It looks like the tough real estate market has finally caught up to our favorite local real estate search innovator and discount broker Redfin. From the corporate blog:
Today Redfin laid off roughly 20% of our employees.
Unlike other startups, our industry’s recession started a year ago, when home prices first plunged.
Since then, we’ve fought like starving animals, and with some success: while industry-wide transaction volumes dropped 33%, we grew revenues by nearly 50%. Traffic grew more than 300%.
Even a month ago, we were raising 2009 revenue projections. All our markets, now including Chicago, contributed profits.
But the past few weeks have seen a major reversal. As the stock market wiped out prospective down-payments, tours and offers dropped 30%. Transactions that were done came undone. October will still be pretty good, then we’re headed for a big dip.
Hence the layoff. Layoffs are painful for any company, but especially for a startup and especially, I think, for Redifn.
My condolences to those that were affected by this cutback. Here’s hoping that Redfin is able to pull through these tough times. I’ve always been a big fan of the services they provide.