D
amian Eales views Zillow as both a top competitor and an essential partner for Realtor.com. He continues to "call out" Homes.com due to its competitive tactics.

    Realtor.com has successfully defended itself against ongoing legal disputes with CoStar and Homes.com, doing so in a manner that aligns with the company's values. While competing vigorously with Zillow, Realtor.com has chosen to partner with it on specific projects rather than invest resources in developing independent capabilities.

    The portal wars have intensified this year, with companies engaging in heated ad campaigns and lawsuits. However, Eales notes that Zillow remains the primary competitor for Realtor.com. This rivalry has taken a friendlier turn, as the two companies partnered to share rental listings and interactive media.

    Looking back on 2023, Eales is proud of how Realtor.com rediscovered its brand and stood up for buyer agents in the industry. The company maintained its audience share despite significant competition and improved relationships with customers.

    Regarding Homes.com, Eales emphasizes that Realtor.com will continue to "call out" any unfair practices or trade secret theft allegations. He acknowledges that Homes.com is a smaller player compared to Zillow, which remains the market leader.

    Realtor.com competes with Zillow but has also partnered with it on certain projects, such as rental listings. Eales explains that partnerships allow the company to focus its resources and leverage others' scale rather than investing in independent capabilities.

    If the Clear Cooperation Policy were repealed, Eales believes Zillow would be the primary beneficiary due to its ability to aggregate more listings. This could lead to a model where portals charge for listings, which he thinks is detrimental to buyers and sellers as well as Realtors.

    Realtor.com has taken a stance against becoming a brokerage and remains supportive of MLSs, which provide unique value to American buyers and sellers. The company aims to find ways to operate profitably while genuinely helping the industry.