O
n the latest episode of RealTrending, host Tracey Velt talks to Craig McClelland, chief strategy officer at HomeStory and president of LOCAL Realty. They discuss how real estate is evolving, with a focus on consumer-first strategies and tech-driven models that challenge traditional brokerage structures.

    McClelland notes that major players like Zillow and Rocket Mortgage are driving this change, but emphasizes that they've taken different paths to get there. He explains that while investors may compare the two companies, their origins and approaches remain distinct.

    Zillow's path was through a portal, whereas Rocket came from originating high-volume customers at the top of the funnel. This difference in approach means that each company has perfected its own unique model – Zillow's portal path and Rocket's originations path.