The Internet has changed countless industries, and many people think real estate agents are about to become obsolete as consumers have more information at their disposal. Spencer Rascoff, CEO of Zillow (ZG -1.84%), disagrees.
In the following video, Motley Fool analyst Brendan Byrnes sits down with Rascoff to discuss the changing real estate landscape. Unlike the travel agent model which was drastically changed because of the Internet, Rascoff believes most Americans will always use a real estate agent to assist them when purchasing a home. Rascoff highlights how a real estate transaction is complicated, emotional, expensive, and infrequent -- all characteristics that lend themselves to an intermediary.
What Rascoff does believe is changing is the type of real estate agent that is going to succeed in this new information-era. He says a good agent in today's market has to be an expert negotiator and a great marketer. He also highlights the importance of having a deep, local expertise because agents and consumers all have the same information due mobile devices and the Internet.
