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FTC vs. Zillowfin
Splits and Caps Daily: Action for Agents
October 1, 2025
📈 Market Move:
Fake Fairness
The FTC just came swinging at Zillow and Redfin, accusing them of pulling off a $100M antitrust no-no. Here’s the gist: Zillow paid Redfin to stop being a real competitor in the rental listings game and instead just funnel everything into Zillow’s pipeline.
That deal wiped out Redfin’s rental ad business, axed 450 jobs, and basically turned Redfin from a scrappy rival into Zillow’s sidekick. The FTC says this “obviously anticompetitive” move shrinks choice, hikes prices, and lowers quality for everyone from property managers to renters.
Zillow’s spin: “It’s pro-consumer, we’re giving renters more listings.”
Redfin’s spin: “We couldn’t afford rentals anyway, so teaming up helps us innovate.”
The reality? The FTC is asking the court to blow up the deal and maybe even force Zillow and Redfin to sell off assets. If that happens, the rental listing landscape could get reshuffled fast — and CoStar (Apartments.com) is licking its chops on the sidelines.
Translation: Zillow bet $100M to knock out a rival, but Uncle Sam just showed up to call foul. This fight could redraw the rental map.
🌟Quote of the Day:
“Normality is a paved road: It’s comfortable to walk, but no flowers grow on it.” — Vincent van Gogh
⚡ Quick Win:
Mini-Celebration Ritual: After finishing a small task today, take 30 seconds to acknowledge it. Celebrate wins, even the tiny ones—psychology matters.
🎉 Fun Fact of the Day:
Sink or Swim: 🛑 In Venice, some houses are sinking at a rate of 1–2 millimeters a year. Real estate literally depreciating into the sea.
📚 Book Recommendation:
“Bold: How to Go Big, Create Wealth, and Impact the World” by Peter H. Diamandis & Steven Kotler — If you’ve ever thought, “I want to do something huge… but also make a difference,” this book is your cheat code. Bold shows how crazy, world-changing ideas aren’t just for billionaires or rocket scientists — they’re for anyone willing to think bigger than everyone around them.
Diamandis and Kotler break down how to harness tech, risk, and unconventional thinking to not only make bank but actually leave a dent in the universe. Think: startups, exponential tech, moonshots — but written so you can actually understand it without a PhD.
Takeaway: The world rewards people who go big. And if you play small, you’re leaving opportunities (and money) on the table. Read this, and start asking yourself: What’s my bold move?
The best is still in front of you.
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