Looking for a quick catch-up on the buzziest stories of the week? Here’s Inman Top 5, the most essential stories, according to Inman readers
Former Success! Real Estate broker-owner Stephen D. Webster has been indicted for allegedly embezzling $11.6M. Nearly $500K was in unpaid commissions to agents
ERA Real Estate Brand President Alex Vidal talks about consumer behavior and why 'radical honesty' is more important than ever as AI influences the home shopping experience
The Oppenheim Group owner shared thoughts on the state of the market, the Compass-Anywhere merger, and the upcoming seasons of 'Selling Sunset' and 'Selling the OC'
Opinion
From Compass’s horizontal acquisitions to Rocket’s vertical integration, Troy Palmquist looks at what’s driving M&A — and who might be next
SEO is changing rapidly, and most agents are not prepared, Jeff Bernheisel writes. Get your SEO strategy out of the early 2000s and into 2025 with this agent’s pivot to purchase strategy
Inman has learned that RE/MAX Alliance, RE/MAX Professionals, RE/MAX of Cherry Creek and West + Main Homes are partnering with listing and offer negotiation marketplace Final Offer
The Agency Camano Island's Bob Wold and Ellen Bohn blend decades of experience with a community-first mindset, creating client experiences that go beyond price points
Zillow expects a chill on prices to spread through markets across the country over the next year, with pockets of strong price growth in the red-hot Midwest and Northeast
Compass just announced plans to buy rival Anywhere. But Compass also has a long track record of buying brokerages — and the most recent deal may offer hints about the future
Opinion
The cautionary tale of Anywhere is one of historic industry dominance, costly missteps and an inability to adapt in time, Sean Frank writes
Parker Pemberton and his team have left eXp Realty, Corcoran snapped up a team in Rhode Island, and a new team has emerged at Douglas Elliman — among other big moves
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Just one day after the FTC sued over the $100M agreement between the 2 portal giants, a group of attorneys general from across the country filed its own lawsuit to block the deal
Opinion
If you're dependent on Zillow for lead gen, it's time to build resilient funnels, own your data, and beef up your referral and content engines, Josh Ries writes
What does the Compass-Anywhere deal mean for private listings? For NAR? For agents in the trenches? We've got the answers