Zillow gossip gets juicier
By Sharon Hill
The gossip about Zillow has just gotten ”juicier.” Amidst a rumor that Zillow is about to spend $45 million to buy rental management software firm RentJuice, the third-largest online real estate marketplace has just announced its new Android rental app. Both follow on the heels of Zillow’s launch of Rent Zestimates. (For even more on Zillow doings, and industry-insider ponderings about what’s really going on, read our upcoming CIR.)
RentJuice made its own important announcement two weeks ago, making it an even “juicier” buy for Zillow. The new RentJuice product is called Common Application. The new online and mobile-enabled tool could be described as a Facebook Connect for rental listings. With the new Common Application, a prospective renter can complete her or his online application one time and then send it in one-click thereafter to any property she favors. The tool also enables online and smart-phone or tablet-based lease application as well
Here’s the Zillow app news release: Continue reading
Austria´s Immobilien.net starts regional property portal for Vienna
Record growth at DPG
The U.K.’s Digital Property Group (DPG) is enjoying a golden patch according to a slew of announcements from the stable.
Firstly the number of visits is up by 20 per cent on last year’s first quarter to 18.2 million.
Next the number of email and phone leads is up over 40 per cent over the same period and the group recently signed its 15,000th member which means a 29 per cent growth compared to last year.
With the DPG/Zoopla merger now given the green light the DPG board can also celebrate the 1,200 new estate and letting agent branches added to Zoopla’s to its website in Q1.
DPG Marketing Director, Sheraz Dar, ascribes the growth to the traditional frenetic media activity seen by U.K. property portals at the start of the year;“Over the past year DPG’s advertising investment accounted for over half of the total among the major portals and both PrimeLocation.com and FindaProperty.com were on TV during the first 3 months of 2012. This has helped create a sustained increase in visits and inquiries that’s been building now for many months and we are delighted our customers are seeing the real, tangible benefits of investing in us.”
McClatchy reports $2 million loss
In its Q1 2012 earnings report, The McClatchy Company reported a loss of $2.1 million, with classified revenue down more than 8 percent year over year. While much of the classified losses were in print advertising, digital dollars suffered as well. The only classified vertical whose YOY ad revenue increased was automotive, showing a 12 percent jump. Real estate and employment dropped nearly 9 percent and more than 6 percent respectively. California and Florida newspapers drove the downward classified digital trend, presumably heavily impacted by the dismal real estate economy in both areas.
Here’s the earnings report: Continue reading
Dot-MLS and other TLD applications delayed
By Sharon Hill
Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), the organization responsible for managing URLS and assigning top level domains, has had to take offline its electronic TLD application system. The deadline for dot-MLS and other TLD applications was first extended to April 20 and is now in limbo until the system is repaired. According to ICANN ongoing announcements, a system error enabled applicants to view some of the other applicants’ names, though ICANN has said it has no evidence of being hacked.
We’re staying in touch with Brian Larson, corporate secretary at MLS Domains Association, for news on whether the association had secured enough MLSs committed to purchase of dot-MLS sites to make its TLD application feasible. As well, we’re hoping to find out if the China-based owners of www.mls.com, who are not MLS affiliated, will be applying as well. The May 1 “reveal date” (when anyone can see all applications) has also been moved back to an unknown date.
Idealista goes for Rentalia after HomeAway buys vacation rental platform TopRural
- New Study Names Edmunds.com Most Popular Car Dealer Review Site
- HomeZada Integrates to Pinterest for DIY Projects
- Contact At Once! Dealer Chat Software Now Available to DealerRater Certified Dealer Partners
- United States:
- Vizu Moves into Social Media Ad Success Measurement
- McClatchy Names Elaine Lintecum As Vice President, Finance And Chief Financial Officer And Announces Other Leadership Changes
- United States:AutoTrader.com Announces New Leadership at VinSolutions
- Grenlist.com is a “Classifieds Community”, with environmental integrity! Every aspect of the site, has been created by the people, for the people!
- Canoe.ca publisher Quebecor reports Q1 2012 results
- Yellow Media Reports $3 Billion Quarterly Loss
