Author: The Tim

Tim Ellis is the founder of Seattle Bubble. His background in engineering and computer / internet technology, a fondness of data-based analysis of problems, and an addiction to spreadsheets all influence his perspective on the Seattle-area real estate market. Tim also hosts the weekly improv comedy sci-fi podcast Dispatches from the Multiverse.

Choice Quotes From Zillow CEO Spencer Rascoff

Posted on by The Tim

If you think Zillow is primarily a real estate search site, and that home buyers and sellers are Zillow’s customers, you are wrong.

Zillow is a lead generation site. Home buyers and sellers who use Zillow are the “leads.” They are not the customer, they are the product that is being sold to real estate agents.

But don’t take my word for it. Here’s Zillow CEO Spencer Rascoff describing Zillow’s purpose and philosophy in his own words…

Three Months in, Zillow’s “Coming Soon” Barely a Blip

Posted on by The Tim

After being sharply criticized by both real estate agents and consumer groups, just a little over three months after the well-publicized launch of their new “Coming Soon” listing feature, Zillow’s attempt to convince listing agents to share their pocket listings seems to be a flop. Between the feature’s June 12 launch and my initial data…

A Chinese-Driven “Real Estate Boom” in Seattle? No.

Posted on by The Tim

Interesting article in the New York Times yesterday: In Suburban Seattle, New Nests for China’s Rich …increasingly, China’s rich are also offshoring their families along with their cash. That’s created a real estate boom in an unlikely corner of the United States: suburban Seattle. Wealthy Chinese have become far and away the biggest foreign buyers…