Google is obviously very focused on local broadly but also some key verticals within the segment. One of those is real estate.
There were a number of sources recently that asserted Google was interested in buying Trulia. (Maybe it still will.)
However at the Inman Real Estate Connect show in New York, Google’s Sam Sebastian reportedly said the following: “We’re actively looking to acquire one to two small real estate companies a month.”
Here are the top US real estate sites according to Hitwise:
On this list are many sites that Google can’t buy because they’re not independent. For example, Rent.com is eBay, ServiceMagic is IAC and so on.
My guess is that Google will buy sites that offer rich functionality, have established relationships with MLS services, are already established marketing platforms for brokers/agents and/or have relatively comprehensive hooks into rental listings. Roost.com, Redfin and HotPads (not on the list above) could well be candidates. I’m gonna bet money that Roost is one that’s acquired fairly soon.
There might also be an acquisition or two specifically in the mobile space around real estate.
Screenwerk 
January 16, 2010 at 5:53 pm
[…] Trulia, but Sebastian wouldn’t confirm or deny those rumors. On his blog, Greg Sterling speculates about some of the larger real estate sites that Google may be targeting, but there are plenty of […]
January 16, 2010 at 6:26 pm
[…] is the original post: Google to Scoop Up Real Estate Sites « Screenwerk Share and […]
January 16, 2010 at 6:51 pm
Well that is one way to further diversify income streams. Prices should be cheaper than if the real estate economy was flourishing. Google can easily afford one (or many) of these sites, enhance it, promote it, get it highly visable and then ride its activity when real estate heats up again.
January 16, 2010 at 7:53 pm
I was there and what I heard was a statement that Google would continue to make acquisitions at that rate. He wasn’t talking specifically about real estate acquisitions. However, this was during an exchange about Trulia, so I can see where it may have been misinterpreted.
January 16, 2010 at 10:44 pm
NASDAQ: LEDR is my dark horse. It’s not much of a consumer brand like Zillow but has as many or more MLS deals than Zillow and Google could get it for a steal. Their market cap is essentially equal to their cash on hand and less than total current assets. http://in.finance.yahoo.com/q/bs?s=LEDR&annual. Zillow raised a boatload of money on a steep 2007 valuation so they are going to require a lot more to buy and Google would probably be overpaying relative to the value they’d get.
LEDR have multiple websites including justlisted.com, housevalues.com and others.
January 16, 2010 at 10:51 pm
Ed:
Yes that’s Google’s regular line. I can also see if that was the context how it might be misinterpreted. Clearly the report I saw interpreted the comment entirely in the real estate context.
January 17, 2010 at 2:55 am
[…] to have Google’s bank account. Google, looking to grow in the online real estate sector, is planning to buy numerous companies in the space, monthly.Every VC that has made a bet in the real estate sector […]
January 17, 2010 at 5:41 am
[…] nice to have Google’s bank account. Google, looking to grow in the online real estate sector, is planning to buy numerous companies in the […]
January 17, 2010 at 2:38 pm
I was at the conference and listened to the interview and Sam Sebastian did NOT say “We’re actively looking to acquire one to two small real estate companies a month.”. Take out the words ‘real estate’ and the quote would be what he actually said…but then I guess you wouldn’t have anything to write about.
January 17, 2010 at 3:14 pm
[…] Estate Connect show have come forward or made comments now that this needs to be clarified: “Google to Scoop Up Real Estate Sites.” I wasn’t there and was writing based on vicarious information. Here was the quote, […]
January 17, 2010 at 5:17 pm
[…] Google to Scoop Up Real Estate Sites « Screenwerk […]
January 18, 2010 at 12:33 am
[…] Google to Scoop Up Real Estate Sites Google is obviously very focused on local broadly but also some key verticals within the segment. One of those is real […] […]
January 18, 2010 at 2:15 am
[…] and Greg Sterling offers his own analysis in this post. Roost.com, Redfin and HotPads are all possible […]
January 18, 2010 at 5:09 am
[…] read in “Google to Scoop Up Real Estate Sites” that some talk about Google purchasing real estate services. My research indicates that […]
January 18, 2010 at 2:55 pm
Roost? It’s pretty much smaller than http://homes.trovit.com…..I don’t think so….
January 21, 2010 at 8:52 pm
Here is a link to the actual presentation from Sam Sebastian at Connect NYC. I’m posting it to clear up any confusion!
http://www.inman.com/news/2010/01/20/google-rpr-and-future
Thanks!
Katie Lance, Marketing Manager, Inman News
March 5, 2010 at 2:19 pm
[…] ze eenvoudigweg op internet, dat deden ze toch al. Maar er zijn ook berichten dat Google internet vastgoedsites opkoopt. Op die manier wil Google meer gegevens aan de zoekresultaten kunnen […]
May 19, 2010 at 8:49 am
Nice article…Good Read…I Google get into the game of Real estate, we’ll have an even tougher challange of Ranking in the Golden Number one shot..One hopes Google stay away..
June 6, 2010 at 4:35 pm
That’s kinda scary for a realtor with an internet lead generation business model
July 29, 2010 at 11:48 pm
Google are definitely going for vertical markets and have just apparently made a bold move into online travel. Good posting and nice blog.
David
February 19, 2011 at 8:39 pm
Google has to make money there is no doubt about that but no matter how big it gets, it still needs to remember that the user is what gives it power. If Google continues to use its own resources to manipulate the rankings to its own end then one day very soon it may end up like an Alta Vista
November 24, 2011 at 8:44 pm
If I were Google, I wouldn’t buy any existing companies, I’d just put myself in first position. A simple real estate platform is all that is needed and a good business model, probably called Google MLS.
November 30, 2011 at 2:56 pm
Google doesn’t really need to buy into real estate. If it wants to do it gradually and not overnight, they just need put forward the right combination of functionality and usability for people to populate the ‘property’ site for them and the property will flood in!
February 18, 2012 at 5:09 pm
Does anyone know if Google has acquired any real estate companies? It seems as thought they have left the real estate vertical since shutting down their own real estate search.
March 3, 2012 at 10:08 pm
You need to take part in a contest for one of the best blogs on the net. I’m going to highly recommend this website!
February 19, 2013 at 1:37 pm
Hmm is anyone else having problems with the images on this blog loading?
I’m trying to determine if its a problem on my end or if it’s the blog.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
February 19, 2013 at 2:01 pm
This is my old blog and it’s no longer maintained. Go to Screenwerk.com for the same content. Everything is there and it’s updated