C
ribio is the new face of the Broker Public Portal (BPP), a real‑estate search engine built by a coalition of brokers and multiple listing services (MLS). The platform is designed with the consumer in mind, offering a clean, ad‑free experience that delivers listings without “forced interactions” such as paid placements or bundled mortgage offers.

    The name “Cribio” was chosen to be short, memorable, and distinct—much like Zillow or Redfin—while signaling a brand that belongs to buyers rather than agents. CEO Dan Troup and VP of Products Tyler Olmsted announced the rebrand in an interview with Real Estate News and revealed that a mobile app will launch later this year.

    ### How Cribio Works

    Cribio keeps the familiar search filters that users expect but adds a “Smart Search” feature, letting visitors specify exact attributes they want in a home. The goal is to become the go‑to search engine for real‑estate listings, according to Olmsted.

    Because the technology and data are owned by the MLSs and brokers that partner with BPP, the platform can collect consumer search metrics and feed that information back to the industry. Troup emphasized that this data sharing is a first for portals, which traditionally keep such insights in-house.

    ### Business Model

    Cribio is not a profit‑driven venture. Instead, it aims to break even by charging a nominal fee—$0.50 per member per month—to MLSs that host a localized, branded version of the site. This allows brokers to offer nationwide data under their own domain while keeping the platform’s core free for consumers. Troup described this as “brokers without borders.”

    ### Current Reach and Future Plans

    At launch, Cribio partners with four MLSs: Canopy MLS, MIBOR, Doorify MLS, and MRED. The company needs national coverage to compete with established portals. Troup stressed that even the best consumer experience is meaningless if listings are missing in key markets.

    Growth will rely on the existing relationships between agents and their clients, encouraging brokers to direct buyers to Cribio as a trusted, ad‑free destination. Unlike rivals that spend heavily on national advertising, BPP will focus on word‑of‑mouth and the credibility of its industry partners.

    ### The Consumer Advantage

    Cribio’s promise is a search platform that prioritizes buyers’ needs over revenue. By eliminating paid listings and intrusive ads, the site aims to provide a more authentic, straightforward browsing experience. The data collected will help MLSs refine their listings, ultimately benefiting both sellers and buyers.

    In short, Cribio is a consumer‑first search engine backed by industry ownership, a modest revenue model, and a commitment to data transparency—all while seeking the national reach necessary to challenge the current real‑estate portal giants.