The year saw explosive rivalries, wild stock market performances and plenty of rage.
Source: Inman News
Real estate in 2021 was weird, wild and always unpredictable
Published in acquisitions, Agent, Andy Florance, Antonine Plague, Beringer Capital, blank check company, Brokerage, capitol riot, Chris Carlan, coldwell banker, Coldwell Banker Bain, compass, Coronavirus, coronavirus pandemic, costar, COVID-19, Dave Ramsey, David Ferrugio, department of justice, eric wu, evictions, exp, eXp Realty, exp world holdings, fannie mae, freddie mac, gary keller, Great Resignation, homes.com, houston, ibuyer, inman connect, Institutional buyers, ipo, Jenna Ryan, Julian Werly, keller williams, Klete Keller, las vegas, lgbt, Libby Andrews, lumber, m ryan gorman, Markets & Economy, matterport, Mike Dalcin, Missoula, Missoula Organization of Realtors, montana, Mortgage, NAR, nextdoor, offerpad, opendoor, pandemic, PropTech, re/max, realogy, Regulations, rich barton, rivalries, robert reffkin, saturday night live, Select, showingtime, SPAC, Spanish Flu, stock market, streeteasy, Summer 2021, Tamara Dadyan, Technology, the Daily Show, the great resignation, TikTok, Triple Play Realtor Convention, vacasa, warburg realty, WeWork, windermere, year in real estate, Zillow and Zillow Offers
More from acquisitionsMore posts in acquisitions »
More from AgentMore posts in Agent »
- This team is jumping on the private listing platform trend (EXCLUSIVE)
- Redfin on 2026: Affordability improves, sales rise only slightly
- Dual licensing is on the rise. Is it the right move for your business?
- Future-proof your digital footprint for 2026 (and beyond)
- Change strategy as the market shifts to win the listings long game
More from Andy FloranceMore posts in Andy Florance »
- Realtor.com CEO talks ‘serious competitors,’ says ‘quality is really what we’re interested in’
- Will Anywhere merger launch M&A arms race? It’s not yet clear: Intel
- Recession? Membership? Blessings? Inman Top 5
- Zillow says CoStar uses litigation ‘playbook’ to ‘attack’ competitors
- Redfin vs. Compass vs. Zillow: Inman’s Top 5 stories of the week
More from Beringer CapitalMore posts in Beringer Capital »
- Commissions held up in Year 1. Would a seller’s shift upend them?
- The ‘rate lock-in’ barrier is cracking — and not where you might expect
- Many buyers think home prices will only rise. Is that a safe bet?
- In a more buyer-friendly market, sellers are emerging too
- Fewer consumers think it’s a good time to buy — or sell: Inman-Dig poll
More from blank check companyMore posts in blank check company »
More from BrokerageMore posts in Brokerage »
- Redfin on 2026: Affordability improves, sales rise only slightly
- Dual licensing is on the rise. Is it the right move for your business?
- Future-proof your digital footprint for 2026 (and beyond)
- Change strategy as the market shifts to win the listings long game
- Listing leverage: How to win the game of securing sellers
More from capitol riotMore posts in capitol riot »
- Agent pleads guilty for Capitol riot, another keeps her real estate license
- Real estate agent charged in Capitol attack gets 36 months of probation
- NAR is second biggest trade group donor to ‘Sedition Caucus’: Analysis
- The real estate agents who stormed the Capitol: Where are they now?
- Capitol rioter mistakenly shows attack plans in Zillow listing photos
More from Chris CarlanMore posts in Chris Carlan »
More from coldwell bankerMore posts in coldwell banker »
- Coldwell Banker nabs 1,300-agent affiliate from Berkshire Hathaway
- Despite unease, Compass poised to retain most Anywhere agents
- Price cuts and concessions: Here’s how to prepare homeowners for the reality of selling a home today
- Anywhere expects preservation of brand ‘independence’ after Compass merger
- Former Coldwell Banker CEO on affordability and ‘purple’ policies
More from Coldwell Banker BainMore posts in Coldwell Banker Bain »
More from compassMore posts in compass »
- This team is jumping on the private listing platform trend (EXCLUSIVE)
- Real CEO talks growth in hard times — and how everyone loses in real estate ‘wars’
- Shutdown blip, or worrying trend? Agent pipelines thin in November
- In crowded virtual staging category, Collov AI offers ease, affordability: Tech Review
- Zillow’s listing ban hangs in the balance after 4-day hearing
More from CoronavirusMore posts in Coronavirus »
- The internet fell hard for real estate in 2021. But can the love affair last?
- Los Angeles apartment owners sue over COVID rent freeze
- Demand for urban homes will be ‘muted’ for years: McKinsey
- Chris Heller: Brokerages and teams are playing chicken. Who will win?
- Will migration fizzle out in 2023? History points to existential shift
More from coronavirus pandemicMore posts in coronavirus pandemic »
- Condo sales fall to 10-year low amid surge in insurance costs, HOA fees
- Meet Inman’s 2023 ‘Person of the Year’: The Small Broker-Owner
- The internet fell hard for real estate in 2021. But can the love affair last?
- Los Angeles apartment owners sue over COVID rent freeze
- Chris Heller: Brokerages and teams are playing chicken. Who will win?
More from costarMore posts in costar »
- Dispatches from NAR NXT as real estate grapples with AI
- Realtor.com CEO talks ‘serious competitors,’ says ‘quality is really what we’re interested in’
- Will Anywhere merger launch M&A arms race? It’s not yet clear: Intel
- Zillow defends private listing rule, criticizes Compass in new filing
- Realtor.com puts ‘spotlight’ on listing agents with new feature
More from COVID-19More posts in COVID-19 »
More from Dave RamseyMore posts in Dave Ramsey »
More from David FerrugioMore posts in David Ferrugio »
More from department of justiceMore posts in department of justice »
- Letitia James mortgage fraud case thrown out, but can be refiled
- NAR’s Kevin Sears: We need to ‘show everybody that we as Realtors are pro-consumer’
- There’s nobody in charge of looking out for waste, fraud and abuse at Fannie and Freddie’s regulator
- Fannie Mae guts ethics and internal investigations unit: WSJ report
- Letitia James pleads not guilty, seeks dismissal of fraud case
More from eric wuMore posts in eric wu »
More from evictionsMore posts in evictions »
- Mayor outside Chicago has evaded eviction server, landlord claims
- LeFrak sues NYC housing court as evictions slow to ‘surreal’ crawl
- From NFTs to IPOs: The top real estate investment stories of 2021
- The ‘looming eviction crisis’ is overblown. Here’s why
- The ‘looming eviction crisis’ is overblown. Here’s why
More from expMore posts in exp »
More from eXp RealtyMore posts in eXp Realty »
More from exp world holdingsMore posts in exp world holdings »
- EXp digs at Compass during Q3 earnings as agent retention soars
- Amit Kulkarni, Russ Cofano launch strategy firm Alloy Advisors
- Minnesota broker sues eXp over sexual harassment, retaliation
- EXp World Holdings revenue, sales volume grows 1% during Q2
- Sanford fires back at Compass, argues against ‘walled gardens’
More from fannie maeMore posts in fannie mae »
- Rep. Eric Swalwell sues Pulte, FHFA, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac
- Homebuyers came out in force last week, and rates are trending down
- Fannie and Freddie cleared to back loans of up to $832,750 in 2026
- Realtor who tipped Pulte to Schiff loans now a witness [EXCLUSIVE]
- Rising unemployment revives prospects for December rate cut
More from freddie macMore posts in freddie mac »
- Rep. Eric Swalwell sues Pulte, FHFA, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac
- Fannie and Freddie cleared to back loans of up to $832,750 in 2026
- Realtor who tipped Pulte to Schiff loans now a witness [EXCLUSIVE]
- DR Horton gets into AI mortgage tech with Tidalwave stake
- This week was all about NAR: Inman’s Top 5 stories
More from gary kellerMore posts in gary keller »
- Is the housing market in the midst of a recession? Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent thinks so
- KW’s Jason Abrams on the ‘paradox’ of artificial intelligence
- This CMO wants to make Keller Williams the Nike of real estate
- Teams Spotlight: Dave Umphress, Flourish Collective
- Will Gary Keller’s real estate recession prediction come true? The Download
More from Great ResignationMore posts in Great Resignation »
- 6 tips for giving out-of-town buyers next-level service
- 3 ways to keep your team engaged, happy and productive during the ‘Great Resignation’
- Tech startup Tribus hires former brokerage exec to serve as coach
- A ‘she-cession’ update 1 year later: Where are these women now?
- What to watch as Keller Williams’ Family Reunion unfolds this week
More from homes.comMore posts in homes.com »
- Dispatches from NAR NXT as real estate grapples with AI
- Realtor.com CEO talks ‘serious competitors,’ says ‘quality is really what we’re interested in’
- Realtors reject proposal to require disclosure of more referral fees
- Will Anywhere merger launch M&A arms race? It’s not yet clear: Intel
- Zillow defends private listing rule, criticizes Compass in new filing
More from houstonMore posts in houston »
More from ibuyerMore posts in ibuyer »
- New Opendoor CEO’s plan: ‘Buy more good homes and get more good sellers through our funnel’
- Here’s how to save canceled listings and improve success rates
- Offerpad home sales, acquisitions hit new low in Q3 2025
- Is the ‘proptech winter’ ending? This is what investors are watching
- Opendoor continues C-sweep with CFO swap
More from inman connectMore posts in inman connect »
- The fallout from NAR’s big reversal: Take the Intel Index survey today
- Inman is celebrating 30 years of community, and you’re invited
- From Vegas to venture capital: Navigating the uncertain path of the proptech founder
- Innovation takes the stage at Inman Connect New York
- The path for Compass-Anywhere: Take the Intel Index survey today
More from Institutional buyersMore posts in Institutional buyers »
More from ipoMore posts in ipo »
- Pacaso plans to launch ‘bespoke’ co-ownership mortgage in Q4
- If Fannie and Freddie go public, what happens to mortgage rates?
- Trump bump flattens for luxury homebuyers in Silicon Valley
- Keller Williams takes on major investment from CoreLogic owner
- ‘Substantial doubt’ that WeWork can stay afloat, company says
More from Jenna RyanMore posts in Jenna Ryan »
- Agent pleads guilty for Capitol riot, another keeps her real estate license
- The real estate agents who stormed the Capitol: Where are they now?
- Realtor’s ‘white skin’ didn’t keep her out of jail for Capitol riot after all
- Agent who marketed her business at Capitol riot pleads guilty in deal
- 1 in 5 criminally charged Capitol rioters have faced foreclosure
More from Julian WerlyMore posts in Julian Werly »
More from keller williamsMore posts in keller williams »
More from Klete KellerMore posts in Klete Keller »
More from las vegasMore posts in las vegas »
- Inman is celebrating 30 years of community, and you’re invited
- SERHANT. enters Sin City with 2nd Southwestern market launch
- From Vegas to venture capital: Navigating the uncertain path of the proptech founder
- Douglas Elliman begins expanding overseas
- 2025 a banner year for mortgage deregulation and legislation
More from lgbtMore posts in lgbt »
- We all need to care about the LGBTQ+ community
- This LGBTQ+ advocate has a message for you this Pride Month
- Marriage equality lead plaintiff, Realtor Jim Obergefell on LGBTQ+ advocacy today
- Passing the exam: How do we treat LGBTQ+ clients and colleagues?
- These are the top LGBTQ real estate agents in North America
More from Libby AndrewsMore posts in Libby Andrews »
More from lumberMore posts in lumber »
- Homebuilders cry ‘uncle’ as duties on Canadian lumber hit 27%
- Homebuilders warn they’re facing a 40% tariff on Canadian lumber
- How union strikes like the Writers Guild of America impact real estate
- After stable stretch, lumber’s roller coaster ride scales yet another hill
- Homebuilding materials remain 38% costlier than normal
More from m ryan gormanMore posts in m ryan gorman »
- Former Coldwell Banker CEO on affordability and ‘purple’ policies
- ‘Rabbit gets the gun’: The essential guide to Week 1 of Sitzer | Burnett
- Anywhere’s BHGRE and ERA name new presidents after Sherry Chris
- Coldwell Banker reorganizes 7 regions amid leadership reshuffle
- 5 years later, Anywhere CEO Ryan Schneider’s impact is everywhere
More from Markets & EconomyMore posts in Markets & Economy »
- Dual licensing is on the rise. Is it the right move for your business?
- Change strategy as the market shifts to win the listings long game
- Shutdown blip, or worrying trend? Agent pipelines thin in November
- Homebuyers came out in force last week, and rates are trending down
- October was another slow month for pending home sales
More from matterportMore posts in matterport »
- In crowded virtual staging category, Collov AI offers ease, affordability: Tech Review
- Through the bathroom door: What 3D tours reveal about buyers today
- Paraspot AI sees the future of property inspection: Tech Review
- CoStar CEO Andy Florance says in earnings call Zillow is ‘under siege’
- Realtor.com parent goes after its own virtual tour target amid battle with CoStar
More from Mike DalcinMore posts in Mike Dalcin »
More from MissoulaMore posts in Missoula »
- How 1 agent is fighting for fair housing in Big Sky Country
- News Quiz: Test your grasp of the biggest news for the week of Jan. 2
- NAR added as defendant in Missoula LGBTQ hate speech case
- Missoula pastor needs to leave real estate: LGBTQ+ Alliance CEO
- Engel & Völkers Americas had its best year ever in 2020
More from Missoula Organization of RealtorsMore posts in Missoula Organization of Realtors »
- How 1 agent is fighting for fair housing in Big Sky Country
- Texas hate speech bill ‘dead’ as NAR considers ethics code change
- NAR hate speech policy poised for disruption under Texas Senate bill
- NAR added as defendant in Missoula LGBTQ hate speech case
- Windermere distances itself from anti-LGBTQ Missoula pastor
More from montanaMore posts in montana »
- Former Coldwell Banker CEO on affordability and ‘purple’ policies
- How 1 agent is fighting for fair housing in Big Sky Country
- Lake Homes Realty branches out with new firm for mountain homes
- Evergreen Home Loans pursuing national expansion strategy
- 5 Instagram Reel ideas to grow your real estate brand, business
More from MortgageMore posts in Mortgage »
- Bayview merger positions Guild Mortgage for refinancing boom
- Rep. Eric Swalwell sues Pulte, FHFA, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac
- Homebuyers came out in force last week, and rates are trending down
- Fannie and Freddie cleared to back loans of up to $832,750 in 2026
- Realtor who tipped Pulte to Schiff loans now a witness [EXCLUSIVE]
More from NARMore posts in NAR »
More from nextdoorMore posts in nextdoor »
More from offerpadMore posts in offerpad »
- Offerpad home sales, acquisitions hit new low in Q3 2025
- From cash offer to collaboration: Offerpad empowers agents and sellers
- Opendoor’s resurrection: Will there be an iBuyer afterlife?
- He started the Opendoor stock rally. Now he wants the CEO out
- Opendoor grows revenue and trims losses in 2nd quarter rally
More from opendoorMore posts in opendoor »
- Inman unveils winners of the 2025 Best of Proptech Awards
- Trump’s 50-year mortgage is ‘a big nothingburger’ for homebuyers
- New Opendoor CEO’s plan: ‘Buy more good homes and get more good sellers through our funnel’
- From Vegas to venture capital: Navigating the uncertain path of the proptech founder
- Here’s how to save canceled listings and improve success rates
More from pandemicMore posts in pandemic »
More from PropTechMore posts in PropTech »
- Shutdown blip, or worrying trend? Agent pipelines thin in November
- 3 under-the-radar trends from October’s Intel Index survey
- Dispatches from NAR NXT as real estate grapples with AI
- The fallout from NAR’s big reversal: Take the Intel Index survey today
- Inman unveils winners of the 2025 Best of Proptech Awards
More from re/maxMore posts in re/max »
- Through the bathroom door: What 3D tours reveal about buyers today
- Will Anywhere merger launch M&A arms race? It’s not yet clear: Intel
- 3 opportunities agents miss without a top global brand
- NAR scores a victory in buyer commission lawsuit
- New LGBTQ+ Alliance president talks about ‘opportunity in the chaos’
More from realogyMore posts in realogy »
More from RegulationsMore posts in Regulations »
- Rep. Eric Swalwell sues Pulte, FHFA, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac
- Letitia James mortgage fraud case thrown out, but can be refiled
- Pulte’s role in mortgage fraud indictment under scrutiny
- Don’t merge Fannie and Freddie, says their biggest investor
- Fallout over Fed policymakers’ investments reshaping the board
More from rich bartonMore posts in rich barton »
More from robert reffkinMore posts in robert reffkin »
- Zillow’s listing ban hangs in the balance after 4-day hearing
- Will Anywhere merger launch M&A arms race? It’s not yet clear: Intel
- Inman is celebrating 30 years of community, and you’re invited
- Zillow defends private listing rule, criticizes Compass in new filing
- Despite unease, Compass poised to retain most Anywhere agents
More from saturday night liveMore posts in saturday night live »
- Amidst feud with Drake, Kendrick Lamar drops $40M on LA pad
- Travis Kelce, Taylor Swift scoop up ‘Traylor Home’ of their own in KC
- British fashion entrepreneurs sell Beverly Hills home for $35.25M
- Are real estate portals addictive? Consensus grows as users scroll
- How to survive the future as Generation Z hits the real estate market
More from SelectMore posts in Select »
- This team is jumping on the private listing platform trend (EXCLUSIVE)
- Redfin on 2026: Affordability improves, sales rise only slightly
- Dual licensing is on the rise. Is it the right move for your business?
- Future-proof your digital footprint for 2026 (and beyond)
- Change strategy as the market shifts to win the listings long game
More from showingtimeMore posts in showingtime »
More from SPACMore posts in SPAC »
- Better Mortgage seizes the day on Wall Street with $75M raise
- Better shares soar on bullish thesis by activist investor Eric Jackson
- Here’s how much extra money you’d have if you invested $1K in Opendoor last month
- Better shares plunge more than 90% in Nasdaq debut
- After setbacks, Better goes public with plan to scale ‘greater heights’
More from Spanish FluMore posts in Spanish Flu »
More from stock marketMore posts in stock market »
More from streeteasyMore posts in streeteasy »
- Zillow says CoStar uses litigation ‘playbook’ to ‘attack’ competitors
- Real estate portals feel the heat during a rough week: The Download
- Zillow removes Matterport 3D home tours from its sites
- In copyright battle with Zillow, CoStar says the portal giant ‘brazenly’ keeps at it
- Inman celebrates its 2025 Inman Innovator Award winners
More from Summer 2021More posts in Summer 2021 »
- Inman’s ultimate guide to navigating the topsy-turvy fall housing market
- Everything you need to know about the bombshell commission lawsuits
- Everything you need to know about fractional real estate investing
- Spring sprang early: 11th-hour tips to win the hottest season of the year
- Rate hikes, Ukraine won’t derail spring homebuying — necessarily
More from Tamara DadyanMore posts in Tamara Dadyan »
More from TechnologyMore posts in Technology »
- Future-proof your digital footprint for 2026 (and beyond)
- Zillow’s SkyTour uses complex 3D tech to simplify home search
- In crowded virtual staging category, Collov AI offers ease, affordability: Tech Review
- The IDX lie agents still believe: 5 common misconceptions about real estate websites
- DR Horton gets into AI mortgage tech with Tidalwave stake
More from the great resignationMore posts in the great resignation »
More from TikTokMore posts in TikTok »
- AI slop is flooding social feeds and reshaping real estate marketing
- The end of ‘just listed’ marketing (and what to do instead)
- Crack the code on social media: Now Streaming
- What Starbucks, TikTok and Taco Bell can teach us about marketing
- The rise of AI fakes could erode trust in real estate marketing
More from Triple Play Realtor ConventionMore posts in Triple Play Realtor Convention »
More from vacasaMore posts in vacasa »
More from warburg realtyMore posts in warburg realty »
- Fred Peters leaves eponymous firm for Brown Harris Stevens
- Coldwell Banker Warburg expands into Brooklyn with Dumbo office
- Kevelyn Guzman to take reins of Coldwell Banker Warburg in 2024
- Corcoran lands top spot in first-ever UrbanDigs NYC brokerage rankings
- Coldwell Banker Warburg partners with new development firm Reuveni
More from WeWorkMore posts in WeWork »
More from windermereMore posts in windermere »
- All signs point to ‘Goldilocks’ conditions for year-end home sales
- How the growing buyer power shift is reshaping the real estate market
- Why is the Fed cutting interest rates — and what happens next?
- ICYMI, all the latest on Trump, the Fed, mortgage rates and more
- Yes, inventory’s up, but de-listings and expireds slow growth
More from ZillowMore posts in Zillow »
- Real CEO talks growth in hard times — and how everyone loses in real estate ‘wars’
- Zillow reverses course and removes climate data from listings
- After failed NAR vote, brokerages beef up referral disclosures
- Zillow’s SkyTour uses complex 3D tech to simplify home search
- Delistings and discounts jump as holiday season approaches
More from Zillow OffersMore posts in Zillow Offers »
- Here’s how to save canceled listings and improve success rates
- How a Green Beret turned an agent’s advice into a $600M empire
- Compass CEO Reffkin continues anti-Zillow social media blitz
- As iBuyers struggle, agents rethink relationships with cash-offer kings
- Zillow CEO Rich Barton: ‘The real pain is probably coming’
Be First to Comment