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The Zillow and White House Google Hangout

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Education & Training with Retired Executive Director of Education at eXp Non-Licensed

The White House and Zillow Forum on Refinancing

This weeks recap of real estate news is exciting and also very interesting. Things are always moving at an incredible pace and change is inevitable in our business and industry. The real estate economy is always an important area of interest to homeowners, investers, borrowers, and even renters.

With this in mind, I'd like to share a couple things that happened this past week which you may find useful regarding government financing programs, the mobile market, and at the same time demonstrate how Google and social media have provided a great conduit and platform to share with others around the world.

Spencer appearred on Fox Business to discuss Zillow’s participation in a Google+ Hangout hosted by the White House in which Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Shaun Donovan addressed homeowners’ questions about the various government refinancing programs. Watch it here.

Watch The Google Hangout:

Spencer also appeared last week on Bloomberg‘s “Bottom Line” to discuss the U.S. housing market as well as Zillow’s business, one year after the company’s IPO.

He explained how the volatile housing market has impacted the way consumers use Zillow and how Zillow Mobile Apps have driven Zillow’s growth. Watch the video here or click below.

I love the comment that Matt Miller from Bloomberg makes at the 1:54 mark of the video. We currently have an average of 57 homes being viewed per second on mobile devices using our Zillow mobile app.  Share your thoughts and comments below, I'd love to know what you see happening in your hyper-local markets.

Comments (9)

Elite Home Sales Team
Elite Home Sales Team OC - Corona del Mar, CA
A Tenacious and Skilled Real Estate Team

I found it too slow and not necessarily effective for me.  The government is now operating without authority.  A complete breakdown of our system.  Congress is now officially unnecessary only the boards and bureaus have the authority to make laws.  Good bad or indifferent.  This is a very dangerous situation and will be played out across all of the government offices, boards and bureaus. 

Jul 21, 2012 03:40 AM
Wallace S. Gibson, CPM
Gibson Management Group, Ltd. - Charlottesville, VA
LandlordWhisperer

The inmates are NOW officially in charge of the assylum.  Business oriented leadership is the only option that stands between the US homeowner and chaos!

Jul 21, 2012 04:16 AM
Brad Andersohn
Retired Executive Director of Education at eXp - Boulder Creek, CA
ActiveBrad - 707.646.1876

Not quite the responses I was expecting but I did ask for them and I thank you both for taking the time to share your views, perspectives, and opinions. :)

Jul 21, 2012 10:10 AM
Tammy Lankford,
Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA
Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

"teaming up" with the white house is wrong on so many levels.  Sharing your views with the people who report to the president, okay, I could grasp that, but "teaming up"... the head of the government should NOT be on any private industry's team.  Oh wait, they've been doing that crap for years.  But if Z gets into bed with them, I won't be sleeping  spending money there anymore

Jul 21, 2012 11:25 AM
Brad Andersohn
Retired Executive Director of Education at eXp - Boulder Creek, CA
ActiveBrad - 707.646.1876

I changed the title. "Teaming up" was not the correct title for this post, we were teaming with for discussion of refinance options... thanks for pointing that out Tammy.

Jul 21, 2012 11:43 AM
Florida Tolbert Team Keller Williams Advantage
Keller Williams Advantage III Realty in Lake Nona - Orlando, FL
Keller Williams Land Luxury Division Specialist

Only solidifies my opinion of zillow.  Inaccurate data and now in bed with the govt only takes it's credibility even deeper in the toilet.

Jul 21, 2012 12:03 PM
Brad Andersohn
Retired Executive Director of Education at eXp - Boulder Creek, CA
ActiveBrad - 707.646.1876
Kevin - something tells me you didn't watch any of these three videos to hear any of the discussions or information that was delivered. Sorry you feel the way you do about my company, but I don't take it personal and I'm proud that we are able to share ideas and insights with our government in hopes to better our industry and economy. It's easy to sit back and watch from a distance, but if everyone rolls up their sleeves and pitches in, we can make a difference and will. ;)
Jul 21, 2012 12:29 PM
Virginia Hepp - Mesquite NV REALTOR
Desert Gold Realty - Mesquite NV Homes For Sale - Mesquite, NV
Mesquite NV Homes and Neighborhoods - Search MLS

Zestimates usually make me sick.  I wish they would eliminate them just to please me.

That being said, I kind of like Zillow, as long as I am not the listing agent.  There is a lot of good information on there, and the local info is pretty accurate, although generic.  It is when they start to compare homes that Zillow just not have enough information.

I haven't tried the app because I got an iPhone, and it won't download any apps.  Obviously user incompetence, but I never had that problem with my Droid.

But wait a minute!  We are here to discuss the videos and Zillow's interaction with the U.S. government? 

I guess I should watch the videos first.  Will have to wait for my morning coffee.

Jul 21, 2012 02:54 PM
Brad Andersohn
Retired Executive Director of Education at eXp - Boulder Creek, CA
ActiveBrad - 707.646.1876

Hi Virginia - Not sure why you can't download apps on your iphone, I'd be happy to try and help you figure it out if you need any help?  Hope things are going well for you in your local market. Our market in the Bay Area is starting to move with multiple offers and properties moving much quicker these days at higher than listed prices. The rental market is also really hot. :-)

Jul 22, 2012 03:10 AM