local real estate news, statistics, and commentary without the sales spin.
I did some speculative analysis for Redfin on the impact that Amazon HQ2 will have on the Seattle real estate market: Amazon HQ2 Could Quickly Turn Seattle Into a Buyer’s Market
For the article I spoke with a Redfin Seattle agent who has had some interesting conversations already with buyers…
Everybody is talking about it, and it’s definitely going to have some kind of effect on the local economy in Seattle, so even though it’s a bit late, let’s talk about Amazon’s HQ2.
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve no doubt seen the news that Amazon is seeking to build a second headquarters somewhere “in North America” that “will be a full equal to our current campus in Seattle.” GeekWire has been covering the story extensively (including a data-based city analysis by yours truly), so if you need to catch up on the facts, head over there. For the discussion here, let’s focus on the possible impact this development will have on the Seattle-area real estate market.
Redfin’s long-awaited IPO went well for the Seattle-based technology-powered real estate brokerage this morning. They priced the IPO at $15 per share last night, raising $138 million for the company. When shares started trading on the open market this morning under the ticker symbol RDFN they opened at $19.56.
News broke late this afternoon that after 13 years as a “startup,” Redfin has finally filed their S-1 with the SEC, signalling their intent to make an initial public offering (IPO) later this year.
Let’s take this opportunity to directly compare some financial and usage data between Redfin and Zillow.
Local alternative brokerage Surefield added another slick new tool to their arsenal this week: A map-based home pricing tool that they are calling Pricepoint. Together with their flagship 3D home tour technology (previously spotlighted here), this new offering strengthens Surefield’s focus on home sellers.
The tool offers an interactive, transparent alternative to Zillow’s black box “Zestimates,” and is touted by Surefield as “the most accurate and reliable way to price a home.”