I am not a fan of any 3rd party site that takes our listing, gets leads and sells MY clients back to me.  AR does NOT do that...YET!   If it ever started I would drop the site on the spot.

If we were smart, we sould get back to only Real Estate agents having access to MLS.  If we had one avenue for people to go to, like it used to be, we wouldn't have to spend our time putting our info all over the different sites that skim off OUR clients.  WE don't need to put a listing out to 50 different sites.  WE have made a lot of work for ourselves and it has cost us a lot of money in lost clients.

John,

I for one am looking forward to the evolution of Move. com and Rupert Murdoch's deep pockets and journalistic reach.  This will be very interesting to witness.  

For those who really want to be the market leader in their community and top of mind, there are so many ways to do that where Zillow and Move.com have no power whatsoever.

All the power we are assigning to Z is in our minds...A

NAR needs real leadership at the national level that will bring all MLS' together, refuse third party syndication and keep the data that we worked hard to obtain to ourselves.

ListHub is cutting off Trulia on the 26th!

On the Friday the 27th we'll have a preview as to what happens to Zillow on April 7th.

John DL Arendsen It's business for them - and we should focus on our business - adopt to those changes, adjust your marketing budget and focus on lead generation with or without them.

These sites have changed the way consumers look at Real Estate for sure - and we should be thankful to them for showing us many different ways to serve our customers.

Denver is in such a HOT market, Z & T does not touch us, and I personally don't really care.   I have never bought leads, and constantly remind buyers and sellers those Zestimates are 50% accurate!   Would you want to hire someone only HALF RIGHT? 

I really find value in AR. Z and T are low value IMO and I hope their culture won't degrade the AR experience.

The photo is from southern Italy.   As you head south of Naples towards the toe of Italy you will find extraordinary coastlines.

As a Lender, I've found that Trulia has become less and less of a help to my business.  It's hard to find where info regarding Lenders is on the site anymore.  We've become pretty much invisible.  I understand that agents are the main focus ... but ...  

Gene

John, check out my post "ListHub Clamps Down on Trulia!" on Activerain. Type it in the search bar.

William Feela commented first and best.  I concur.   We have fiduciary responsibilies to our clients,  we have to input data correctly and a code of ethics for our behavior.  Then we give our info away to third party sites? for free?

I'm closer to WIlliam Feela's view thatn most.  But I'm all for change in any industry that helps those working within it.  I also put some of the blame on MLS' who sell our data in the name of helping us.  

What I would like to see is the listing agent on any listing being featured prominently on any search page of results when someone clicks on the detail. Otherwise our listing is displayed with those featured agents who have spent the most money to be listed first as "local" experts.  

Mergers and aquisitions will always happen and consolidation is generally good.  This topic needs much more space to discuss.

It was interesting to read through the comments on this question. 

AR is just along for the ride as long as the ride is being offered. Z bought T and T owned Market Leader and ML owned ActiveRain. So they weren't after us, we came with the package and we will just have to see if they see any real value is us as a profit center or need to spin us off.

I'm thinking nothing good is going to come of this, and I hope AR doesn't get messed around with too much, but my guts says I probably won't be here this time next year. 

Z & T is actually helping my business here in Detroit.  They are not going away.  Lots of changes coming in the business

The changes that will take place are predictable, we've seen them before in other consolidations. Fewer competitive choices, greater control of the marketplace for those who might want to gain entry and much greater control of those who use the consolidators services. I don't believe consolidation benefits any business other than the consolidators.

It's business. The big get bigger.

Zulia has managed to become the ONLY consumer facing voice in real estate, They will have unprecedented power to manipulate the real estate market place to favor those who favor them (lenders and advertisers including big G and FB)

Notice what group is NOT on that list.

As a real estate professional, you are now facing the reality, YOU HAVE NO CHOICES. 

Resistance if futile. You will be assimilated into the dark side...if you lack courage. Those of courage still have the ember of light glowing within.

It was a good venture, influx of cash, too bad it created such strong feelings for so many.