In this episode of Industry Relations, Rob and Greg recap Greg’s recent MLS Reset conference and dive into key industry insights. They discuss governance reform, competition between MLSs, data sharing agreements, and bold ideas for innovation in the real estate world. From pitch battles for tech innovation to thought-provoking commentary on leadership, this episode offers plenty of takeaways for industry professionals.

Key Takeaways

• MLS Reset Conference Recap: Greg shares highlights, including impactful presentations by Brian Boero, Michael Wurzer, and Curt Beardsley, Ben Graboske, who challenged the industry to embrace optimism.

• Governance Reform: Rob emphasizes the importance of reducing board sizes and increasing nimbleness

• Data Sharing and Competition: Rob and Greg debate whether MLSs should compete on services, price, and tech while maintaining data-sharing agreements.

• Source MLS Branding: A conversation on Michael Wurzer’s Source MLS concept as a trusted, transparent data brand.

Watch Us on YouTube 

Connect with Rob and Greg: 

Rob’s Website

Greg’s Website

Our Sponsors:

CoreLogic

Notorious VIP

The Giant Steps Job Board

Production and Editing Services by Sunbound Studios

In the latest episode of Industry Relations, Rob and Greg venture into a thought-provoking discussion about disaster preparedness and self-reliance. While they typically focus on real estate, this episode broadens the scope, offering practical insights on how to be ready for unexpected emergencies like natural disasters or social unrest.

Rob, who has fully embraced the prepper lifestyle, breaks down the importance of planning for short-term disasters, emphasizing the need for essential supplies like water, food, and basic medical skills. Rather than “bugging out” or fleeing, he encourages listeners to “bug in” — stay at home and rely on their community to survive. He also highlights the critical role of knowing your neighbors, as they can become your greatest resource in a crisis.

This episode offers valuable advice on building self-sufficiency, from securing food and water to handling emergency situations and even touches on the significance of physical fitness during a crisis. Greg engages Rob with questions that bring out relatable and practical tips for urban and suburban listeners alike.

Whether you’re curious about survival strategies or just want to hear some down-to-earth insights on real-world preparedness, this episode is packed with useful takeaways.

Watch us on YouTube!

LifeStraw – Personal Water Filter for Hiking

Children and teens are more liking to die from guns than anything else.

Stop The Bleed

Spam – Pack of 12

Surviveware First Aid Kit

Israeli Battle Dressing Compression Bandage

Connect with Rob and Greg: 

Rob’s Website

Greg’s Website

Our Sponsors: 

CoreLogic

Notorious VIP

The Giant Steps Job Board

This podcast is produced by Sunbound Studios

In this episode of Industry Relations, Rob and Greg run a thought experiment: What if we’re entering a true buyer’s market? They walk through ten major industry topics—from antitrust litigation to portals, AI, and MLS relevance—and analyze how each might shift if buyers suddenly gained the upper hand. Along the way, they debate policy, technology, and market psychology, drawing connections between historical trends and current market signals.

Watch us on YouTube!

Links

The U.S. Housing Market Has Nearly 500,000 More Sellers Than Buyers—the Most on Record. That Will Likely Cause Home Prices to Fall

Key Takeaways

• Antitrust & Legal Landscape – Discussion of how a buyer’s market might (or might not) affect current and future antitrust lawsuits in real estate.
• Government Regulation – Exploration of potential political reactions, including pressure on corporate landlords, affordability policy, or even renewed interest in rent control.
• Tech-Enabled Brokerages – Examination of whether brokerages like Redfin, Compass, and eXp gain or lose advantage when the market shifts toward buyers.
• iBuyers & Institutional Activity – Rob and Greg assess whether a buyer’s market helps or hurts companies like Opendoor and investor-focused strategies.
• Portals & Exclusive Inventory – Deep dive into how platforms like Zillow and Homes.com may adapt, and whether exclusive listings could gain ground.
• AI & Automation – Consideration of how AI could enable cheaper, more scalable buyer representation services—and who might benefit.
• Consumer Trust – Debate over whether a buyer’s market could rebuild trust in the industry or simply reduce agent count, leaving higher-quality professionals.
• DIY Real Estate – Why self-service homebuying remains unlikely to surge, even with market power shifting toward buyers.
• Industry Consolidation – Prediction that competitive pressure could drive further brokerage and vendor consolidation.
• MLS & Association Relevance – Analysis of whether MLSs become more or less important in a buyer’s market, especially in the context of exclusives and policy enforcement.

Connect with Rob and Greg

Rob’s Website https://notoriousrob.substack.com/

Greg’s Website https://www.vendoralley.com/about-2/

Our Sponsors:

Cotality https://www.cotality.com/

Notorious VIP https://notoriousrob.substack.com

The Giant Steps Job Board https://vendoralley.jobboard.io/

Production and Editing Services by Sunbound Studios

In this episode of Industry Relations, Rob and Greg examine how changes to MLS rules, especially around delayed marketing and the Clear Cooperation Policy (CCP), are impacting portals, broker strategies, vendors, and the broader real estate ecosystem. They also explore the implications of the Rocket-Redfin merger, challenges for MLS public-facing websites, and what the new data policy landscape means for technology providers.

Key Takeaways 

• Portal Impact of CCP Changes – Rob and Greg analyze how platforms like Zillow, Redfin, Realtor.com, and Homes.com are adapting to rule changes.

• Delayed Marketing and Public Portals – Discussion of how CCP affects MLS public-facing websites, particularly HAR and UtahRealEstate.com.

• Vendor Challenges with VOW Feeds – Vendors may need to shift from IDX to VOW feeds, which are more costly and complex to implement.

• Rocket-Redfin Merger – Examination of how Rocket’s acquisition of Redfin could reshape brokerage models and mortgage integration.

• Enforcement Variability – Insights into how different MLSs may interpret and enforce delayed marketing and cooperation rules.

• Broker Website Tech – Consideration of how IDX and VOW data will influence broker sites and lead generation strategies moving forward.

Connect with Rob and Greg 

Rob’s Website https://notoriousrob.substack.com/

Greg’s Website https://www.vendoralley.com/about-2/

Our Sponsors: 

Cotality https://www.cotality.com/

Notorious VIP https://notoriousrob.substack.com

The Giant Steps Job Board https://vendoralley.jobboard.io/

Production and Editing Services by Sunbound Studios sunboundstudios.com

In this episode of Industry Relations, Rob and Greg navigate the fallout from key legal decisions and the broader implications for the real estate industry. They analyze the Supreme Court’s denial of NAR’s cert petition, its potential effects on DOJ actions, and how shifting dynamics—such as commission lawsuits and housing market pressures—might reshape the landscape. The conversation also previews upcoming events and industry challenges that will define the next chapter of real estate.

Key Takeaways

• Supreme Court Denies NAR’s Petition: What this decision means for DOJ’s antitrust investigations and future legal battles.

• Commission Lawsuits Continue: Why the litigation isn’t over and what could come next, including potential first-time homebuyer class actions.

• DOJ’s Goals: Rob and Greg speculate on what the Department of Justice ultimately wants for the real estate industry, including reducing transaction fees.

• Housing Market Pressures: Rising costs, insurance challenges, and inventory shifts, including their impact on rentals and sales.

• Upcoming Events: The MLS Reset Conference and the first-ever Industry Relations live stream scheduled for February 7th.

Watch Us on YouTube 

Connect with Rob and Greg: 

Rob’s Website

Greg’s Website

Our Sponsors:

CoreLogic

Notorious VIP

The Giant Steps Job Board

Production and Editing Services by Sunbound Studios

In this episode of Industry Relations, Rob and Greg tackle three major industry shake-ups: Gary Keller selling a stake in Keller Williams, REX losing its lawsuit against NAR and Zillow, and the launch of a new NAR alternative, AREA, by Mauricio Umansky and Jason Haber. They debate what these moves mean for the future of real estate, the ongoing battle over commission structures, and whether the DOJ’s real target is the MLS monopoly. If you’re looking for sharp analysis with a side of sarcasm, this episode delivers.

Key Takeaways

• Keller Williams Goes Private Equity: Gary Keller sells a stake to Stone Point Capital—what does this mean for KW’s future and private equity’s role in real estate?

• The Death of REX?: REX loses its lawsuit against Zillow and NAR. Was this just a bad case, or is the DOJ preparing to take a bigger swing?

• AREA’s New MLS Policy: Mauricio Umansky and Jason Haber’s new NAR alternative introduces a Clear Collaboration Policy—but is it just a repackaged CCP?

• DOJ’s Real Endgame: Rob argues that the Department of Justice doesn’t care about commission lawsuits—it’s after MLS monopolies.

• The Free Market MLS Debate: Should agents have multiple MLS options? Greg and Rob debate the risks and rewards of breaking up the monopoly.

Watch Us on YouTube 

Connect with Rob and Greg: 

Rob’s Website

Greg’s Website

Our Sponsors:

CoreLogic

Notorious VIP

The Giant Steps Job Board

Production and Editing Services by Sunbound Studios