Realestate.com.au continue to dominate real estate portals in Australia. So much so now, if something does not happen quickly, it will be all over for its rivals.
This is not good news for Agents, however as far as consumers are concerned it makes life easier only having one portal to search for all available properties.
For Agents it will continue to mean price increases, and if News Ltd are successful in their takeover bid for the remaining shares, price increases are something agents will have to get used to.
As for competition, Realestate.com.au are only wary of one rival and that is Domain.com.au. However this site will probably just keep cruising along until media ownership laws change and a possible union with a TV company such as Channel Nine give them the marketing it needs to get the site in the mainstream across Australia.
But News Ltd, can play that game to, and has a history of protecting its turf very well indeed.
So who will be the main challenger to Realestate.com.au? Domain? Just Listed? Homehound?
Well I do not think any of them will, I think it will come from left field and may well be nothing to do with a realestate portal.
Stay tuned!