Startup idea: Create OpenDoor for the National Association of Realtors with the NAR as a significant owner in the venture. You'd probably need to be an insider to pull this off.
With their data advantage, they could kill or hobble OpenDoor the way AMC killed MoviePass.
I don't feel excited about suggesting this, as I love the OpenDoor model and hope they win.
A couple of points of clarification:
- All legal brokerages (including online only brokerages like redfin) get equal access to MLS data and systems.
- NAR is hyper-conscious of antitrust issues. Data access is the crux of this, which is a major reason why Zillow and others get access to MLS data. NAR now promotes open data access
- NAR, a trade group, is a 110 year old non-profit, with 501c6 status. IANAL but I don't think it can have an ownership stake in a for-profit venture
Opendoor operates a brokerage in every market it is live in, so they're not competing with NAR in any real sense. They're a part of the RE community, with same rights as any other agents
With their data advantage, they could kill or hobble OpenDoor the way AMC killed MoviePass.
I don't feel excited about suggesting this, as I love the OpenDoor model and hope they win.