-tab search experience rollback

24:30 Public iBuyers in choppy waters

Margaux Scalisi joins the podcast to talk about her niche portal, Vefaonline, the difficulties in building and scaling her business from brokering deals to getting paid, and the problems that keep her up at night.

Ed, Harvey and Simon discuss significant developments in the real estate and prop tech industries, including the ongoing Clear Cooperation Policy battle in the U.S., Zillow's market power and ethical considerations, CoStar's strategy with Homes.com, Immobiliare's expansion in Croatia, and DomClick's controversial data-sharing practices in Russia.

Simon and Ed talk to Abdelrahman Zohairy, CEO of Property Sorted. They discuss the challenges and opportunities in the Egyptian real estate market. He emphasizes the importance of user experience, claiming a 10X improvement over competitors, and outlines their commission-based business model. The discussion also covers innovative marketing strategies, including viral content and AI integration, as well as insights gained from participating in the PropTech & Portal Watch Pitch Club.

Ed and Simon are joined by real estate strategist Mike DelPrete to discuss the nuances of data presentation in the industry, and the global perspectives on real estate portals. He delves into Zillow's lead generation strategies, the complexities of profitability in real estate, and the lessons that can be learned from international markets. The role of AI in enhancing the search experience and the significance of basic practices in real estate are also highlighted, emphasizing the need for a balance between innovative technology and fundamental relationship-building in the industry.

In this episode of the PPW pod, hosts Edmund, Harvey, and Simon discuss significant developments in the real estate marketplace and prop tech sectors. Key topics include Immobiliare.it's expansion into Spain, Rocket's acquisition of Redfin, CoStar's bid for Domain in Australia, the launch of an MLS by Russian developer Samolet, and the Spanish government's proposed intervention in property portal algorithms. The conversation highlights the competitive landscape of real estate portals and the implications of these changes for the industry.

In this episode, Richard Hayes, COO of Zoopla, discusses the company's position in the UK real estate market, its strategies to compete with Rightmove, and the innovative tools being developed to enhance homeowner engagement. He emphasizes the importance of regional dynamics, the role of data in driving user confidence, and the future of monetization through seller leads. The conversation also touches on the impact of AI on property searches and the evolving landscape of real estate portals.

In this episode of the PPW pod, host Edmund Keith and Simon Baker engage with Tony Blamey, who shares insights from his extensive career in digital classifieds and his current role leading real estate businesses in Spain. The conversation covers market dynamics, the impact of recent acquisitions, and strategies for growth in the competitive landscape of real estate portals. Blamey discusses the differences between the Australian and Spanish markets, the importance of marketing and product features, and the role of AI in enhancing customer experience. The episode concludes with advice for young professionals and a look at the future goals for Fotocasa and Habitaclia.