Sorry Marcus, I can’t figure out what you’re trying to say.

Don’t you imagine at one time there were similar fears when MLS systems began to distribute real estate information? We can witness those fears in parts of Europe, where the usage of multliple listing services is relatively new.

It is resistance to change–and the desire to stay with what is known and controllable.

I have to agree I’m with JB on this one. One of the features about the RE.net that I would feel most embarassed about if I were a member of it is the extent to which they’ll bend over and hold their ankles for any web-based map application that sends them flowers and promises to respect them in the morning. I’ve pointed out what I take to be the main reason in a recent article, but I think a large portion of what motivates it is also an attempt to prove that “I’m eriuditer than you are”, as the old joke goes.

Or perhaps this tale also tells part of the story:

Once there was a man named Milktoast, who’s boss was absent from work most of the time. All his co-workers used it as an excuse to play hookie, but not Milktoast, he would show up for work every day. One day Milktoast finally gave into pressure and went home early, only to find his boss in bed with his wife. He snuck out un-noticed.

When he returned to work the next day, his co-workers told him, “Hey Milktoast, good for you, you went home early!” and Milktoast replied, “Yeah, and I’m not doing it again — I almost got caught!”

No, Zillow won’t drive us out of business. Driving is superfluous, since most of the lemmings writing about it are perfectly willing to walk.

Seriously though, Zillow is awesome.

The Arizona Board of Appraisal is foolish in trying to make a consumer-oriented AVM out to be an appraisal - and to require Zillow to have an Arizona Appraiser’s license to provide Arizona Zestimates. If this precedent was set any mortgage bank worth its salt would be required to hold an Arizona appaiser’s license as we all run AVMs on a large majority of properties to support or refute appraised value. It would squash one of the major risk scoring tools lenders across the country use today.

Real estate agents afraid of Zillow are also foolish. Zillow is not going to sell homes. Zillow is going to keep real estate in the conversation more than anything else. It is going to keep more people interested in our industry. What better thing is there to ask for than that? I would love it if everyone spent their time talking about what they saw on Zillow - it would mean they’re thinking of us.