This book discusses in detail the impact of the Internet on the real-estate brokerage industry. It starts by tracing the history of the industry in America, and then goes on to present case studies of successful online brokerage companies and startups, and to evaluate future trends from the perspectives of investors as well as researchers. It explains how the Internet can transform an industry, enabling readers to spot potential investment opportunities.

Table of contents :
Front Matter....Pages i-xiii
Existing Homes to Take Over China’s Housing Market....Pages 1-10
Changes in Pre-internet Real Estate Brokerage Industry in the US Over the Century....Pages 11-29
What Changes Has the Internet Brought to the Real Estate Brokerage Industry?....Pages 31-49
The Impossible Trinity....Pages 51-59
Why Does the Internet Impact China More Tremendously?....Pages 61-66
Zillow—Online Media Tycoon in US Real Estate Brokerage Industry....Pages 67-84
Redfin—A Developing Vertical e-Commerce Model....Pages 85-100
The Falls and Turns of Real Estate Media....Pages 101-117
How Should China’s Real Estate Brokerages Transform Themselves?....Pages 119-130
Are the Sharing Economy and the Maker Economy Here to Stay?....Pages 131-136
How to Build a Data Ecosystem for Real Estates?....Pages 137-144
Long-Term Apartment Rentals for Youth—A New Frontier....Pages 145-168