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Mike DelPrete wrote an article that dropped Zillow's stock 9% in one day. What did he discover? Google was testing full real estate search embedded in their platform—actual listings with filters, agent contact info, the works. The industry freaked out. In this episode, Mike and I unpack what's really happening with Compass, Zillow, Rocket, Redfin, Google, and AI—and what it all means for agents building sustainable businesses. His theme for 2026: Everything is changing, nothing is changing. The fundamentals haven't changed. Agents are still the center of the transaction. Personal connections can't be replaced. But you need to compete where you can win.
⏱️ TIMESTAMPS
0:00 - Intro: Mike DelPrete, Industry Strategist & Observer
1:00 - Is the Industry at a Tipping Point?
3:02 - Mike's Advice: Stop Going on the Internet
4:43 - Compass vs. Zillow: The Exclusive Listings Battle
6:48 - The Redfin/Rocket Partnership: What It Means
9:02 - Mega Brokers & the Agent's Role
13:03 - The Holy Grail Race: Owning the Entire Transaction
16:45 - Is Bundling Better for Consumers?
19:11 - Who Should Be Your Dance Partner?
20:11 - The Article That Dropped Zillow's Stock 9%
22:40 - Google's Crystal Ball: What's Next?
25:12 - The Last Mile: Where Agents Win
27:42 - Mike's X-Factor: Pattern Matching
🎯 KEY TAKEAWAYS
✔️ "Everything is changing, nothing is changing" - Mike's 2026 theme
✔️ Stop going on the internet - best advice for cutting through noise
✔️ Private exclusives are "so 2025" - Compass has 10K listings, accept it and move forward
✔️ Google tested full real estate search (dropped Zillow's stock 9%)
✔️ The Holy Grail race: Zillow and Rocket want to own the entire transaction
✔️ Compete where you can win - you're the last mile solution
✔️ 50% of online leads go ignored - massive opportunity gap
✔️ If someone calls you, pick up the phone (they've done everything to avoid calling)
🏠 ABOUT MIKE DELPRETTE
Mike DelPrete is an industry strategist, writer, consultant, and one of the most respected observers in real estate. His research and analysis literally moves markets—one of his articles dropped Zillow's stock 9% in a single day. He has an uncanny ability to see patterns before anyone else and connect dots from a distance. Mike's writing and insights are followed by industry leaders, investors, and agents worldwide.
🎤 ABOUT WENDY FORSYTHE
Executive Leader | Marketing Innovator | Author & Podcast Host
Wendy Forsythe is the Chief Marketing Officer of eXp Realty, one of the largest real estate brokerages globally with over 83,000 agents. With 25+ years of experience driving growth and brand transformation across real estate, she's recognized as a HousingWire 2025 Woman of Influence and appears on the 2025 Swanepoel Power 200 list.
Wendy is the host of the X-Factor Marketing podcast and author of Leverage Your X-Factor: The 6-Step Framework to Scale Your Real Estate Business and Reclaim Your Life, a #1 new release on Amazon. A sought-after speaker and thought leader, she leads with authenticity, purpose, and a people-first approach to building what's next.