WGAN Forum Podcast

87. iGUIDE Refresh | New 3D Tour Display and iGUIDE ANSI Floor Plans

On WGAN-TV Live at 5 (5 pm ET | GMT -5) on Thursday, 7 April 2022, my guest will be Planitiar (iGUIDE) Marketing Manager Chris White (@Chris_iGUIDE) to show and tell about:✓ WGAN-TV | iGUIDE Refresh: New 3D Tour Display and iGUIDE ANSI Compliant 2D Floor PlansiGUIDE, an industry leader in 3D tours and floor plans, introduces an enhanced interface designed to create a faster, better, and more attractive user experience.The iGUIDE enhanced 3D tour (example above) promises to create a fresh yet familiar way for viewers and virtual visitors to interact with a space."Changes are thoughtfully designed for maximum impact while retaining the functionality current iGUIDE users value," writes Chris.Changes to the iGUIDE Viewer include:1. Streamlined floor plan for better navigation and a more immersive experience2. Grouped toolbox to put commonly used commands together for ease of use3. More refined menu bar with a new background and space for branding and an addressOffering the capability to minimize the menu bar and floorplan, users will enjoy a more immersive virtual environment while retaining robust control of Viewer functions.In addition to showing and telling about the iGUIDE Viewer refresh, Chris will discuss what's new with iGUIDE.

86. Matterport Axis Now Available for Purchase, Enabling HandsFree Precision 3D Capture for Smartphones

Matterport Axis Now Available for Purchase, Enabling Hands-Free Precision 3D Capture for SmartphonesDesigned for the Matterport Smartphone Capture app, Matterport Axis motorized mount makes digital twin creation easier, faster, and more preciseTop 4 US-based insurance claims adjusting firm, Eberl, improves claims cycle time by 15 percent, grows customer base by 200 percent with Matterport digital twins---1. Matterport Axis via Amazon ($79)2. Matterport Axis + Tripod via Amazon ($89)3. Matterport Axis + Tripod + Starter Pack ($149)
SUNNYVALE, Calif., Tuesday, April 5, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Matterport, Inc. (Nasdaq: MTTR), the leading spatial data company driving the digital transformation of the built world, today announced that Matterport Axis™, a motorized mount for smartphones, is now available for purchase. Matterport Axis, which holds either an iOS or Android device, and can be used with the Matterport Capture app, creates 3D digital twins of any physical space with increased speed, precision, and consistency. This convenient, remote-controlled solution produces reliable results with ease.Starting at $79, Matterport Axis is now available for purchase today through Matterport, Adorama, B&H, and Amazon.“We are excited to introduce Matterport Axis, which when combined with our Capture app, allows anyone to create a 3D digital twin with the phone in their pocket,” said Japjit Tulsi, Chief Technology Officer of Matterport. “Whether it’s creating a digital twin to help sell your home, capturing your work environment to collaborate with team members, or capturing and sharing your business to attract new customers, there are countless uses for people and businesses to use Matterport. Our Capture app along with Matterport Axis now makes that process easier and faster for anyone to digitize their spaces with greater precision.”Businesses embrace smartphone capture with Matterport AxisBusiness customers across a variety of industries use Matterport to virtually promote, operate, document, manage, and measure their properties online. Now, with Matterport Axis, organizations can scale up their efforts to affordably create high-fidelity digital twins at multiple locations simultaneously via employees and their smartphones.Matterport worked with multiple organizations with distributed field personnel to trial Matterport Axis together with the Capture app. One customer, Eberl, a top 4 U.S.-based insurance claims adjusting firm, used Matterport Axis to create digital twins to document insurance claims. By using Matterport Axis with the Capture app and other Matterport solutions, Eberl adjusters reduced their time spent in the field, improving its total claims cycle time by 15 percent, and increased new customer acquisition by 200 percent with the convenience of their smartphone.“Using Matterport, Eberl adjusters can easily access rich, visual data and precise measurements that reduce the need for return trips, reinspection requests, phone calls and follow-up emails,” said Chris Cowan, Vice President, Operational Strategy at Eberl. “Digital twins have helped our adjusters work smarter, and their agility enhances the experience of our clients and subsequent policyholders. When we outline the value of digital twins to new and existing insurance carriers, they are eager to engage and adopt, which has had a tremendous impact on the growth of our business.”
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Matterport media release continues in the We Get Around Network Forum (www.WGANForum.com):
https://forum.we-get-around.com/topic/16653/page/1/matterport-axis-smartphone-rotator-now-available-for-purchase/

85. WGAN-TV | Developing Matterport Brand & Shopping Experiences powered by Retail VR Platform

Are you a Matterport Service Provider that works with -- or want to work with -- Retail Store clients?On WGAN-TV Live at 5 on Thursday, 31 March 2022, learn about how to add value to Matterport tours for Retail Stores -- using Matterport paired with the RETAIL VR Platform -- including:1. Retail Store Virtual Staging2. Virtual E-Commerce3. Virtual Showroom4. VR in Retail (More)5. AR in Retail6. In-Store Simulation7. Product Launch Testing via 3D Virtual Store8. Simulate POS Merchandising LocationsMy guest will be: Asnières-sur-Seine, Île-de-France-based RETAIL VR Partner International Business Development Adrien Zanelli (@Adrien).For an amuse-bouche – a taste - of what to expect on this WGAN-TV Live at 5 episode, please see the short RETAIL VR videos (below) and the Matterport/RETAIL VR media release announcing their partnership (27 January 2022 | below).Questions that I should ask Adrien on this WGAN-TV Live at 5 show?Best,DanRETAIL VR Links✓ RETAIL VR website✓ RETAIL VR on LinkedIn✓ Adrien Zanelli on LinkedIn✓ RETAIL VR YouTube Channel✓ Retail VR on Twitter: RetailVR_✓ WGAN Forum: @Adrien

84. The first NFT platform for realestate images – “real” – launched by HomeJab

The first NFT platform for real estate images – “real” – launched by HomeJabNew marketplace for one-of-a-kind images offers higher compensation for professional real estate photographers to “disrupt” the $4B stock photo industryCherry Hill, NJ – Tuesday, March 29, 2022 – A new non-fungible token or NFT marketplace for real estate images called “real” – launched by HomeJab – offers an innovative alternative to stock photo services. Participating professional real estate photographers receive 96 percent of all sales proceeds – the highest compensation available from a major stock photo platform.Photographers currently earn as little as 2 cents to 25 cents per month per photo through stock photo agencies, according to Phototutorial.“We’re flipping the model upside down,” said Joe Jesuele, head of HomeJab.com, who led the development of real estate’s first NFT platform of images. HomeJab provides real estate agents on-demand professional real estate photography and other visual production services in every major US market and all 50 states.“Buyers such as real estate agents and their web and marketing agencies can purchase unique images with nearly all the compensation going to the artist – the photographer. That’s the way it should be,” he added.Jesuele explains that one of the most significant advantages of this new NFT marketplace is its “real-world utility.”“Too many NFT projects today are designed to help the founders make money. The real NFT marketplace supports the hard work and gives new visibility to professional real estate photographers' artistry while properly supporting their creative efforts,” he explained.“By bridging the physical world and the metaverse, ‘real’ can help cut through the current clutter of NFT scams and pump and dumps of (worthless) coins that have no real utility. While other NFTs' value will collapse, we know from experience that good images will always have value and utility,” Jesuele said.The new real NFT marketplace is designed for real estate agents and digital marketers to purchase one-of-a-kind iconic real estate images. The real platform also enables clients to order custom NFTs to be shot and produced by professional real estate photographers for their exclusive commercial use as they will own the image.
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HomeJab media release continues in the We Get Around Network Forum (www.WGANForum.com).

83. WindoVision | How to Leverage Matterport Virtual Tours in a Real Estate Broker’s Windows

On WGAN-TV Live at 5 on Thursday, March 24, 2022, our topic is:✓ WindoVision: How to Leverage Matterport Virtual Tours in a Real Estate Broker's WindowsMy guest will be WindoVision Chief Executive Officer Peter Thomas."WindoVision has developed technology that converts an existing storefront window of a real estate office into a through-glass touchscreen device that allows users to search real-time listing data, access 3D tours, view agent profiles and other company information, on demand. They can do all of this without any personal contact or ever stepping foot in the building," reports RisMedia.WindoVision Demo Includes1. Experiencing Matterport virtual tours via the through-the-glass tech2. Interactive real estate specific software including MLS/IDX daily sync for property searches3. Lead GenerationAbout WindoVisionATTRACT | You start by giving buyers a reason to stop by. Bright illuminated displays combined with a big screen wrapped with an interactive touch graphic creates a warm inviting environment at your office front. Buyers are drawn to your windows and spend time looking at an attractive presentations of your listings.ENGAGE | Buyers can instantly access virtual tours for all your properties by entering their three digit code from the property display. Shopping for a home has never been more easy and fun. Buyers can also search MLS listings, map their location and even calculate their mortgage payment . . . all right from the sidewalk!CONNECT | More people stopping at your window means more walk-in business. The most successful agents, however, connect with buyers engaged on the sidewalk. When you’re closed, the system continues to generate leads by capturing the buyers email address or cell phone number and instantly forwards it to the agent.Special Offer for We Get Around Network Community✓ Use Coupon Code WGAN to receive three free additional months of WindoVision Standard Premium Package.Questions that I should ask Peter?Best,DanLinks/Contact✓ WindoVision Website✓ Schedule a Demo (Bottom Right)✓ Phone: 800-714-1310 (or Peter Thomas at 734-363-8363)

82. Refugee Ukrainian Children Drawings Displayed within a virtually staged Matterport 3D tour gallery

Refugee Ukrainian Children Drawings Displayed Within a Virtually Staged Matterport 3D Tour GalleryDrawings of Children From Ukraine: A Campaign By Laura IlioaeiArtem and Anastasia Bykovets are a couple who had resided in their home in the suburbs of Kyiv, Ukraine. They have two daughters: Sasha and Sofia, who are 2 and 6-years-old, respectively.However, Russian fighter jets recently began flying over their house, spontaneously bombing the country they had all previously called home. Staying put was evidently not an option. These parents told their children that there was no choice but to flee. Sasha and Sofia were told to gather three of their favorite toys before they would leave and seek refuge in a safer country.Though barely older than a toddler, Sofia was well-aware that the world she had known was under turmoil and chaos. Terrified and teary-eyed, she gathered her things, bade her room goodbye, and left it while crying the whole time. The family went into their car, and Sofia’s parents attempted to console her with soft words without sparing the honesty of the tragic situation of the war at hand. Sofia quickly found herself needing to find an outlet to channel her sorrow and anxiety.This outlet manifested into using art to cope with her emotions. Sofia began to actively paint. Initially, it was on craft bags and napkins, but she quickly transferred to more digitized platforms on tablets and cell phones.Artem and Anastasia realized that art had a cathartic power; when Sofia painted, she was too distracted to feel distressed. They realized that art therapy would be beneficial to other children like Sofia.Many Ukrainian children are currently spending time hiding in basements and bomb shelters as opposed to playgrounds. Since they are young, they’re unable to verbalize their feelings. They’re disturbed by the disruption in their routine and the terrors of war. The uncertainties felt by their parents perturb them as well, as there is no authority figure that can guide them through the dangerous volatility of their situation.Prompted by these truths and their own anecdotal evidence through watching Sofia, Artem and Anastasia quickly founded UA Kids Today. It’s a platform that aims to help Ukrainians by tending to their psychological and emotional needs.Their emphasis is on the well-being of children. They’re currently launching an all-Ukrainian online virtually staged 3D gallery of children's drawings (See Above). These drawings are meant to show how children feel about war, exposing these insights to an international audience.
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Article continues in the We Get Around Network Forum (www.WGANForum.com)
https://forum.we-get-around.com/topic/16602/page/1/refugee-ukrainian-children-drawings-displayed-within-matterport-3d-tour/

80. Matterport’s Sweet Spot is Spatial Data for Enterprise at Scale

The sweet spot for Matterport is spatial data for enterprise at scale. Then, if you add Matterport's recent acquisition of Enview, which is a company that teases out those analytics of three-dimensional models at scale, once Enview puts the tools and solutions in place for Matterport, that is the single greatest use case for Matterport.The sweet spot is spatial data at scale for enterprise.Let me see if I can give you an example. If you're a facilities manager and you have 150 different commercial office spaces across the United States, for that matter, across the world, and you're tasked with, "hey, what if we put in this light bulb versus this light bulb in all those three by six boxes that have the fluorescent lights, how much money would that cost?How much money would that save? What would be the energy efficiency?" Whatever questions that get queried.Well, the old-school way of doing that is, you'd send an email to the 150 different counterparts at each one of those buildings and say, "hey, Jim John, those fixtures in the ceiling that are three by six, that each have four fluorescent light bulbs, how many do we have in that 100,000 square foot location?" They say, "well, I don't know. Let me go walk all these floors and count these fixtures, and I'll get back to you." That is a Herculean manual task done old-school.Now imagine, you have a Matterport spatial data, digital twin, of all those 150 buildings, and you have this powered by Enview solution, and you're able to say, "okay, here's the object I'm looking for with AI. Go find all those three by six light boxes in 150 buildings, tell me how many boxes do I have by building and total?" That should be a 10 minute exercise that would otherwise take weeks and tons of people time, and totally inefficient.Now, let's go count fire extinguishers and let's go count windows because we have this inefficient glass. If we go put this other type of glass in, we'll be able to save energy by 50 percent. But, we need to know how many windows that we're talking about in 150 buildings.Go count the windows. That's an example of Matterport in the best, highest use case, where it can add the most value to enterprise, and charge the most money. That's all about software, that's all about recurring revenue. Has nothing to do with what device that I use to capture the data?We didn't talk about it. But if you were to ask me, I would say, "in the long run, Matterport should be out of the camera business." They shouldn't be making any devices. They should be out of Capture Services (On Demand). They shouldn't be running a labor-intensive business.They should just be the essence of what is the best, highest use case for Matterport, and that's spatial data meets enterprise at scale. Everything I look at, I tend to evaluate in terms of quadrants. I think about it in terms of my career over time. Did I like working for that company?Did I like who I worked for? That was in Quadrant four. I was happy, and the company was happy. Quadrant 1 in the lower case was, I was unhappy and the company was unhappy. That's metaphorically what we're talking about. Let's get in the right box.If you take all the different use cases for Matterport, if you were telling me about residential real estate, obviously, Matterport doesn't really add a lot of value in terms of spatial data and it takes a long time to capture, and all these things.
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Continues in the We Get Around Network Forum (www.WGANForum.com).

81. New! Search for Apartments and Homes for Rent on Redfin’s Website & iOS App

Redfin Launches Rental Search1. Consumers Can Now Search for Apartments and Homes for Rent on Redfin’s Website and iOS App2. Rental Search is Powered by RentPath, which Redfin Acquired in 20213. Advertisers with RentPath will now have access to Redfin’s 47M monthly visitorsSEATTLE & ATLANTA--Wednesday, 23 March 2022--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- (NASDAQ: RDFN) — Redfin (www.redfin.com) today launched nationwide rental search, letting consumers search for both rental and for-sale home listings on Redfin for the first time. Built on the same map-based search technology used by tens of millions to find homes for sale, the addition of rentals makes Redfin a destination for everyone in the U.S. looking for a place to live. Redfin’s rental search is powered by rental listings from RentPath, a leading marketing technology and services platform for the rental industry that operates Rent.com and other popular rental sites, which Redfin acquired in April 2021. This significantly expands the reach of the RentPath network, letting RentPath’s property-management customers market their rental listings to Redfin.com’s 47 million monthly visitors.“Adding rental listings to Redfin.com will increase our authority as a real estate destination, not only drawing more visitors to rental listings, but also to our existing for-sale listings,” said Redfin CEO Glenn Kelman. “With about one in five Redfin.com visitors interested in rentals, we have an opportunity to generate as many rental inquiries from Redfin.com as from all other RentPath sites. As a result, we expect to attract more property managers to promote their listings on Redfin.com, and for Redfin.com traffic growth to accelerate.”Powerful, immersive search to discover the perfect place to rentProspective renters can see updated listings every day, search with tailored filters, including budget, location and pet policy, and connect with property managers. Photos, floor plans and 3D tours let users experience a new rental home before ever setting foot inside. Renters can use the contact feature to connect with property managers to schedule a tour, ask a question or request an application.Because Redfin is a leading site to find homes for sale, people deciding between buying and renting can use Redfin for their entire home search. With one click, users can switch between homes for sale and homes for rent on the map. With another click, users can mark their favorite homes and see all of them in one place, whether they're for sale or for rent.“Most people who are considering renting a new home in the next six months say they are also considering buying,” said Christian Taubman, Redfin's Chief Growth Officer. "Redfin gives everyone the tools to win the place that's best for them, whether that's a place to lease or buy.”
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Redfin media release continues in the We Get Around Network Forum (www.WGANForum.com)

79. Damen Shipyards Uses Matterport Digital Twins to Accelerate Workflow and Enhance the Customer Experience

Damen Shipyards Uses Matterport Digital Twins to Accelerate Workflow and Enhance the Customer ExperienceGlobal shipbuilding giant incorporates digital twins to improve connection between company designers and customers, improving approval workflow, construction precision, and customer satisfactionSUNNYVALE, California, Tuesday, March 22, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Matterport, Inc. (Nasdaq: MTTR), the leading spatial data company driving the digital transformation of the built world, today announced that Damen Shipyards Group (“Damen”), a Dutch-owned shipbuilding company with operations in 120 countries and delivering 175 vessels annually, has adopted Matterport digital twins to facilitate remote collaboration for internal and external stakeholders. With access to Matterport’s rich, dimensionally accurate data, Damen has applied an innovative approach to drive customer satisfaction.“When we discovered Matterport, we quickly realized the power of the digital twin to unlock collaboration and engagement with our designers and our customers,” said Jan-Jaap Eits, Assistant Project Manager at Damen Shipyards. “Today, we use Matterport to allow our customers to remotely review and inspect every compartment and detail of a vessel within a 3D space. Internally, our design and engineering teams have access to detailed measurements and layouts to further enable them to work more efficiently and avoid costly and time-consuming site visits.”Across its Workboat Division, including its major shipyards in China, Turkey and Vietnam, Damen uses Matterport Pro2 3D cameras to capture digital twins of its vessels. With access to a 3D space in the planning stage, customers can examine the layout and placement of equipment and request modifications if desired. Once a design is finalized, Damen shares its digital twin internally with their service department, enabling them to gain a better understanding of the vessel when it is completed and delivered. In addition, the Measurement Mode capability within a Matterport digital twin allows Damen’s design and engineering personnel to verify measurements down to the centimeter, including room layouts and the placement of everything from windows and doors to hardware and equipment, all without conducting a site visit.
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Matterport media release continues in the We Get Around Network Forum (www.WGANForum.com)
https://forum.we-get-around.com/topic/16586/page/1/damen-shipyards-uses-matterport-digital-twins-to-accelerate-workflow/

78. New HomeJab study shows impact of COVID-19 on real estate agent marketing spending trends

New HomeJab study shows impact of COVID-19 on real estate agent marketing spending trendsStudy reveals stark geographic differences for real estate photography ordersCherry Hill, NJ – Thursday, March 17, 2022 – A new study of real estate photography data from HomeJab finds a significant geographic difference in the amount of marketing dollars agents spent before the pandemic for listings and the amount they spent coming out of the height of the COVID-19 outbreak.HomeJab, which provides real estate agents on-demand professional real estate photography, 3D virtual tours, aerial, and other visual production services in every major US market and all 50 states, studied more than 43,000 real estate photography assignments from 2017 to 2021 in five regions: Midwest, Northeast, Southeast, Southwest, and West.The new HomeJab research found:1. Real estate agents in the West, Northeast, and Midwest are spending more for real estate listing photography services coming out of the pandemic than before the start of the pandemic:1A: West: Up nearly 9 percent (8.7%)1B: Northeast: +7.5%1C: Midwest: +5.6%2. Real estate agents in the Southwest and Southeast either spent more or modestly less for real estate listing photography services since the pandemic began:2A. Southwest: -0.6%2B. Southeast: +2.8%3. Nationwide, the average real estate listing photography services order was up 5.9% from post-pandemic orders, and now average $229 per order.4. Real estate agents in the West spend the most for real estate listing photography services, averaging $279 per order.
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HomeJab media release continues in the We Get Around Network Forum (www.WGANForum.com)

77. Eberl Deploys Matterport for Mobile with the New Axis Motorized Mount to Document Insurance Claims

Eberl Deploys Matterport for Mobile with the New Axis Motorized Mount to Document Insurance ClaimsTop 4 US-based adjusting firm grows customer base by 200 percent with Matterport digital twins---WGAN Forum Discussions tagged: Matterport Axis | Insurance Claims | Eberl---Sunnyvale, California, Thursday, March 17, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Matterport, Inc. (Nasdaq: MTTR), the leading spatial data company driving the digital transformation of the built world, today announced that Eberl, a top 4 U.S.-based insurance adjusting company, has improved its total claims cycle time by 15 percent and increased new customer acquisition by 200 percent since adopting Matterport digital twins.Combining the Matterport Capture App with Matterport Axis allows the Eberl adjusters to create an accurate visual audit of the loss with the convenience of their smartphone while reducing their time spent in the field.“With Matterport directly at their fingertips, our adjusters can easily access rich, visual data and precise measurements that reduce the need for return trips, reinspection requests, phone calls and follow-up emails,” said Chris Cowan, Vice President, Operational Strategy at Eberl. “Digital twins have helped our adjusters work smarter, and their agility enhances the experience of our clients and subsequent policyholders. When we outline the value of digital twins to new and existing insurance carriers, they are eager to engage and adopt, which has had a tremendous impact on the growth of our business.”While in the field, Eberl adjusters use the Matterport Capture App with Matterport Axis, the new, hands-free motorized mount accessory that increases the speed and precision of creating a digital twin to document an insurance loss. Adjusters can add notes, review measurements, and collaborate remotely with insurance carriers, policy holders, contractors, and other stakeholders using the digital twin.As part of a Matterport Axis beta program, Eberl adjusters added the motorized mount to streamline complex claims where multiple captures were required. As a result, adjusters completed their assessments faster and with greater accuracy and consistency. Watch the video [above] to learn how Eberl is leading the industry with Matterport digital twins on: Matterport.com
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Matterport media release continues in the We Get Around Network Forum (www.WGANForum.com)
https://forum.we-get-around.com/topic/16573/page/1/matterport-axis-motorized-smartphone-rotator-insurance-claims-documentation/

76. ID Plans Streamlines Speed-to-Lease and Marketing Effectiveness for Commercial Property with Matterport

ID Plans Streamlines Speed-to-Lease and Marketing Effectiveness for Commercial Property with MatterportCommercial real estate services provider adopts digital twins, cuts costs and leasing timelines for customers including KIMCO and Phillips EdisonSUNNYVALE, Calif., Thursday, March 10, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Matterport, Inc. (Nasdaq: MTTR), the leading spatial data company driving the digital transformation of the built world, today announced that ID Plans, a commercial real estate (CRE) marketing and technology solutions provider, has helped property managers achieve up to 65 percent in cost and time savings by adopting Matterport digital twins.Established in 1999 and based in Tampa, Florida, ID Plans has a nationwide client base with some of the top CRE firms in the country, including KIMCO and Phillips Edison. The company’s ID 360 product has a feature that uses Matterport digital twins to create immersive property experiences and identify new customer prospects captured from any device. From leasing to property management, whether it's retail, multi-family or logistics, ID Plans utilizes Matterport throughout the life of the building lifecycle.“Finding a potential buyer or tenant for a commercial property often requires manual photography, detailed measurements and significant time and effort,” said Jordan Hearin, Chief Product Officer of ID Plans. “Instead, we use Matterport as a feature in ID 360 to quickly and easily give customers all of the information they need in one place. Whether it’s the ability to virtually walk through a warehouse, take accurate measurements, or easily access a property’s plumbing or electrical information, the level of detail in a Matterport digital twin can help our customers lease, sell, design or plan construction for a commercial space.”ID Plans has partnered with Matterport to improve multiple aspects of its business. ID Plans uses digital twins to create accurate, user-friendly marketing ready packages to improve speed to lease, while their facilities management and operations teams utilize Matterport for remote site inspections and collaboration across their construction and design teams. When equipped with digital twins, ID Plans’ customers reduce the time required to lease a property by several weeks and upwards to months.
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Matterport media release continues in the We Get Around Network Forum (www.WGANForum.com)
https://forum.we-get-around.com/topic/16564/page/1/id-plans-streamlines-speed-to-lease-and-marketing-for-commercial-property/#1

75. Two Years Later | How the Pandemic Has Rocked the U.S. Housing Market

Two Years Later: How the Pandemic Has Rocked the U.S. Housing MarketRedfin reports there are 50% fewer homes to buy, and houses are 34% more expensive, with the median sale price now $369,000SEATTLE--Wednesday, 9 March 2022--BUSINESS WIRE-- (NASDAQ: RDFN) — This week marks the two-year anniversary of the coronavirus pandemic, which the World Health Organization officially declared a pandemic on March 11, 2020. The housing market has changed drastically since then—there are now half as many homes to choose from, and prices have surged 34%, according to a new report from Redfin (www.redfin.com), the technology-powered real estate brokerage.Unless otherwise noted, the data in this report represents the four weeks ending March 6, 2022, compared with roughly the same period two years earlier (the four weeks ending March 8, 2020). The records in this report date back to 2017 unless otherwise noted.Buyers Have Half as Many Homes to Choose FromThe number of homes on the market is down 49.9% from two years ago to a record low of roughly 456,000.Remote work and record-low mortgage rates prompted scores of Americans to move during the pandemic, intensifying a housing shortage that began in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis. With so few homes available to purchase, house hunters have waged fierce bidding wars, causing prices to surge.Homes Are 34% More ExpensiveThe median home sale price is $369,125, the highest on record and up 33.6% from $276,225 two years ago. That’s a significantly larger jump than the prior two-year period (2018 to 2020), during which home prices grew about 10%.---
Redfin media release continues in the We Get Around Network Forum (www.WGANForum.com)
https://forum.we-get-around.com/topic/16562/page/1/two-years-later-how-the-pandemic-has-rocked-the-us-housing-market/

74. iGUIDE Providing ANSI Z765-2021 Compliant Measurements and Reporting for North American Clients

Introduction by Planitar (iGUIDE) CEO Alexander (Alex) Likholyot:Property measurement standards are not a topic that gets a lot of attention in the industry media, but they are core to our business at iGUIDE.Fannie Mae will require all its appraisals to follow ANSI Z765-2021 Measurement Standard starting April 1, 2022.The ANSI Z765 standard was originally created in the 90's and lately has seen a string of updates in 2019-2021. In February 2022, Planitar added the ability to choose a square footage reporting standard for every iGUIDE. We currently support RECA RMS, which is mandated in Alberta with several other Canadian provinces looking at it, and ANSI Z765-2021, which has been a recommended standard in the US, is required in North Carolina for MLS listings, and which will now grow tenfold following the Fannie Mae's announcement.---WATERLOO, Ontario, Canada - PrZen - Monday, 28 February 2022 -- iGUIDE – creator of an industry-leading spatial data solution for use in the real estate, insurance, restoration, property management, and affiliated industries -- announces ANSI Z765-2021 compliant measurement and reporting to facilitate highly accurate residential square footage measurements for clients throughout North America. The ANSI Standard is the accepted method for the National Association of REALTORSⓇ and, most recently, by the North Carolina Real Estate Commission."This process has been about bringing our clients in America the best, most accurate services we can align with their systems. We also wanted to be looking at expanding our influence to states like North Carolina where there is an understanding that reporting the square footage is critical to giving prospective purchasers accurate knowledge, and building trust between the agent and their client. We want to be the tool to help facilitate that," said Michael Vervena, the iGUIDE VP of Sales & Marketing.Developments in the residential real estate market have resulted in a growing number of square footage disputes among home buyers, home sellers, Real Estate Agents, Brokers, and appraisal professionals. Due to this, an increasing number of real estate boards are beginning to require the use of ANSI standard when measuring and reporting square footage.
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iGUIDE media release continues in the We Get Around Network Forum (www.WGANForum.com)
https://forum.we-get-around.com/topic/16560/page/1/iguide-ansi-compliant-measurementsreporting-for-north-american-clients/

71. Dan, should I buy a Matterport Pro2 3D Camera and start a service business?

Dan, should I buy a Matterport Pro2 3D Camera and start a service business?Hi All,If you are thinking about buying a Matterport Pro2 3D Camera -- and start a Matterport Service Provider business -- you should watch this video (above), if you:1. are not a real estate photographer2. are not a real estate agent3. do not have an existing service business where Matterport digital twins would be an Add On to your existing business.Questions?Best,DanTranscript (Video above)[The voice of the WGAN Forum Member has been changed and edited for clarity and brevity.][00:00:03]Dan Smigrod: Thanks for reaching out, Thanks for joining the We Get Around Network Forum. How did you hear about us?[00:00:09]WGAN Forum Member: Well, I just did some preliminary research and I just saw you everywhere. Anywhere I went talking about Matterport or 3D scanning your name on We Get Around Network just kept popping up and I was like, "You know what, I think this is the guy I need to talk to."[00:00:28]Dan Smigrod: Well, I looked at your LinkedIn profile, it didn't jump out at me that you are going to start a business. Why don't you tell me about what you're planning to do and then how I can help you.[00:00:39]WGAN Forum Member: Basically, I caught wind of the whole Matterport thing recently. I'm a retail merchandiser by trade, andlike we started offering the Matterport services to retail clients and I was actually out... standing with the camera: literally, physically doing it.I thought it was the coolest thing, but my mind started turning like there's so many different uses for this. I can see eventually all this talk about a 3D and the whole virtual VR thing is where things are going, coming out of that 2D space into the 3D space.I was like, "I don't want to be on the I wish I could have or I should have in the future when this thing blows all the way up and I'm like, man, I had an opportunity to get in on that." In the past, even with cryptocurrency, there were times I could've invested in cryptocurrency when it was in its infancy, and because of my failure to act or my fears or I missed out on that. I don't want to be on that end of the curve anymore.The wish-I-could've-would've-curve. I said, if I see another opportunity that comes up in the market, I want to be on it. I saw this, I got some experience with it and I was like, "You know what, I need to look into this," and more I talked to my business partner because he and I had been talking about going into real estate, doing what do you call it, buying houses on contract.
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Transcript continues in the We Get Around Network Forum (www.WGANForum.com):
https://forum.we-get-around.com/topic/16543/page/1/dan-should-i-buy-a-matterport-pro2-3d-camera-and-start-a-service-business/

73. 3D Platform CAPTUR3D Adds Sketchfab Integration with Matterport Digital Twins

3D Platform CAPTUR3D Adds Sketchfab Integration with Matterport Digital TwinsSketchfab brings 3D people, places, and objects with full-motion animation to enhance the Matterport experienceSUNNYVALE, Calif., Thursday, March 3, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Matterport, Inc. (Nasdaq: MTTR), the leading spatial data company driving the digital transformation of the built world, today announced that CAPTUR3D, a Matterport-based digital twin software and management platform, has integrated with Sketchfab, allowing users to import three-dimensional (3D) Sketchfab digital objects into their Matterport digital twins.Sketchfab, which was acquired by Epic Games in 2021, and their community of creators who have published millions of models, is the largest platform for immersive and interactive 3D. Through the integration, Matterport is combining the largest platform for digital twins with the largest platform for 3D models.“By integrating Sketchfab’s 3D library, digital twins are not simply recreations of the built world, but instead become new, engaging experiences,” says Steven Kounnas, co-founder and COO of CAPTUR3D. “Whether it’s real estate, retail or the public sector, we look forward to seeing the infinite number of ways our users will customize their digital twins.”The process begins with the creation of a Matterport digital twin that is uploaded to the CAPTUR3D platform. Users can then connect their Sketchfab account to link 3D objects they have already purchased or browse Sketchfab’s library of more than 750,000 downloadable 3D digital objects for new, free options. From furniture and art to home appliances and 3D avatars, Sketchfab objects placed within a digital twin can be static or animated, viewed from any perspective, adding another layer of depth and interactivity to any Matterport space. Customers can stage an office, visualize how to organize a garage, or create a virtual, collaborative environment within a digital twin and using 3D objects.
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Matterport media release continues in the We Get Around Network Forum (www.WGANForum.com).

72. Matterport App Developers Use Digital Twins Improve Home Buying Experience

Matterport App Developers Use 3D Digital Twins to Improve Home Buying ExperienceApp Developers AgentRelay and Boost3D create interactive virtual property showings with MatterportSUNNYVALE, Calif., Tuesday, March 1, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Matterport, Inc. (“Matterport”) (Nasdaq: MTTR), the leading spatial data company driving the digital transformation of the built world, and app developers AgentRelay and Boost3D are using digital twins to change the way real estate businesses present properties for sale. Both developers use Matterport to create virtual 3D experiences for the real estate industry, enabling industry professionals to offer their clients a more immersive home buying experience.“Companies across a wide range of sectors are recognizing the value of having high-quality, dimensionally-accurate digital twins to enhance how they conduct business,” said Bernard Nguyen, Senior Director of Business Strategy, Residential Real Estate at Matterport. “In real estate, our partners and customers continue to push the envelope to maximize the listing experience for their clientele. From agent-guided experiences that enrich the Matterport virtual experience with a narrative and live discussion throughout the tour, to video conference-enabled experiences to explore the Matterport spaces together with the agent on screen.”AgentRelay creates agent-guided 3D experiences with Matterport digital twinsWith virtual viewings increasing an agent’s success at closing deals, AgentRelay knew it could use Matterport digital twins and become a valuable resource for the real estate industry by translating the immediacy of an in-person tour with the convenience of a virtual one. AgentRelay integrates video conferencing, voice calls, and chat capabilities with Matterport’s digital twins so agents can interact with customers, giving home shoppers the freedom to virtually walk the bedrooms and living spaces with the agent in real time and on screen to answer questions and receive feedback. Agents can also showcase multiple properties in the same virtual showing, saving agents and their clients travel time from house to house.Additionally, AgentRelay is now generating valuable leads into its customers’ sales funnels by offering visitor registrations and viewing booking forms, placed directly inside their Matterport spaces, to drive engagement with anonymous online visitors. Further, AgentRelay now offers tools to track the properties each of those online visitors have explored and the platforms they used when viewing a Matterport digital twin-based 3D digital twin. This allows agents and brokers to then contact those prospects with a deep understanding of buying preferences to help identify digital marketing campaigns that deliver the most conversions.“Matterport offers truly superior virtual experiences,” says Dan Cattermole, CEO at AgentRelay. “It has helped us provide a powerful virtual platform for our clients. The emphasis on quality and accuracy makes Matterport a market leader, and it is why we’re proud to develop our app on the Matterport platform.” Read the AgentRelay Case Study.
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Matterport media release continues in the We Get Around Network Forum (www.WGANForum.com)
https://forum.we-get-around.com/topic/16516/page/1/matterport-app-developers-use-digital-twins-improve-home-buying-experience/

70. Urbanimmersive Announces its 2022 First Quarter Financial Results

Urbanimmersive Announces its 2022 First Quarter Financial ResultsSAINT-HUBERT, Quebec, Thursday, February 24, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Urbanimmersive Inc. (“Urbanimmersive,” the “Company” or “UI”) (TSV-V UI) (OTCQB: UBMRF) today announced select financial results and presents business highlights for its first quarter ended December 31, 2021. The financial statements and related management’s discussion and analysis (“MD&A”) can be viewed on SEDAR at SEDAR.HIGHLIGHTS- For Q1-22, the Company generated total revenues of $995k compared to $897k for Q1-21, an increase of $98k or 10.9%;- In Q1-22, the Company sold 1,823 immersive 3D tours ($73k) compared to 552 tours ($22k) in Q1-21, an increase of 1,271 tours (+$51k);- In Q1-22, the Company launched its premium monthly subscription program UiMeet3D with more than 25% of its customers having already adopted it after 3 months;- During the quarter, the Company completed the acquisition of 7 businesses in North America, including 6 businesses offering real estate photography services (Immophoto, Tours Virtuales, Virtual Access Tours, Imoto and Agento Marketing) as well as a marketplace platform (RocketPhoto). Those acquisitions represent a total purchase price of $10.3m and were financed by a combination of a term loan of $2.0m, the issuance of 5.7m shares at an average price of $0.84 ($4.8m), Company's liquidities ($0.6m), a balance of purchase of $0.2m as well as growth driven earn-outs of a total value of $2.7m. Total sales of those acquired businesses totalled $6.3 million for their last fiscal year which add up to the 3 businesses acquired in June 2021, namely EGP, La Clique Mobile and Graphique ID, with last fiscal year total sales of $1.6m;- The Company announced several new partnerships during the quarter that should fuel growth in sales of immersive 3D tours, notably with Offerpad (NYSE: OPAD), Alimentation Couche-Tard (TSE: ATD), NAI Terramont, Via Rail, Tuango and Maisons Bonneville;- The Company was selected into the 2021 REACH Canada Accelerator Program (developed by Second Century Ventures, the strategic investment arm of the National Association of REALTORS®) which completed a $127k private placement.
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Urbanimmersive media release continues in the We Get Around Network Forum (www.WGANForum.com).

69. 70% of home offers written by Redfin agents faced bidding wars in Jan. 2022

Redfin Reports January Was the Most Competitive Month on Record for Homebuyers70% of home offers written by Redfin agents faced competition in January, up from roughly 60% a year earlier and the highest share in Redfin’s recordsSEATTLE--Wednesday, February 23, 2022--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- (NASDAQ: RDFN) —Seventy percent of home offers written by Redfin agents faced bidding wars in January on a seasonally adjusted basis, up from 67.7% in December and 61% in January 2021. That’s the highest share since at least April 2020, when Redfin began recording this data. This is according to a new report from Redfin (www.redfin.com), the technology-powered real estate brokerage.The housing market was more competitive than ever in January as mortgage interest rates jumped, prompting buyers to rush to make offers on homes before rates increased further. The average 30-year fixed mortgage rate was 3.55% at the end of January, up from 3.11% at the end of December and a record low of 2.65% about a year earlier. January was the first time rates surpassed 3.5% since March 2020, when the coronavirus pandemic was just beginning. Rates have since jumped even higher, reaching 3.92% during the week ending Feb. 17, 2022.Redfin economists currently predict the 30-year fixed mortgage rate will reach 4.3% by the end of 2022. Mortgage rates are expected to increase as the Federal Reserve raises interest rates in an effort to alleviate inflation.“Rising mortgage rates are intensifying an already-severe shortage of homes for sale because buyers are feeling more urgency to buy while homeowners are feeling less urgency to sell—an imbalance that’s fueling an increase in competition,” said Redfin Chief Economist Daryl Fairweather. “Buyers are battling it out for the few homes on the market in an effort to lock in relatively low payments before rates move even higher, but homeowners who bought or refinanced in the last year are staying put because they don’t want to lose their rock-bottom mortgage rate.”During the four-week period ending Feb. 13, a record 57% of homes that went under contract had an accepted offer within the first two weeks on the market, and asking prices surged 16% year over year to a new high. Meanwhile, new listings dropped 8%, sending housing supply to a new low.
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Redfin media release continues in the We Get Around Network Forum (www.WGANForum.com) here:
https://forum.we-get-around.com/topic/16486/page/1/70-of-home-offers-written-by-redfin-agents-faced-bidding-wars-in-jan-2022/

68. Will Matterport be Acquired by Hexagon?

Will Matterport be Acquired by Hexagon?Commentary and Analysis byDan SmigrodFounder and Managing EditorWe Get Around Network Forum and WGAN-TV Live at 5WGAN-TV Training U (in Matterport)Monday, 21 February 2022My manicurist, Brenda, told me Friday (18 February 2022) that she is thinking about buying Matterport, Inc. (NASDAQ: MTTR) stock, after a friend told her about how Matterport had been trading as high as $37.60 per share after going public via a SPAC deal at $10 per share and Matterport was now trading at $6.83 per share; near its low of $6.20 per share.“I’ll invest $500. It will be fun,” Brenda told me with a smile.(Brenda initially said the company was Matterhorn and didn’t mention the specific dollar amounts or SPAC, but that was the gist of what her friend told her.)I could imagine that Ola Rollén, President and CEO of Stockholm, Sweden-based Hexagon AB is thinking nearly the same thing: buy Matterport now for a few billion dollars while Matterport is trading at its surprising “blue-light special” pricing.While Matterport begins every media release with “Matterport, Inc., the leading spatial data company driving the digital transformation of the built world,…” that statement is likely a much-much-much better description of the much-much-much bigger Hexagon.“Our Vision: A future where data is fully and autonomously leveraged so that business, industry and humanity sustainably thrive,” writes Hexagon on its website. “Our Mission: Putting data to work to enable autonomous, connected ecosystems that boost efficiency, productively and quality for our customers.”Aside from the lofty words, what do the two companies have in common?
(Continues in the We Get Around Network Forum (www.WGANForum.com) here:
https://forum.we-get-around.com/topic/16479/page/1/will-matterport-be-acquired-by-hexagon/

67. Redfin: ”57% of homes that went under contract did so within two weeks of being listed”

Redfin Reports Homebuyers Face the Fastest, Priciest Market on RecordA record 57% of homes sold in two weeks and the typical monthly mortgage payment soared to a new high, approaching $2,000SEATTLE--(Friday, February 18, 2022--(BUSINESS WIRE)--(NASDAQ: RDFN) —Homes sold faster than ever during the four weeks ending February 13, as a record 57% of homes that went under contract did so within two weeks of being listed, according to a new report from Redfin (www.redfin.com), the technology-powered real estate brokerage.People buying homes now are paying more than ever before, too—a median $1,997 per month—as asking prices soared 16% year over year to a new high, and mortgage rates shot up to their highest level since May 2019. The pace and cost of homebuying are soaring largely because there is so little to buy. New listings fell 8% year over year, sending overall supply to a new low and putting a damper on pending sales, which fell 2.7%.“The acute shortage of new listings of homes for sale is the biggest problem the housing market faces right now,” said Redfin Deputy Chief Economist Taylor Marr. “If you think of the housing market like a bathtub, water (supply of homes for sale) is flowing down the drain (buyers sucking up supply) faster than new water (new listings) is coming in through the faucet. Rising mortgage rates may slow the drain down a bit (cool demand) as record-high monthly payments take a toll on buyers’ budgets. Bottom line: without a flood of new listings, we will be sitting in a very shallow bath for a while.”Key housing market takeaways for 400+ U.S. metro areas:
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(Redfin media release continues in the We Get Around Network Forum (www.WGANForum.com).

66. Matterport to Participate in Four (4) Upcoming Investor Conferences

Matterport to Participate in Four (4) Upcoming Investor ConferencesSUNNYVALE, California, Thursday, February 17, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Matterport, Inc. (Nasdaq: MTTR), the spatial data company leading the digital transformation of the built world, today announced that it is scheduled to present at the following investor conferences:1. Berenberg Thematic Software Conference 2022Tuesday, March 1, 2022(Virtual Conference)2. Wedbush Real Estate Technology ConferenceWednesday, March 2, 20223. Morgan Stanley Technology, Media & Telecom ConferenceMonday, March 7, 2022Location: San FranciscoPresentation Time: 2:25 p.m. PT4. Raymond James 2022 Institutional Investors ConferenceWednesday, March 9, 2022Location: OrlandoPresentation Time: 11:35 a.m. ETThe presentations will be webcast live and archived on Matterport's investor relations website at investors.matterport.com.
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Matterport media release continues in the We Get Around Network Forum (www.WGANForum.com).

65. Matterport Announces Record 2021 Financial Results; 500,000+ Subscribers

Matterport Announces Record Full Year 2021 Financial Results and More Than 500,000 SubscribersBreakthrough product launches including Smartphone Capture and Axis to democratize space capture and drive adoption1. Total subscribers increased 98% to 503,000 from year-ago period2. Fiscal year 2021 subscription revenue rose 47% year-over-year3. Annualized recurring revenue (ARR) grew to $66 million4. Q4 GAAP loss per share of $0.66, Non-GAAP loss per share of $0.10SUNNYVALE, California, Wednesday, February 16, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Matterport, Inc. (Nasdaq: MTTR), the leading spatial data company driving the digital transformation of the built world, today announced unaudited financial results for the quarter ended December 31, 2021.“2021 was a pivotal year for Matterport, delivering strong growth as we closed our merger with Gores Holdings VI, Inc. and became a public company on The Nasdaq, gaining industry visibility and balance sheet strength to execute our ambitious growth plans,” said RJ Pittman, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Matterport. “Our business model is well-proven and scaling as momentum increased across our key operating metrics. In 2021, we doubled our subscriber base, increased Spaces Under Management by 54%, and subscription revenue grew 47%, and total revenue was up 29% for the full year. Most importantly, we strengthened the management team with new world-class executives across the globe. Relentless innovation is the norm at Matterport, and with new products like Matterport Axis and Matterport for Android, we are racing to bring precision 3D capture and digital twins to everyone in the built world. Looking forward, the physical world is going digital. Every industry on every continent is embracing digitization, and I am more confident than ever about the company’s outlook for 2022 and the decade ahead.”“In the fourth quarter we continued to make strong progress on the path of building our recurring subscription revenue business, which represented 61% of total revenue,” said JD Fay, Chief Financial Officer of Matterport. “We also strengthened our balance sheet and reduced the complexity in our capital structure by announcing the redemption of our public warrants, which resulted in another $104 million of cash proceeds from the exercise of warrants prior to redemption. Proceeds from the warrant exercises, along with the $640 million in gross proceeds raised in the third quarter, together provide us tremendous flexibility in allocating capital to accelerate our growth in 2022 and beyond.”
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Matterport media release continues in the We Get Around Network Forum (www.WGANForum.com).

64. HomeJab | Video and 3D Tours: 48% of Real Estate Pro Photo Shoots in 2021

HomeJab study shows Wednesdays are the most popular day for taking real estate listing photosStudy also reveals the impact of COVID-19 on video/3D and aerial photographyCherry Hill, NJ – February 16, 2022 – A new study of real estate photography data from HomeJab (www.HomeJab.com) finds that Wednesday is the most popular day of the week for real estate photographers to take photos for a new property listing.HomeJab, which provides real estate agents on-demand professional real estate photography and other visual production services in every major US market and all 50 states, studied nearly 60,000 real estate photography assignments over the last four years.The HomeJab study found:1. The most popular day of the week for real estate photography was Wednesday. 20% of all listing photos are shot on Wednesday.2. Tuesday and Thursday are tied for the second most popular day of the week for shooting real estate listing photos with 18% each.3. The least popular day of the week for real estate photos? Sunday. Just 4% of real estate listing photos are shot on a Sunday.“Most professional real estate photography shoots don’t happen on weekends, even though home sellers are typically more available," said Joe Jesuele, founder and CEO of HomeJab. “Our research shows that only about 1 out of 10 listing photo shoots occur on a Saturday and Sunday,” Jesuele added.The HomeJab study also revealed that COVID-19 had a dramatic impact on the popularity of both video/3D shoots for new property listings and aerial photography footage.In 2020, when the pandemic shuttered almost all Open Houses, the percentage of video and 3D virtual tours ordered by agents jumped significantly from 37% to 53% of photo shoots. Last year, as Open House returned, this percentage went down slightly to 48% but remained higher compared to pre-pandemic levels for 2019.HomeJab found the opposite was true with aerial photography. A little more than 15% of real estate listing photo shoots included aerial photography in 2018 and 2019. That number dropped in 2020 to 12%. Last year aerial photography orders rebounded to about 14% for all listings.Jesuele observed, “Agents typically have a fixed budget for photography, so an increase in one service would cause a decrease in the other service.”“We expect real estate agents using HomeJab to continue to build-in video and 3D tours as part of their 'go-to' photo package for all listings, and that aerial photography will continue to rebound," Jesuele said. "Increasing visual content satisfies sellers and helps potential buyers, especially those who still don't want to tour physically as many houses as they once did."

63. Real Estate Investors Bought a Record 18.4% of 4Q21 Homes That Were Sold

Real Estate Investors Are Buying a Record Share of U.S. HomesInvestors bought 18.4% of the U.S. homes that were purchased in the fourth quarter, worth a total of nearly $50 billionSEATTLE--Wednesday, February 16, 2022--(BUSINESS WIRE)--(NASDAQ: RDFN) — Real estate investors bought a record 18.4% of the homes that were sold in the U.S. during the fourth quarter of 2021, according to a new report from Redfin (www.redfin.com), the technology-powered real estate brokerage. That’s up from 12.6% a year earlier and a revised rate of 17.4% in the third quarter.Although investor market share hit a record in the fourth quarter, the number of homes bought by investors declined 9.1% from the third-quarter peak–but it’s up significantly from pre-pandemic levels. Investors bought 80,293 homes in the fourth quarter, up 43.9% from a year earlier. The housing-supply crunch constrained home sales for all homebuyers, including investors. The drop from the third quarter is also due partly to seasonality.The number of homes bought by investors jumped throughout 2021 as home prices rose rapidly–they were up 15% year over year in December–alongside a shortage of homes for sale. Investors are taking advantage of intense demand for rentals and increasing prices, with the average monthly rental payment for a new lease up 14% in December.Just over three-quarters (75.3%) of investor home purchases were paid for with all cash in the fourth quarter.“While record-high home prices are problematic for individual homebuyers, they’re one reason why investor demand is stronger than ever,” said Redfin economist Sheharyar Bokhari. “Investors are chasing rising prices because rental payments are also skyrocketing, incentivizing investors who plan to rent out the homes they buy. The supply shortage is also an advantage for landlords, as many people who can’t find a home to buy are forced to rent instead. Plus, investors who ‘flip’ homes see potential to turn a big profit as home prices soar.”“Investors buying up a record share of for-sale homes is one factor making this market difficult for regular homebuyers,” Bokhari continued. “It’s tough to compete with all-cash offers, and rising mortgage rates have a smaller impact on investors because they often don’t use mortgages at all. If home-price growth slows in the coming year, investor demand may cool down because rental price growth will slow, too.”In dollar terms, investors bought $49.9 billion worth of homes in the fourth quarter, up from $35 billion a year earlier. The typical home investors purchased sold for $432,971, up nearly 10% from a year earlier.
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Redfin media release continues in the We Get Around Network Forum (www.WGANForum.com)

62. GeoWeek 2022 Brings the Geospatial and Built Worlds Together In-Person, Exceeds Expectations

Geo Week 2022 Brings the Geospatial and Built Worlds Together In-Person, Exceeds Expectations 
Nearly 1,900 professionals gathered in-person; show floor completely sold outDenver, Colorado, Tuesday, February 15, 2022: Geospatial and built world professionals gathered last week for Geo Week, held February 6-8, 2022 at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver.Geo Week is the coming together of former stand-alone events AEC Next Technology Expo & Conference, International Lidar Mapping Forum, and SPAR 3D Expo & Conference, and powerful partnership events including ASPRS Annual Conference, MAPPS Annual Conference and USIBD Annual Symposium.Geo Week had a sold-out exhibit hall floor featuring 140+ companies and the event brought together 1,890 verified professionals out of more than 2,100 registrants, representing 49 states and 48 countries, cementing its place as the premier event for increased integration between the built environment, advanced airborne/terrestrial technologies, and commercial 3D technologies.“The turnout was tremendous,” said Lee Corkhill, Group Director at Diversified Communications, which produces the event. “After so much time apart, it was clear that the industry was ready to connect again in person. By bringing together multiple events under one roof, the event surpassed every expectation this year and we are thrilled to be back supporting our customers and helping to advance geospatial and the built world.”Geo Week kicked off Sunday, February 6, with Product Previews, followed by two and a half days of extensive conference programming from 125+ speakers, including keynote presentations from innovators at Draper, Microsoft, USGS, Planet, EndeavorXR, NVIDIA and NASA. The keynote presentations can be accessed online here.The excitement on the expansive exhibit hall floor was palpable. Best-in-class solutions from the most influential companies were on display, allowing attendees to source the latest geospatial and built world innovations while networking with vendors and one another. Dozens of new products were introduced at Geo Week making it a true hub for innovation.Special features of the 2022 event included a Pitch the Press event, during which the latest products from NavVis, Avatour and Prostar GeoCorp were chosen from 16 presentations that were pitched rapid-fire to a panel of high-profile press representatives at Geo Week. These solutions represented the cutting edge in reality capture, collaborative work and visualization tools.

61. Out-of-Town Buyers Have Nearly 30% More to Spend on Homes Than Locals in Migration Hotspots Like Nashville, Atlanta and Miami

Out-of-Town Buyers Have Nearly 30% More to Spend on Homes Than Locals in Migration Hotspots Like Nashville, Atlanta and MiamiRedfin finds relocators have bigger budgets than locals in 42 of the 49 cities included in its analysisSEATTLE--Tuesday, February 15, 2022--(BUSINESS WIRE)--(NASDAQ: RDFN) — The average out-of-towner moving to Nashville in 2021 had $736,900 to spend on a home, 28.5% higher than the $573,400 average budget for local buyers. That’s according to a new report from Redfin (www.redfin.com), the technology-powered real estate brokerage, which cited Nashville as having the biggest budget gap among the cities included in its analysis.Next comes Philadelphia, with an average out-of-town budget of $559,200—28.4% higher than the average local budget. It’s followed by New York City, where the average out-of-towner had a 26.5% higher budget than the average local, and Atlanta, where migrants had a 26.1% bigger budget. Miami rounds out the top five, with an average out-of-town budget 25.1% higher than that of locals. Out-of-towners have higher budgets than locals in 42 of the 49 cities included in Redfin’s report.Many American homebuyers were able to widen their searches in 2021 as many employers made remote-work options permanent. Remote workers are now able to move somewhere more affordable than their hometown, so it stands to reason that out-of-towners frequently have bigger budgets than locals: They may come from a place with higher salaries, and/or they may have sold a home in a more expensive city.That’s good news for people moving from a place with sky-high home prices like coastal California to an area that’s still comparatively affordable, like Nashville or Atlanta. For instance, the typical home in Los Angeles—the most common origin of people moving to Nashville—sold for $950,000 in December, versus $411,000 in Nashville. The typical home in New York City —the most common origin of people moving to Atlanta and Miami—sold for $785,000, versus $385,000 in Atlanta and $459,000 in Miami.The influx of out-of-towners with big budgets is contributing to the rise in home prices in popular migration destinations, pricing out many locals. Nashville home prices remain lower than many expensive coastal cities, but were up 22.6% in December from the year before. So while Nashville may be a good deal for someone coming from Los Angeles, many locals are stuck renting.“We’re seeing a lot of out-of-state transplants, mostly from states like California that have an income tax,” said Hope Geyer, a Redfin agent in Nashville, where there’s no state income tax. “People moving from the West Coast will pay way over asking price without batting an eye. In their eyes, they’re getting a deal. It’s really hard for locals to compete right now, and it can be devastating for first-time buyers who aren’t able to offset high prices by selling a home before they buy a new one.”
 
 

60. China and Hong Kong-based Residential Real Estate Company Midland Holdings to Digitize its Property Portfolio with Matterport

China and Hong Kong-based Residential Real Estate Company Midland Holdings to Digitize its Property Portfolio with MatterportMidlands Holdings is the first real estate brokerage company in China and Hong Kong to standardize the use of Matterport digital twins, creating a new way for their customers to tour, buy, and rent propertiesSINGAPORE, Monday February 14, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Matterport, Inc. (“Matterport”) (Nasdaq: MTTR), the leading spatial data company driving the digital transformation of the built world, today announced that Midland Holdings, one of the largest residential real estate (RRE) brokerages in the Greater China region, will become the first brokerage in the region to use Matterport digital twins to create virtual 3D experiences for its entire portfolio of properties. Using Matterport, the company will provide its customers with easy-to-use, 3D versions of its network of properties through China, Hong Kong, and Macau while also realizing significant operational improvements and cost savings.“As an industry leader, continuing to invest in the right technology to support our business is crucial to our success,” said Angela Wong, Vice Chairman of Midland Holdings. “Using Matterport digital twins will provide a better experience for our customers while also allowing us to act as a pioneer in transforming the home shopping experience in China and Hong Kong.”Midland Holdings’ use of Matterport digital twins represents a significant milestone for the RRE industry in China, changing the way that customers have been able to traditionally view, buy, or rent homes. By using Matterport’s digital twin capture technology, Midland Holdings will be able to provide customers with on-demand, virtual access to its expansive list of for sale and rent properties in the Greater China region. Customers can now virtually tour the bedrooms, kitchen, and living spaces of any number of properties, making purchase and rental decisions from the comfort of their own home.In 2016, Midland Holdings became the first Hong Kong-based real estate brokerage to launch a Virtual Reality (VR) panoramic property viewing service. With digital twins, Midland Holdings can also virtually furnish or stage its properties, allowing customers to more easily visualize how an empty space can be used, and, if interested, customers can also purchase the furniture they see on a property through a virtual marketplace with just a single click. The added e-commerce offering will provide customers a way to furnish their home with what they see in the virtual experience, reducing the stress that is often associated with moving into an unfurnished home.“Matterport is pleased to partner with Midland Holdings as they adopt our digital twin technology across their portfolio,” said Ben Corser, APAC Managing Director of Matterport. “As renters, buyers and sellers come to understand the impact and value of our technology, the residential real estate industry has continued to increase their adoption of digital twins to meet customers’ needs. We look forward to collaborating with Midland Holdings to deliver digital twins for their properties and provide a more efficient, immersive experience for their customers.”
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Matterport media release continues in the We Get Around Network Forum (www.WGANForum.com) here:
https://forum.we-get-around.com/topic/16436/first-real-estate-company-in-chinahong-kong-to-standardize-with-matterport/

59. WGAN-TV | Introduction to ThreeSixty Tours: Includes a Deep-Dive Demo | and Matterport Integration (Episode #134)

✓ How can you host 360s?✓ How can you show a 360 aerial and link to: Matterport, Photos, Video, Floor Plans, 360s, Shopping and Audio?✓ How can you show a 2D image and link to: Matterport, Photos, Video, Floor Plans, 360s, Shopping and Audio?My guest on WGAN-TV Live at 5 on Thursday, 10 February 2022 is ThreeSixty Tours Owner Hadi Ossaily. Hadi will show and tell us about ThreeSixty Tours:✓ WGAN-TV | Introduction to ThreeSixty Tours: Including a Deep-Dive DemoShow and Tell Includes✓ What is ThreeSixty Tours?✓ When/Why use ThreeSixty Tours?✓ What are the benefits to using ThreeSixty Tours?✓ Front-end Demo: show examples of use cases✓ Back-end Demo: how to create a ThreeSixty Tour from start to finish✓ How to get started: free offer✓ Tell us about use-cases for ThreeSixty Tours, including:-- Residential Development-- Condominium Building-- Vacation Resort-- Campus Tour-- Large commercial offer space-- Shopping-- Tell us about how to get started with ThreeSixty Tours for freeSpecial Offer for We Get Around Network Standard Members✓ Free use of ThreeSixty Tours Business Plan as long as you are a Standard or Premium Member.The top-of-the-line ThreeSixty Tours Business Plan includes:✓ Responsive viewer embed✓ Social Sharing with Facebook, Twitter and Google+✓ Unlimited Panoramas✓ Unlimited Tours✓ Panorama Branding✓ Tour Branding✓ MLS friendly (no branding option)✓ Option to override branding settings on a per-panorama and per-tour basis✓ CSV Data Import/Export✓ 5 Custom Domain Names (White Label)✓ Seamless integration with WP3D Models Wordpress Plugin (Model Base: ThreeSixty Tours)Questions I should ask Hadi on WGAN-TV Live at 5?Best,DanAbout ThreeSixty ToursThreeSixty Tours is a platform to view and share one or more 360º photo spheres and 360º videos (via embedding) and additional content such as:✓ 360º photo spheres (panoramas) via embedding✓ 360º videos via embedding (host 360º videos on YouTube or Vimeo)✓ Matterport Spaces 3D Tours✓ Videos✓ Photos✓ Shopping (eCommerce)✓ Text✓ Annotate and connect 360º panoramasHere are ThreeSixty Tours examples:✓ Luxury Resort✓ Condominium Building✓ Residential Development✓ Stadium Tour✓ Shopping ExampleLinks✓ Website: ThreeSixty.Tours✓ LinkedIn: Hadi Ossaily✓ WGAN Forum discussions tagged: ThreeSixty Tours✓ Facebook: ThreeSixty Tours✓ YouTube Channel: ThreeSixty Tours✓ Twitter: ThreeSixtyTours✓ WGAN Forum Member Name: @ThreeSixty_Tours

58. Matterport Appoints Top Industry Executives to its Leadership Team

Matterport Appoints Top Industry Executives to its Leadership TeamCompany lands top execs from the Estee Lauder Companies, RingCentral, and Google to lead strategy, operations, and global marketing effortsSUNNYVALE, Calif., Thursday, February 10, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Matterport, Inc. (Nasdaq: MTTR), the leading spatial data company driving the digital transformation of the built world, today announced that it has appointed Florence Shaffer as Vice President, Strategy & Operations, Chief of Staff to CEO, and Deepti Illa as Vice President, Global Integrated Marketing.Shaffer will join Matterport’s executive leadership team and report to CEO RJ Pittman, helping drive the company’s strategic and operational mandate. Illa brings an impressive record of driving global business growth for some of the world’s largest cloud platforms and will report directly to recently named Chief Marketing Officer, Tom Klein. She will lead global marketing efforts to elevate the Matterport brand and scale adoption across all key vertical markets.“Achieving our mission to make every space more valuable and accessible, starts and stops with attracting top talent and expanding our workforce across technology, marketing and operations is crucial to our success,” said RJ Pittman, Chief Executive Officer of Matterport. “Both Florence and Deepti are highly regarded industry executives that bring extraordinary, team-centric leadership, operational scale, and strategic vision to Matterport. We are incredibly well positioned to extend our leading position digitizing the $230 trillion built world in the decade ahead.”Shaffer brings nearly 20 years of experience where tech innovation and strategy meet execution, leading digital transformation for notable global brands. Most recently, Shaffer held the dual position of Global Vice President, Technology Strategy & Operations and Chief of Staff to the Chief Innovation Officer at Estée Lauder Companies.Prior to Estee Lauder, Shaffer was Director of Technology for the Americas region, at Burberry, where she helped drive business growth with technology innovation and operational improvements. In addition to roles at Lucasfilm and BMW, Shaffer has served as a consultant for emerging technology startups.“As a company that seeks to fundamentally improve the way people understand and engage with the physical world, Matterport’s vision is truly unique,” said Shaffer. “I’m passionate about building a future where technology enhances people’s lives, and I look forward to doing that with Matterport.”
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Matterport media release continues in the We Get Around Network Forum (www.WGANForum.com)
https://forum.we-get-around.com/topic/16415/page/1/matterport-appoints-top-industry-executives-to-its-leadership-team/
 

57. Vacation-Home Boom Continues Into 2022, With Demand Up Nearly 90% From Pre-Pandemic Levels

Vacation-Home Boom Continues Into 2022, With Demand Up Nearly 90% From Pre-Pandemic LevelsDemand for second homes hit its highest level in a year in January, with affluent Americans locking in mortgage rates before they increase further. Meanwhile, demand for primary residences was up 42% from pre-pandemic levels.SEATTLE--Thursday, February 10, 2022--BUSINESS WIRE--(NASDAQ: RDFN) — Homebuyer demand for second homes was up 87% from pre-pandemic levels in January, according to a new report from Redfin (www.redfin.com), the technology-powered real estate brokerage. This is the highest level in a year and just shy of the record 90% gain in September 2020.Demand for second-home mortgages is outpacing demand for primary residences, which was up 42% from pre-pandemic levels in January. Redfin’s report uses residential mortgage-rate lock data to measure demand.Interest in second homes started skyrocketing in mid-2020 as affluent Americans took advantage of remote work and low mortgage rates to escape to and invest in vacation destinations. Demand declined last spring—though it remained well above pre-pandemic levels—before bouncing back in the fall.“Demand for second homes was strong in January as buyers tried to lock in relatively low mortgage payments,” said Redfin Deputy Chief Economist Taylor Marr. “Mortgage rates surpassed 3.5% in January for the first time since March 2020, encouraging buyers who were on the fence about purchasing a vacation home to commit before rates increase further. While I expect demand for second homes to remain higher than it was before the pandemic, mostly because of remote work, it may fall slightly in the coming year as mortgage rates continue to go up and fees for second-home loans increase.”Redfin economists predict that the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate will rise to 3.9% over the course of 2022.Home prices in seasonal towns up 20%, outpacing non-seasonal townsHome prices in seasonal towns–where second homes are often located–are up more than prices in non-seasonal towns. The typical home in a seasonal town sold for $501,000 in December–the most recent month for which data is available–a 20% year-over-year increase. That marks 18 straight months of double-digit price growth.
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Redfin media release continues in the We Get Around Network Forum (www.WGANForum.com) here:
https://forum.we-get-around.com/topic/16412/page/1/vacation-home-boom-continues-into-2022-up-87-from-pre-pandemic-levels/
 

56. Matterport Axis Will Help Democratize the Creation and Use of Digital Twins

Matterport Axis Will Help Democratize the Creation and Use of Digital TwinsCommentary and Analysis byDan SmigrodFounder and Managing EditorWe Get Around Network Forum and WGAN-TV Live at 5Hi All,Does the Matterport announcement today (8 February 2022) of the Matterport Axis rotator for Android and iOS smartphones mean the end of the world for Matterport Service Providers?In a word, no.The Matterport Axis will help democratize the creation and use of digital twins. As a result, the Matterport Axis will create more business for Matterport Service Providers as the interest, awareness and use of Matterport digital twins increases.Likely more than half of all real estate agents engage a professional real estate photographer to shoot real estate photos and a smaller percentage - likely 5 to 15 percent - also engage a real estate photographer to shoot a 3D or 360 virtual tour (as an Add On).While some real estate agents will opt for the Do It Yourself (DIY) virtual tours with Matterport Axis (or other platforms (videos above) that offer rotators (such as Asteroom, Nodalview, Pivo Real Estate), the more real estate listings that include a 3D or 360 virtual tour, the more awareness by home sellers to ask their prospective real estate listing agent if their marketing plan for their home includes a virtual tour. (The real estate agent will need to say “yes” to win the listing and many of these real agents will want to engage a Pro.)Will new real estate photographers buy a Matterport Pro2 3D Camera or one of the 360 cameras, such as Ricoh Theta Z1, Ricoh Theta Z1 51GB (and soon the Ricoh Theta X) or Insta360 ONE X2 to shoot/scan Matterport digital twins?In two words, it depends.I could imagine that the Matterport Axis provides an on-ramp to getting started with Matterport. That said, if you make a living based on your time, then the time of the rotation will matter to real estate photographer professionals whom will then begin exploring 1-click 360 cameras or Matterport Pro2 3D Camera.
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Commentary and Analysis by Dan Smigrod continues in the We Get Around Network Forum (www.WGANForum.com)
https://forum.we-get-around.com/topic/16397/page/1/matterport-axis-will-help-democratize-the-creation-and-use-of-digital-twins/
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55. Matterport Introduces Axis, a New Hands-Free MotorMount for Precision 3D Capture for Smartphones

Matterport Introduces Axis, a New Hands-Free Motor Mount for Precision 3D Capture for SmartphonesSUNNYVALE, Calif., Feb. 08, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Matterport, Inc. (Nasdaq: MTTR), the leading spatial data company driving the digital transformation of the built world, today announced Matterport Axis™, a revolutionary motorized mount that works with a smartphone to capture 3D digital twins of any physical space with increased speed, precision, and consistency. This convenient, hands-free solution produces reliable high-fidelity results with just a click of a button. From homes to offices, hotels, rentals, retail locations, even a factory floor, Matterport Axis is the most affordable way to supercharge 3D capture using just the phone in your pocket. With Axis, the company aims to accelerate the digital transformation of the built world by making it effortless for anyone with a smartphone to digitize any kind of space with a new level of precision and ease of use.Starting today, Matterport Axis is available with special pre-launch pricing of just $59, by securing a place on the Axis waitlist at: www.Matterport.com. The official launch date is April 1 when general availability pricing will start at $79. All waitlist sign-ups received by March 31 will qualify for pre-launch pricing, subject to terms and conditions. Matterport has also enlisted its premier e-commerce partners, Adorama and B&H, to bring Matterport Axis to market. The special pre-launch pricing will also be available at both of these websites starting today.Customers across a variety of industries use Matterport to virtually measure, document, manage, and promote their properties online. Now, with Matterport Axis, organizations across the globe can scale up their efforts to affordably capture high-fidelity digital twins at multiple locations simultaneously. Distributed teams get reliable, consistent results from their smartphones, and Axis helps to ensure that every scan from every location achieves the same level of precision. Matterport Axis simplifies deployments across all industries including:1. Retail and Hospitality. On-site employees can use Matterport Axis and the smartphone in their pocket to reliably capture a digital twin from every location across a chain of properties. This enables merchandising teams and facility managers to virtually inspect, plan, and manage multiple locations online, eliminating routine travel and on-site visits while rapidly increasing productivity.2. Real Estate. Professionals, property managers, and vacation rental owners can now create digital twins with greater speed and ease with Axis’ affordable, hands-free 3D capture - to publish stunning virtual tours online in less than an hour.3. Construction and Insurance. Builders and insurance adjusters can readily deploy multiple Axis units to the field to accurately scan and share detailed digital twins from any compatible smartphone, for every stage of the job. Enabling remote inspection, tracking, and management with contractors and building specialists anywhere in the world.“At Matterport, our mission is to make every space more valuable and accessible, and with Matterport Axis, we’re excited to help our customers bring their properties online so that they can manage them anytime, anywhere,” said Japjit Tulsi, Chief Technology Officer of Matterport. “We have democratized 3D capture by making the Matterport Capture app available to billions of Android and iOS users. Combined with Matterport Axis, we’ve made it even simpler for individuals, small businesses, and large multi-property enterprises to quickly and reliably scale the digitization of their properties at an affordable price.”To learn more about Matterport Axis and sign up for the waitlist, visit: www.matterport.com/axis.---
Matterport media release continues in the We Get Around Network Forum (www.WGANForum.com)
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54. Realtor.com® Housing Report: Homebuying Competition Kicks Off 2022 with the Fastest-Moving January Ever

Realtor.com® Housing Report: Homebuying Competition Kicks Off 2022 with the Fastest-Moving January EverThe typical U.S. home spent 61 days on market in January, 10 days less than last year and nearly a month (-29 days) faster than the typical 2017-2020 paceSANTA CLARA, California, Tuesday, February 8, 2022 (PRNewswire) -- It's early days for the 2022 housing market, but new data shows homebuyers are already off to the real estate races. In the first month of the year, the typical U.S. home sold faster than in any prior January, according to the Realtor.com® Monthly Housing Report released today. Compared to January's national pace, homes sold even more quickly in the 50 largest U.S. metros, with listings flying off the market in 36 days or less in Nashville, Tenn., San Diego, San Jose, Calif., Denver and Raleigh, N.C."We're forecasting a whirlwind year ahead for buyers and, if January housing trends are any indication, 2022 competition is already heating up. Homes sold at a record-fast January pace, suggesting that buyers are more active than usual for this time of year," said Realtor.com® Chief Economist Danielle Hale. "But it's a different story on the other side of the closing table, with new seller listings continuing to decline in January. Factors like Omicron uncertainties could be causing sellers to hesitate even when they know housing conditions are favorable. Another key barrier is the inventory 'chicken-and-egg' dilemma that may vex sellers who are also buying: Do you list now when home shoppers are hungry for more options, or do you wait for more inventory to hit the market in the spring? Ultimately, only you know the best time for your family to make a move, but preparation is key to acting quickly when the right opportunity comes along. Sites like Realtor.com® offer information and tools to help homeowners keep a pulse on local activity in today's fast-paced market."
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Realtor.com media release continues in the We Get Around Network Forum (www.WGANForum.com)

53. Matterport to Announce Fiscal 2021 Full Year and Fourth Quarter Results on February 16, 2022

Matterport to Announce Fiscal 2021 Full Year and Fourth Quarter Results on February 16, 2022SUNNYVALE, Calif., Tuesday, February 8, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Matterport, Inc. (Nasdaq: MTTR), the leading spatial data company driving the digital transformation of the built world, today announced that it will release its fiscal 2021 full year and fourth quarter financial results on Wednesday, February 16, 2022 after market close. Matterport management will host a conference call that day at 2:00 p.m. Pacific time (5:00 p.m. Eastern time) to discuss the fourth quarter financial results. The dial-in number will be (914) 987-7872, conference ID: 5978824.The financial results press release and a live webcast of the conference call will be accessible from the Matterport website at investors.matterport.com
An audio webcast replay of the conference call will be available for one year at: investors.matterport.com
https://forum.we-get-around.com/topic/16390/page/1/matterport-announces-fiscal-2021-full-year4q21-results-on-feb-16-2022/#1
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Matterport media release continues in the We Get Around Network Forum (www.WGANForum.com)

52. Matterport To Showcase Impact of Digital Twins for Architecture, Engineering, and Construction Industry at its Popular Space Jam Competition

Matterport To Showcase Impact of Digital Twins for Architecture, Engineering, and Construction Industry at its Popular Space Jam CompetitionVirtual event offers inside look at solutions from Matterport Platform Partners for Architecture, Engineering, and Construction customersSUNNYVALE, Calif., Feb. 07, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Matterport, Inc. (Nasdaq: MTTR), the leading spatial data company driving the digital transformation of the built world, today announced it will host the next installment of the Matterport Space Jam virtual event series, featuring four of its platform partners that are building software solutions on top of Matterport's digital twins for the Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) industry. The virtual event will take place on Thursday, February 24 at 8:30 am PT, offering attendees an opportunity to learn how four Matterport Platform Partners build solutions for the AEC industry on top of Matterport digital twins.During the event, each platform partner will demonstrate its products in respective 5-minute sessions and field questions from attendees. Once demonstrations and questions have concluded, attendees can vote on their favorite presentation. The event will feature the following Matterport platform partners:e-Building - a powerful document manager, e-Building allows users to manage all their building information modeling (BIM) files on a single platform and digitally link them directly to exact locations within a Matterport digital twin.RemSense - an industrial software package that uses Matterport imagery with layers of information from client management systems (CMS) to help solve engineering challenges.SIMLAB Stages - a tool used by the AEC industry to create a living timeline of site progress for any project at any stage, allowing users to view and collaborate on the project at different points in time.Nspect - a solution that takes Matterport data and allows users the ability to create an inspection report, a quality control review, safety inspection, or a work plan for a site all overlaid onto a Matterport digital twin.“With the addition of BIM file, Autodesk Revit Plugin, and [Matterport] Notes feature, Matterport continues to support the AEC industry with innovative solutions that increase project efficiency, boost productivity, and reduce costs,” said Stephanie Lin, Sr. Director of Strategy for AEC at Matterport. “We are excited to showcase our innovative platform partners to the AEC industry and highlight how solutions built on top of Matterport digital twins can improve AEC workflows and stakeholder coordination while helping firms and owners alike save costs by reducing in-person site visits and streamlining the design and project management process.”Register to attend Matterport Space Jam for AEC here.
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Matterport media release continues in the We Get Around Network Forum (www.WGANForum.com) here:
https://forum.we-get-around.com/topic/16386/page/1/matterport-to-showcase-impact-of-digital-twins-for-aec/

51. 1 in 4 First-Time Homebuyers Are Using Stimulus Money For Down Payment: Redfin Survey

1 in 4 First-Time Homebuyers Are Using Stimulus Money For Down Payment: Redfin SurveySaving pandemic-related stimulus money is the second-most common way to accumulate money for a down paymentSEATTLE--Friday, February 4, 2022--(BUSINESS WIRE)--(NASDAQ: RDFN) — Nearly one-quarter (24%) of first-time homebuyers are using stimulus money for their down payment, according to a new report from Redfin (www.redfin.com), the technology-powered real estate brokerage. Stimulus money is the second-most common way of accumulating money for a down payment, after saving directly from paychecks.The report is based on a Redfin-commissioned survey of 1,500 U.S. residents planning to buy or sell a home in the next 12 months. The survey was fielded by research technology company Lucid from Dec. 10 to 13, 2021. The report focuses on the 215 of those 1,500 respondents who answered, “How did you accumulate the money you need for a down payment?” This was a question Redfin only posed to participants who said they were buying their first home in the next year.“There was a fair amount of economic uncertainty at the beginning of the pandemic and many people initially lost their jobs due to widespread lockdowns. But plenty of Americans, particularly those who are in a position to buy a home, are now in a better financial position than before,” said Redfin Chief Economist Daryl Fairweather. “Stimulus payments provided a lot of Americans not only with necessary relief, but extra money in their pockets. Some people were also able to save more money than usual because they spent less on things like traveling, eating out and paying back student loans, which were paused during the pandemic.”The average American family with children received $6,660 in stimulus money in 2021 in the form of stimulus checks and the expanded child tax credit, both part of COVID-19 relief policies. While this survey identified a cohort of first-time homebuyers who say stimulus money contributed to their down payment, most stimulus recipients used the bulk of the money for everyday essentials.Stimulus money can make a big dent in a down payment. The typical U.S. home sells for $382,900 and the median down payment is roughly 10% of the purchase price, which equals about $38,000 for the median-priced home. Some buyers put down as little as 3%, which would equal an $11,500 down payment.Twenty-three percent of survey respondents said the ability to save extra money during the pandemic has helped with their down payment, the third-most common method of accumulating money for a down payment.Other ways respondents reported collecting money for down payments include selling investments in cryptocurrency (12%) and cash gifts from family (12%).
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Redfin media release continues in the We Get Around Network Forum (www.WGANForum.com) here
https://forum.we-get-around.com/topic/16379/page/1/redfin-24-first-time-homebuyers-are-using-stimulus-money-for-down-payment/#1

50. WGAN-TV | How Architects Leverage Matterport Tours Shot with a Leica BLK360 (Episode 133)

How can Matterport Service Providers succeed faster – with a higher paying vertical (architects) than residential real estate – with the same scanning process, but with a higher end scanner/camera: Leica BLK360.My guest on WGAN-TV Live at 5 on Thursday, 3 February 2021 is Indianapolis based-Immersaf Media (and Matt S. Photography) Principal Matt Crowder.Matt will show and tell us about:✓ WGAN-TV | How Architects Leverage Matterport Digital Twins Created with a Leica BLK360 Camera/ScannerQuestions Include1. What are the use cases for architects?2. The advantages to the architect of doing the scans with a BLK360?3. Can you show us some examples?4. When/why would you use the BLK360 software instead of Matterport?Also ...Matt emailed me:I have the Matterport point cloud and the point cloud built from the scans downloaded from the Leica Camera and registered on Leica software. The difference is very distinct. I will ... share my screen to show those. ....Other questions that I should ask Matt on WGAN-TV Live at 5?Happy New Year,DanLinks✓ WGAN Forum: @MattSCrowder✓ Immersaf Media✓ Matt S. Photography✓ LinkedIn: Matt Crowder✓ Facebook: Matt S Crowder PhotographyExample of a REVIT Model courtesy of Immersaf Media Principal Matt Crowder @MattSCrowder

49. Zillow | More than 60% of women prefer home shopping to dating.

More than a third of recent movers say it's harder to find a house than a spouseNew Zillow survey finds most Americans enjoy home shopping more than dating- More than 60% of women prefer home shopping to dating.- Most people say they have more deal breakers and longer wish lists for a romantic partner than for a home.- Nearly 3 in 4 Americans believe they could fall in love at first sight with a home.SEATTLE, Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Love is in the air this Valentine's Day, at least when it comes to home. A new survey (i) from Zillow finds 80% of Americans say they love their home. However, finding a home is a lot more challenging in today's hypercompetitive and rapidly appreciating housing market. About one-third of recent moversii (34%) say it's harder to find a house to buy than a spouse, yet most say shopping for a home is more enjoyable.Women are more likely than men to say shopping for a home is more enjoyable than dating; 62% compared to 39% of men. Some psychologists believe looking at for-sale listings can create a mood-boosting chemical reaction in the brain similar to the excitement of a romantic relationship, a phenomenon parodied on SNL. During the pandemic, a record number of users surfed Zillow to escape the stress of their lives and dream of the possibilities a move could bring."The way we shop for homes is in many ways similar to the way we meet romantic partners," said Zillow home trends expert Amanda Pendleton. "Both involve wish lists, compromises and deal breakers, and much of the legwork happens online. But unlike dating apps, tools like interactive floor plans and virtual 3D home tours mean fewer home shoppers are disappointed when they see a home in person for the first time. Perhaps that's one reason this survey found that far more people think they'll be successful using an app to find a home to buy (76%) than to find a romantic partner (24%)."Another reason may be expectations. Most people (62%) say their wish list for a romantic partner is more difficult to satisfy than their wish list for a home (38%), and 61% say they have more deal breakers when it comes to choosing a partner. Two-thirds of Americans are more willing to compromise on qualities in a home to buy (67%) than qualities in a romantic partner (33%).Still, most people are romantics at heart, at least when it comes to their home. Nearly 3 in 4 Americans believe they could fall in love at first sight with a home (73%), while more than half believe they could fall in love at first sight with a person (54%). While 65% of singles would consider moving to improve their dating prospects, 84% say they would consider moving in order to buy a home.Once they find it, most people love their home (80%). The most common reasons people love their home are the memories associated with it (82%), and their home's location, neighborhood or neighbors (77%). Tools like Zillow's travel-time function, walk score and transit score can help shoppers choose a neighborhood they'll love. As with dating, finding "the one" in today's housing market may be tough, but shoppers can take steps to land their dream home with the right partners, preparation and persistence.
Zillow media release continues in the We Get Around Network Forum (www.WGANForum.com) here:
https://forum.we-get-around.com/topic/16363/page/1/zillow-more-than-60-of-women-prefer-home-shopping-to-dating/

48. Orangetheory Fitness Adopts Matterport to Manage Studio Operations

Orangetheory Fitness Adopts Matterport Digital Twins to Manage Studio OperationsGlobal fitness franchise leverages Matterport digital twins to streamline brand consistency across more than 1,250 U.S. locationsSUNNYVALE, Calif., Wednesday, February 2, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Matterport, Inc. (Nasdaq: MTTR), the leading spatial data company driving the digital transformation of the built world, today announced that Orangetheory®, the fast-growing fitness franchise, will utilize Matterport Capture Services to scan and create digital twins of all its U.S. studios, ensuring design and layout are consistent with global brand guidelines. With more than 1,250 studios across the U.S., Orangetheory’s operational teams will gain significant cost and time savings by enabling highly efficient collaboration, analysis, and decision making using digital twins of its studios remotely.“As we continue to grow the number of our studios across the U.S. and across the globe, it becomes increasingly difficult to access information about specific locations and make informed business decisions,” said Mike Mettler, Chief Development Officer of Orangetheory Fitness. “With Matterport digital twins, we become equipped with accurate, reliable data that allows us to improve our studios and better serve our members. Throughout the process, the efficiency and ease of Capture Services saves us thousands of dollars in travel and labor costs.”To ensure consistency across its U.S. studios, Orangetheory requires accurate, up to date visuals of new and existing locations. Using Matterport Capture Services to create digital twins – photorealistic, 3D replicas of each studio – the company can virtually assess whether a studio is consistent with brand guidelines and advise on required updates, reducing the travel and time required to verify conditions of all locations. In addition, Orangetheory franchisees equipped with a digital twin of their studio can provide a 3D walkthrough of their space for prospective members.“Orangetheory is a great example of a retailer with the newfound ability to improve their operations across many studio locations, by using digital twins to streamline a typically lengthy and costly process,” said Stephanie Lin, Senior Director, Global Retail Strategy for Matterport. “Matterport simplifies the process of obtaining site measurements, verifying store design and layouts, and the ongoing coordination and documentation required between teams. All of this enables retailers to make quicker, well informed decisions that will significantly improve productivity and reduce travel expenses from costly site visits.”Learn more about Matterport for Retail at: go.matterport.com/retail
Matterport media release continues in the We Get Around Network Forum (www.WGANForum.com) here
https://forum.we-get-around.com/topic/16362/orangetheory-fitness-adopts-matterport-to-manage-studio-operations/
 

47. Redfin: One-Third of Houses for Sale Are New Construction, an All-Time High

One-Third of Houses for Sale Are New Construction, an All-Time HighThe share of newly built single-family homes on the market is at a record high as builders try to keep up with surging homebuyer demand fueled by low mortgage rates, low inventory and remote workSEATTLE--Monday, January 31, 2022--(BUSINESS WIRE)--(NASDAQ: RDFN) — More than one-third (34.1%) of U.S. single-family homes for sale in December were new construction, up from 25.4% a year earlier and the highest share on record, according to a new report from Redfin (www.redfin.com), the technology-powered real estate brokerage.Newly built homes have taken up an increasing portion of U.S. housing inventory over the last 10 years, with a major acceleration in mid-2020 after the pandemic began. Homebuilders have been busy trying to make up for the lack of existing homes on the market and keep up with high demand. There has been a surge in homebuyer demand since the start of the pandemic, stemming from low mortgage rates and the prevalence of remote work. At the same time, some homeowners have opted to refinance or remodel instead of selling, intensifying the shortage of existing homes for sale.Overall inventory dropped to a record low in December. Inventory of existing homes fell 14.2% year over year in December, and there was a record-low 1.8 months of supply. For new homes, there was 6 months of supply and inventory was up 34.8%.As the share of homes for sale that are newly built has edged up, the share of home sales that are new builds has remained relatively consistent, around 11%. This dichotomy is another indicator that homebuyer demand is far outpacing supply.“A lot of pre-owned homes are being listed, but they are just selling off so quickly—typically in a matter of days—while new homes take longer to sell,” said Redfin Economist Sheharyar Bokhari. “So as a homebuyer, you’re increasingly likely to see new builds when you look up homes for sale in your target area. Existing homes tend to be less expensive and fly off the shelves faster, so people who are just getting into the market should speak to their lender and agent about preparing to act quickly when an existing home that meets their criteria does hit the market this winter.”
Redfin media release continued in the We Get Around Network Forum (www.WGANForum.com) here:
https://forum.we-get-around.com/topic/16351/redfin-one-third-of-houses-for-sale-are-new-construction-an-all-time-high/

46. Why Matterport will Build and Sell a Leica B-L-K three-sixty Clone for Less Than $7,500

Why Matterport will Build/Sell a Leica BLK360 Clone for Less Than $7,500Commentary and Analysis byDan SmigrodFounder and Managing EditorWe Get Around Network ForumWGAN-TV Live at 5WGAN-TV Training U (in Matterport)Every Matterport media release begins with the statement: “Matterport, Inc. … the leading spatial data company driving the digital transformation of the built world.”Yet, the Matterport vision is hard to live up to when its flagship capture solution, the Matterport Pro2 3D Camera, falls short delivering on the Matterport spatial data promise.For example, the Matterport Pro2 3D Camera infrared technology can not create:1. spatial data of outdoor exterior building fascias2. spatial data of high ceilings more than a couple stories tall3. spatial data with the Level of Detail (LOD) needed for many commercial real estate spaces and AEC use casesAnd, while the Leica BLK360 LiDAR scanner, paired with the Matterport Capture app, does all of the above, its $18,000 price point is simply too high (and capturing spatial data too slow) to create a nationwide network - let alone a worldwide network – of Matterport Service Providers with the necessary gear required for scanning much of the built world. That’s a big-big-big problem for Matterport.Given Matterport’s ambitious plans for its Matterport Capture Services™ On-Demand program - now in 152 cities among seven countries - I could imagine Matterport is missing a massive number of opportunities because its network of “trained and certified Capture Technicians” can not afford an essential tool for capturing spatial data of large commercial spaces (including building exterior fascias) with high ceiling with the LOD required, for example, for:1. As-Builts (the first step in documenting the life-cycle of a to-be-renovated commercial space)2. construction documentation (to compare to a BIM model)3. critical measurementsIn addition to Matterport Capture Services On-Demand, I could imagine companies such as IFTI/PROvision Solutions which offers Matterport scanning at scale across the United States for as-builts; construction progress documentation; and facilities management; Snappr for Enterprise and other companies that provide Matterport On-Demand services, have the same challenge of sourcing a Network of Matterport Service Providers that own – or are willing to rent – a Leica BLK360 LiDAR scanner.For example, in the last few months, I noticed a pain point/opportunity for IFTI/PROvision Solutions: a significant uptick in IFTI/PROvision Solutions Help Wanted posts in the We Get Around Network Forum specifically for Matterport Service Providers that use a Leica BLK360 for scanning large commercial spaces.
(Commentary and Analysis by We Get Around Network Forum Founder and Managing Editor Dan Smigrod continues in the We Get Around Network Forum (www.WGANForum.com)
https://forum.we-get-around.com/topic/16349/page/1/why-matterport-will-buildsell-a-leica-blk360-clone-for-less-than-7500/

45. Matterport Appoints Tom Klein as Chief Marketing Officer

Matterport Appoints Tom Klein as Chief Marketing OfficerSeasoned marketing leader from Mailchimp to lead global brand and growth strategy as the company continues its aggressive market expansionSUNNYVALE, Calif., Monday, Jan. 31, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Matterport, Inc. (Nasdaq: MTTR), the leading spatial data company driving the digital transformation of the built world, today announced the appointment of Tom Klein as Chief Marketing Officer (CMO). In this role, Klein will be responsible for aligning Matterport’s global marketing initiatives to elevate the global brand, drive growth across key vertical markets, and help its customers and partners win. Klein brings more than 20 years of experience spearheading marketing efforts for some of the world’s leading brands and has a passion for operating at the intersection of marketing and technology."As we continue our rapid pace of innovation and expansion of our global platform, it’s essential that our customers remain the focal point,” said RJ Pittman, Chief Executive Officer of Matterport. “Tom’s tremendous experience scaling brands and driving global adoption to reach the billion-dollar run rate will be instrumental to the massive opportunity in front of us. His experience leading large, global teams and delivering innovative, brand-building campaigns with the customer at the center of it all, will readily accelerate our mission to make every space more valuable and accessible,” he added.Klein joins Matterport from Mailchimp, a leading marketing and commerce platform, where he led marketing and strategic partnerships in his role as Global Chief Marketing Officer. Under his leadership, Klein helped grow revenues nearly four-fold to over $800M in 2020. The impact of his strategic marketing initiatives contributed to the successful acquisition of Mailchimp by Intuit for $12 billion in 2021, the largest in Intuit’s history. At the time of the acquisition, the company had 13 million total users, 2.4 million monthly active users, and 800,000 paying customers. Prior to Mailchimp, Klein founded Digital Scientists, a digital marketing and software development company, and worked closely with global brands including Chanel and Kraft.“Over the past ten years, Matterport has defined and led the category for digitizing the built world,” said Klein. “As the company turns toward its next decade of growth, I see enormous untapped potential to scale the platform across key vertical markets around the globe. I am excited to amplify the Matterport global brand and unlock the power of the digital twin for this unparalleled $230 trillion asset class.”
Matterport media release continues in the We Get Around Network Forum (www.WGANForum.com) here:
https://forum.we-get-around.com/topic/16345/matterport-appoints-tom-klein-as-chief-marketing-officer/

44. WGAN-TV | Matterport Timeline: 2014-2022 | Milestones, Insight and Commentary (Episode 132)

Wondering about the history of Matterport through the lens of a Matterport Service Provider sincethe "early days"?On Thursday, 27 January 2022 at 5 pm EST (GMT - 5), my guest will be Hopscotch Interactive Founder Emily Olman (@Hopscotch):✓ WGAN-TV Live at 5 | Matterport Timeline: 2014-2022 | Milestones, Insight and CommentaryIn the video (above), you can get a taste of the milestones. I will ask Emily for more insight and commentary about the "history" of Matterport from the perspective of a Matterport Service Provider.What questions should I ask Emily on WGAN-TV Live at 5?Best,Dan

43. Retail VR Uses Matterport Digital Twins to Improve Retail Operations and Merchandising

Retail VR Uses Matterport Digital Twins to Improve Retail Operations and MerchandisingLuxury fashion brand saves 1,200 tons of carbon emissions with a single virtual showroom by eliminating unnecessary travelSUNNYVALE, Calif., Thursday, Jan. 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Matterport, Inc. (Nasdaq: MTTR), the leading spatial data company driving the digital transformation of the built world, today announced that Retail VR (www.retail-vr.com), a virtual reality and augmented reality platform, has enabled dramatic cost and time-savings for a variety of retail clients, from food to fashion brands, through the adoption of Matterport digital twins.Using Matterport Pro2 3D cameras and software development tools available to Matterport platform partners, Retail VR is enabling retailers around the world to collaborate with store employees and connect with visitors and customers using a shared digital version of each physical location.“As the world continues to shift online, retailers must adapt with innovative, virtual shopping experiences,” said Adrien Zanelli, Co-Founder and Head of International Business Development for Retail VR. “Combining Matterport’s digital twins with our virtual and augmented reality platform will continue to unlock new efficiencies and cost savings for our clients, while also helping them meet their customers’ expectations for an immersive, online shopping experience.”
Matterport media release continues in the We Get Around Network Forum (www.WGANForum.com)
https://forum.we-get-around.com/topic/16332/page/1/retail-vr-uses-matterport-to-improve-retail-operations-and-merchandising/

42. Sales of Luxury Homes Dropped 16.3%; Most Affordable Homes Sales Rose 11% Year-Over-Year

Sales of Luxury Homes Dropped 16.3%; Most Affordable Homes Sales Rose 11% Year-Over-YearSEATTLE--Thursday, 27 January 2022--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- (NASDAQ: RDFN) — Sales of the most affordable homes in the U.S. rose 11.3% year over year in the fourth quarter of 2021, according to a new report from Redfin (www.redfin.com), the technology-powered real estate brokerage. Meanwhile, sales of luxury homes dropped 16.3%.Sales of affordable homes are on the rise as the job market strengthens, especially for lower-wage workers, and real estate investors buy a record share of U.S. homes. At the same time, inventory in the most affordable price tier is up as the end of pandemic-driven mortgage forbearance and foreclosure moratorium policies encourages Americans to put their homes on the market.“The market for homes at lower price points is booming for a few reasons. Not only is there demand from workers who are now earning higher wages, but investors, who have an appetite for lower-priced homes, are buying up properties at record rates,” said Redfin Chief Economist Daryl Fairweather. “And with the end of both mortgage forbearance and the foreclosure moratorium, many homeowners who don’t have much cash in the bank are choosing to sell their homes to clear their mortgage debt, providing plenty of supply to meet the high demand.”For luxury homes, the big year-over-year sales drop is partly due to a surge during the fourth quarter of 2020, when affluent Americans took advantage of low mortgage rates and remote work to buy high-end homes. Sales are also constrained by a lack of supply. Luxury sales are still elevated above pre-pandemic levels—sales were up by nearly 27% from the last quarter of 2019 to the last quarter of 2021—but the initial pandemic-driven frenzy for high-end homes is calming down.
Redfin media release continues in the We Get Around Network Forum (www.WGANForum.com)

41. Matterport Announces Managing Director of its Asia Pacific Operations

Matterport Appoints Former SAP Executive Ben Corser as Managing Director of its Asia Pacific Operations25-year industry veteran to scale Matterport adoption across the largest property markets in the worldSUNNYVALE, Calif., Tuesday, January 25, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Matterport, Inc. (Nasdaq: MTTR), the leading spatial data company driving the digital transformation of the built world, today announced the appointment of Ben Corser as Managing Director of Asia-Pacific (APAC).Corser will leverage over 25 years of experience in strategic growth planning, team building and partnership development for technology companies to help Matterport expand its presence in the region as the company enters its next phase of growth.“We are pleased to welcome Ben to the team as we increase investment in the region to help customers in APAC experience the revolutionary Matterport technology,” said Jay Remley, Chief Revenue Officer at Matterport. “Asia is home to over half of the world's population and over 80 percent of the 50 world's tallest buildings, making up the largest region of built spaces globally. With Ben’s proven track record in building and leading large, world-class technology teams to bring customers world-class technologies, we’re confident in his ability to guide the business forward in the region.”Corser has deep knowledge of the APAC region and market dynamics. He joins Matterport from SAP where he built and led high-performing technology partner and channel ecosystems teams in APAC and led direct engagement with key customers. Prior to SAP, he was Asia-Pacific and Japan (APJ) Channel Director at EMC (now Dell EMC), managing the company’s RSA partner team and channel business.Prior to EMC, Corser led Nokia’s enterprise software go-to-market strategy and business for APJ channels and partners including driving the ‘Nokia for business’ software solution. Earlier on in his career, Corser was Enterprise Software Partner Manager at Microsoft in Australia and New Zealand.
Matterport Media Release continues in the We Get Around Network Forum (www.WGANForum.com) here:
https://forum.we-get-around.com/topic/16313/page/1/matterport-announces-managing-director-of-its-asia-pacific-operations/

40. Urbanimmersive Announces its 2021 Audited Financial Results

Urbanimmersive Announces its 2021 Audited Financial ResultsSAINT-HUBERT, Quebec, Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Urbanimmersive Inc. (“Urbanimmersive,” the “Company” or “UI”) (TSV-V UI) (OTCQB: UBMRF) today announced select audited financial results and presents business highlights for its fourth quarter and fiscal year ended September 30, 2021. The audited consolidated financial statements and related management’s discussion and analysis (“MD&A”) can be viewed on SEDAR at https://www.sedar.com/.Highlights1. For 2021, the Company generated revenues of $4,069k compared to revenues of $4,594k for 2020, a decrease of $525k or 11%. This decrease of $525k is explained by the significant decrease in sales of 3D photography equipment (-$603k) as well as the decrease in SaaS revenues (-$209k or -7%) mainly explained by the challenging real estate market, partially offset by the addition of service revenues (+$307k) coming from the photography agencies acquired on June 30, 2021; For Q4-21, the Company generated revenues of $1,090k compared to revenues of $1,441k for Q4-20, a decrease of $351k.2. Sales of 3D immersive tours in Q4-21 increased by 237% when compared to Q4-20 while having increased by 207% in 2021 while compared to 2020.3. The Company closed a non-brokered private placement of $2.9m in April 2021 and adopted an accelerated growth plan in June 2021 with $1.6m being used to complete the strategic acquisitions of three real estate photography agencies: EGP Technovirtuel Inc. ('EGP'), Graphique ID Solutions Inc. ('Graphique ID') and La Clique Mobile. As of September 30, 2021, the Company had liquidities of $2.0m and a positive working capital of $1.1m.4. During the year, the Company reduced its long-term debt by $4.7m, with $4.5m through the conversion of all of its convertible debentures;5. During the year, the Company launched many new products, in particular UI Capture 2.0, a dollhouse and its flagship interactive 3D tour, UiMeet3D, for which three patent applications were filed during the year.
Urbanimmersive Media Release continues in the We Get Around Network Forum (www.WGANForum.com) here:
https://forum.we-get-around.com/topic/16311/page/1/urbanimmersive-announces-its-2021-audited-financial-results/

39. Redfin Reports the Share of Homebuyers Looking to Relocate Is Near Pandemic Peak

Redfin Reports the Share of Homebuyers Looking to Relocate Is Near Pandemic PeakNearly one-third of Redfin.com users looked to move away from their hometown in the fourth quarter, close to the record high set in the first quarterSEATTLE, Tuesday, January 25, 2022 - BUSINESS WIRE (NASDAQ: RDFN) – Nationwide, 31.2% of Redfin.com users looked to move to a different metro in the fourth quarter of 2021, according to a new report from Redfin (www.redfin.com), the technology-powered real estate brokerage.That number is down from the record high of 31.5% set in the first quarter of last year, but is still up significantly from pre-pandemic levels, with 26.3% of Redfin.com users looking to relocate in the fourth quarter of 2019.Homebuyer interest in relocating to a new part of the country rose with the onset of the pandemic and has remained elevated for nearly two years. That’s partly due to low mortgage rates and partly the surge in remote work that’s allowing Americans to choose where they live based on things like affordability and weather rather than proximity to an office.The latest migration analysis is based on a sample of about 2 million Redfin.com users who searched for homes across 111 metro areas in the fourth quarter, excluding searches unlikely to precede an actual relocation or home purchase. To be included in this dataset, a Redfin.com user must have viewed at least 10 homes in a particular metro area, and homes in that area must have made up at least 80% of the user’s searches. Redfin’s migration data goes back to 2017.
Redfin Media Release continues in the We Get Around Network Forum (www.WGANForum.com) here:
https://forum.we-get-around.com/topic/16308/page/1/4q-nearly-13-of-redfincom-users-looked-to-move-away-from-their-hometown/

38. Ricoh Theta unveils new 360-degree camera model | THETA X

RICOH THETA unveils new 360-degree camera model: THETA XHitting the market in March 2022, the advanced model features many firsts for the brand including a large touch screen display for enhanced usabilityTOKYO, Monday, Jan. 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Ricoh Company, Ltd. (President and CEO: Yoshinori Yamashita) today announced the launch of the RICOH THETA X. Designed in pursuit of enhanced usability and outstanding quality, this advanced model joins RICOH THETA's series of 360-degree cameras that shoot immersive still images and videos in a single shot and is equipped with many firsts for the brand: a large touch screen, interchangeable battery, and external memory card.Experience the interactive Multichannel News Release here.The RICOH THETA X's most innovative feature is the 2.25-inch full-color touch screen display, making standalone camera use much easier by reducing the need to connect to a remote control or smartphone app. Other first-time function additions include an interchangeable battery and an external memory card for more efficient and reliable shooting. Smartphone connectivity has also been improved, as the RICOH THETA X no longer requires the need to enter an SSID when establishing a Bluetooth connection. RICOH THETA X also boasts real-time stitching capabilities with stabilization, removing the need to stitch videos – this improves the processing time of 360-degree videos on computers drastically."Since RICOH THETA released the world's-first 360-degree camera in 2013, it has been utilized in a wide range of fields to expand the possibilities of photographic and video expression. The pandemic caused an even greater need for immersive imagery and virtual tours to boost business efficiency, especially in the real estate, construction, design, and automotive industries—and we only expect that to expand into additional industries," said Shinobu Fujiki, General Manager of RICOH Company's THETA Business division. "As we strive to meet the needs of our customers through the innovation of our digital devices and services, this camera is designed to help streamline workflows and deliver high-quality imagery for business users and consumers alike."
Ricoh Company Media Release continues in the We Get Around Network Forum (www.WGANForum.com) here:
https://forum.we-get-around.com/topic/16301/page/1/ricoh-theta-unveils-new-360-degree-camera-model-theta-x/

37. Geo Week Exhibit Floor Sold Out: Live Event Going Forward Feb 6-8, 2022

Geo Week 2022 Exhibit Floor is Sold Out & Live Event Going Forward Feb 6-8, 2022 in Denver140+ geospatial and built world technology solutions providers to exhibit at Geo WeekPORTLAND, MAINE – USA – Monday, January 24, 2022 – Organizers of Geo Week, the single powerhouse event that champions the coming together of geospatial technologies and the built world, have announced that the show floor is officially sold out.An impressive list of more than 140+ exhibitors from around the globe will exhibit at the 2022 event, which will take place in person February 6th – 8th, 2022 at the Colorado Convention Center, Denver CO.“After an extraordinary time apart, we’re excited to define the newest iteration of Geo Week: the coming together of AEC Next Technology Expo & Conference, International Lidar Mapping Forum, and SPAR 3D Expo & Conference, along with partners events ASPRS Annual Conference, MAPPS Winter Conference, and USIBD Annual Symposium,” said Lee Corkhill, Group Director at Diversified Communications, organizer of the event.“Geospatial and built world professionals are eager to be back together in person, as evidenced by the sold-out exhibit floor, strong registration numbers, and a palpable excitement among the industry insiders we’re speaking with. There’s no substitute for the learnings, connections, and growth that occur at a live event, and we’re thrilled to be bringing the industry together again.”
Geo Week Media Release continues in the We Get Around Network Forum (www.WGANForum.com) here:
https://forum.we-get-around.com/topic/16293/page/1/geo-week-exhibit-floor-sold-out-live-event-going-forward-feb-6-8-2022/

36. Plaintiff Seeks Class Action Status Against Matterport Inc. | Second Amended Compendium of Facts and Citations

USA Matterport Class Action - Update as of Jan. 20, 2022
Plaintiff's Second Amended Compendium of Facts and Citations to Evidence
--
After reviewing tens of thousands of internal Matterport documents, and taking several depositions of Matterport employees, we recently filed a motion to certify a nationwide class of MSPs.You can download the legal memorandum in support of the motion, and the compendium highlighting the evidence and testimony, by clicking on these links:✓ Memorandum in Support of Plaintiff's Motion for Class Certification✓ Plaintiff's Second Amended Compendium of Facts and Citations to EvidenceI believe you will be shocked to learn what was actually going on within Matterport while they were enrolling you into the MSP program.If you have any insight into the factual issues raised in these documents, or if you have any questions about the lawsuit, please contact me in confidence.Continued in We Get Around Network Forum (www.WGANForum.com) here:
https://forum.we-get-around.com/topic/16282/page/1/usa-matterport-class-action---update-as-of-jan-20-2022/

35. Are We in a Housing Bubble? Homebuyers Say Yes, Redfin Expert Says No

Are We in a Housing Bubble? Homebuyers Say Yes, Redfin Expert Says No
Historically fast home-price growth has homebuyers and sellers worried the market has become detached from reality. But Redfin’s chief economist says rising mortgage rates and buyers who can afford their homes are preventing a bubble.
 
SEATTLE--(Friday, January 21, 2022)--BUSINESS WIRE--(NASDAQ: RDFN) — More than three-quarters (77%) of homebuyers and sellers believe there’s a housing price bubble in the area where they live, according to a survey in a new report from Redfin (www.redfin.com), the technology-powered real estate brokerage. Meanwhile, 44% of real estate agents believe there’s a housing bubble in the market where they work.
 
The former is from a Redfin-commissioned survey of 1,500 U.S. residents who are planning to buy or sell a home in the next 12 months fielded by research technology company Lucid from December 10 to 13, 2021. The latter is from a Redfin survey of 360 real estate agents from October 2021.
Redfin Media Release continued in the We Get Around Network Forum (www.WGANForum.com) here:
https://forum.we-get-around.com/topic/16289/page/1/are-we-in-a-housing-bubble-homebuyers-say-yes-redfin-expert-says-no/

34-WGAN-TV | HomeJab Professional Real Estate Photographer Survey Results (Episode 131)

My guest on WGAN-TV Live at 5 on Thursday, 20 January 2022 is HomeJab Founder and Owner Joe Jesuele.Joe will discuss:✓ HomeJab Professional Real Estate Photographer Survey ResultsYou can get a taste of the HomeJab Survey results here:
https://forum.we-get-around.com/topic/16286/page/1/transcript-wgan-tv--homejab-pro-real-estate-photographer-survey-results/

33. Inventory down 40% from pre-COVID level as price growth intensifies

Inventory down 40% from pre-COVID level as price growth intensifiesCompetition already fierce as shoppers start the buying season early- Home value appreciation accelerates, breaking new records with 19.6% annual gain- Inventory drops below 1 million to record-low levels -- down 40.5% from December 2019- Rents are up 15.7% from last year, but growing at their slowest pace since MarchSEATTLE, Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The home shopping season appears to already be in full swing, as anxious buyers outnumbered dwindling new listings and drove inventory to record low levels in December. Limited supply is already pushing price growth up, as Zillow®'s latest market report1 shows monthly home value appreciation accelerated for the first time since July.In addition to not wanting to wade into such a tight market as a buyer, homeowners could be hesitant to list their houses and move due to a resurgence in coronavirus cases and employers' rising uncertainty about post-pandemic working arrangements, according to a recent Zillow survey."Home shoppers picked the shelves clean this December, leaving fewer active listings than ever before in the U.S. housing market," said Jeff Tucker, senior economist at Zillow. "Enough determined buyers kept up their house hunt to reignite monthly price appreciation. Rising mortgage rates could be the next potential headwind, but demand has proven persistent; neither high prices nor slim inventories have deterred buyers so far."The typical home value is now $320,662, 19.6% above that of December 2020. The annual growth rate represents an all-time high in data dating back more than 20 years. After decelerating since July, month-over-month home value appreciation reignited, jumping from 1.2% in November to 1.4% in December.
Zillow Media Release continues in the We Get Around Network Forum (www.WGANForum.com)

32. Knock 2022 Housing Forecast Reveals the Best Markets for Each Stage of Life

Knock 2022 Housing Forecast Reveals the Best Markets for Each Stage of LifeAustin is the best market for millennials, Miami rises to the top for Gen X and Pittsburgh ranks No. 1 for baby boomersNEW YORK, Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- With affordability and limited supply expected to keep the housing market competitive and remote work and the desire for more space influencing decisions on where to live, Knock, the fast-growing homeownership platform that makes all homebuyers Power Buyers, today released its ranking of the best housing markets by generation in 2022. Austin, Texas, ranks No. 1 for millennials, while Miami is the best market for Gen X and Pittsburgh tops the list for baby boomers. Two markets – Austin and Knoxville, Tenn. – are the only metros to make two lists."Although we do expect the housing market to moderate in 2022, homebuyers will continue to face many of the same challenges they did last year. Rising interest rates will offset any relief buyers get from slowing home price growth. The good news is the rise in remote work has given many people the freedom to rethink where they want to live, opening up options for those willing to explore new cities that offer relative affordability, growing economies and access to the amenities important to them," said Knock Co-Founder and CEO Sean Black.To compile the list of top markets, Knock ranked the nation's 100 largest metropolitan areas based on affordability, the availability of housing stock and key attributes important at each stage of life. The analysis takes into account Knock's 2022 housing forecast which expects the national median sale price to grow 8% to $399,484 year-over-year, homes to sell in an average of 20 days down from 22 in 2021 and months of supply to fall 11% to 2.1, well below the average of four to five months in a balanced market.With six of the top 10 millennial markets located in the South and two each in North Carolina and Texas, the top 10 millennial markets in rank order are: Austin, Texas; Des Moines, Iowa; Charleston, S.C.; San Antonio; Atlanta; Providence, R.I.; St. Louis; Winston-Salem, N.C.; Charlotte, N.C. and Spokane, Wash.More geographically diverse than the best markets for its younger and older counterparts, the top 10 markets for Gen X in rank order are: Miami; Austin, Texas; Knoxville, Tenn.; Portland, Ore.; Boise, Idaho; Omaha, Neb.; Raleigh, N.C.; Phoenix; Salt Lake City and Boston.
Knock Media Release continued in the We Get Around Network Forum (www.WGANForum.com) here:
https://forum.we-get-around.com/topic/16275/page/1/knock-2022-housing-forecast-reveals-the-best-markets-for-each-stage-of-life/

31. Matterport Continues the Global Expansion of its Capture Services On-Demand Online Service to Five Additional Countries

Matterport Continues the Global Expansion of its Capture Services On-Demand Online Service to Five Additional CountriesCompany adds five countries and 21 new cities as businesses worldwide move to adopt Matterport digital twinsSUNNYVALE, Calif., Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Matterport, Inc. (“Matterport”) (Nasdaq: MTTR), the leading spatial data company driving the digital transformation of the built world, today announced a sweeping global expansion of Matterport Capture Services™ On-Demand coverage. As companies pursue a fast, simple, and cost-effective solution to digitize their spaces, Matterport has expanded into five countries, adding 21 new cities with services now available in France, Netherlands, Ireland, Canada, and Singapore. With today’s announcement, Matterport Capture Services is now available in seven countries and 152 cities.Capture Services On-Demand delivers a 3D digital twin of any space, produced by trained and certified Capture Technicians within supported cities. Using Matterport’s Capture app and Pro2 3D camera, spaces are transformed into an immersive, precise 3D digital twin and delivered to the customer to access, manage, and share the space more effectively. These digital twins are changing how buildings are designed, built, promoted, and managed online across a variety of industries, including allowing real estate teams to better optimize the workplace.Canoa, the first scaling platform for sustainable design and deployment of commercial real estate assets, uses Matterport in the retrofit process to survey and document the as-built conditions, traditionally a laborious and error-prone process. With Matterport, Canoa can capture a space and convert it into a digital twin that has accurate spatial data and 3D imagery in 4K resolution. The company then generates accurate floor plans to help them redesign spaces and allocate assets for clients with ease and accuracy.
Matterport Media Release continues in the We Get Around Network Forum (www.WGANForum.com) here: 
https://forum.we-get-around.com/topic/16272/matterport-capture-services-on-demand-5-more-countries21-more-cities/

30. Matterport Delivers 30 Percent Increase in Sales for Allseated Hospitality Clients

Matterport Delivers 30 Percent Increase in Sales for Allseated Hospitality ClientsTogether with Matterport, Allseated is transforming the event planning industry with digital twins and virtual realitySUNNYVALE, Calif., Wednesday, January 19, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Matterport, Inc. (“Matterport”) (Nasdaq: MTTR), the leading spatial data company driving the digital transformation of the built world, is transforming the event planning industry with technology platform partner, Allseated (www.allseated.com). Using Matterport’s digital twins to create its virtual venues, Allseated gives venues a way to showcase their event spaces and book events without the need for onsite meetings. To date, the partnership has driven:1. 30 percent increase in sales for Allseated hospitality clients investing in digital twin-based virtual venue tours and space planning tools.2. 60 percent greater operational efficiency for venues and event professionals who save 2.5 hours in time spent diagramming and managing day-of set up errors. For example, if they normally pay $20 per person per hour on day-of for set up, the time saved using Allseated leads to a savings of $45-50 per person per event, which leads to a savings of at least $6-7K per year.3. More accurate space dimensions and visual details, resulting in fewer event planning mistakes and an optimal experience for event attendeesWhile some events have transitioned back in-person, virtual venue tours have become common during the pandemic. Using Matterport’s Pro2 3D camera, Allseated creates immersive, full-color, high-resolution digital replicas of venues, including spatial data and measurements. Using Matterport APIs and software development kits (SDKs), venues can showcase their events spaces and book events while event professionals can more easily visualize the furnishing, decor, and other logistics in collaboration with vendor teams and clients using a laptop, mobile device or virtual reality (VR) goggles.“With our platform partner, Matterport, event professionals using Allseated can create a comprehensive plan for their clients within a fraction of the time it would usually take,” said Sany Hammer, Co-Founder and Chief Marketing Officer of Allseated. “Event professionals and their clients can remotely design and explore the venue while walking around and making changes in real time. We provide an immersive, visual experience all from the comfort of your couch.”Allseated takes venue digital twins to the next level with its virtual/hybrid event platform EXVO. Equipped with video and livestream technology, attendees will have the ability to navigate around a digital twin-based event and connect with other virtual participants, networking as though they were attending in person.“As the world continues to adapt to a variety of ways to attend events, virtual planning and attendance is very effective and highly efficient,” said Bill Linehan, Global Strategy Lead for Travel and Hospitality at Matterport. “Matterport is well on its way to digitizing the built world so companies can utilize digital twins to be more efficient and productive. We are pleased to support Allseated as they digitally transform the events industry and take it virtual.”Read more about how Allseated uses: Matterport Case Studies. (www.Matterport.com)Matterport Media Release continues in the We Get Around Network Forum (www.WGANForum.com) here:
https://forum.we-get-around.com/topic/16261/matterport-delivers-30-increase-in-sales-for-allseated-hospitality-clients/
 

29. Revolutionizing Real Estate | How Mobile 3D LiDAR will change the Industry

PropTech Consulting Blog ((www.goproptech.com)) (Tuesday, 18 January 2022) Revolutionizing Real Estate: How Mobile 3D LiDAR will change the IndustryThe past few years have been a case study in finding creative solutions for unpredictable situations. The spread of the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted global market conditions for every industry segment. Because of the fundamental need for shelter, employment, manufacturing and storage, the real estate industry has been at the forefront of these changes. The limitations of the pandemic have forced the key players to adapt and rethink their strategy to survive, and hopefully flourish.As an example, a key advancement is the acceleration and implementation of 3D technology for the commercial and residential real-estate sectors. In digital spaces, having access to 3D information enhances decision-making by simulating a panoramic, high-resolution walkthrough and allowing for interactivity.Until recently, the real estate industry was reliant on specialized 3D capture equipment to create interactive maps and develop engaging digital experiences. This was primarily due to the specialized nature of this technology and the skillset required to capture 3D information. Advancements in 3D capture technology are rapidly changing the landscape with accessible 3D capture options.Mobile 3D Scanning3D Scanning has emerged as a transformative force in the real-estate sector with the growth of detection sensors on smartphones. A key step in this growth has been the introduction of the LiDAR sensors in Apple devices. Operating at nano-second speeds, LiDAR is a pulsed laser that generates a 3D model with greater accuracy than just a simple camera. Now a standard feature in iPhone Pro and iPad devices, the inclusion of the sensor paves the way for improved 3D capture for users.Before exploring the possibilities offered by smartphone 3D capture tools, let’s evaluate the existing 3D scanning tools available on the market.
Continues on the We Get Around Network Forum (www.WGANForum.com) here:
https://forum.we-get-around.com/topic/16253/page/1/revolutionizing-real-estate--how-mobile-3d-lidar-will--change-the-industry/

28. Redfin Survey: 1 in 10 Homebuyers and Sellers Say Climate Risk is Main Reason For Move

Redfin Survey: 1 in 10 Homebuyers and Sellers Say Climate Risk is Main Reason For MoveRoughly half have spent at least $1,000 to protect their homes against risks related to climate change, like wildfires and floodingSEATTLE --(Wednesday, 19 January 2022 | BUSINESS WIRE) -- (NASDAQ: RDFN) — One in 10 homebuyers and sellers say climate-related risks—hurricanes, flooding, wildfires, extreme temperatures and/or rising sea levels—are the primary reason for their move, according to a new report from Redfin (www.redfin.com), the technology-powered real estate brokerage. Thirty-nine percent say these risks are contributing factors for their move.“As natural disasters become more unavoidable, climate change is top of mind for homeowners in a way it wasn’t 10 years ago or even two years ago,” said Redfin Chief Economist Daryl Fairweather. “Moving to homes in neighborhoods with lower risk and away from places with higher risk is a trend that will pick up speed in the next decade as people feel the impact of disasters like fires, floods and extreme heat both financially and emotionally. It’s expensive to protect your home or to fix water or fire damage, and many homeowners in high-risk areas like parts of California and coastal Texas are exhausted from worrying about the next wildfire or hurricane.”Natural disasters and other weather-related events like extreme heat and cold have steadily increased over the last several decades, and 2021 was no exception. The national focus on climate change and natural disasters has made it difficult for many homebuyers and homeowners to ignore the risks associated with certain areas.Still, affordability can outweigh climate risks for people who are relocating. U.S. counties that are prone to natural disasters gained residents from 2016 to 2020, while counties with relatively low risk lost residents, according to an August Redfin analysis. That’s in part because many places with high climate risk are relatively affordable, with lower property taxes and more housing options.Move-up homebuyers are more likely to factor in climate risksWhen the responses are divided between first-time homebuyers (people who are only buying a home) and move-up buyers (people who are selling a home and buying a new one), move-up buyers are twice as likely to cite climate risks as the primary reason for their move.“It only takes one flooded basement or leaky roof for a homeowner to realize they never want to deal with that again,” Fairweather said. “People don’t realize how costly it is to maintain a home, especially one that’s located in an area prone to natural disasters, until they experience it for themselves. Homeowners are more likely to factor those high costs into their moving decisions. First-time buyers should look out for costly projects like leaky roofs before purchasing a home, and they should also look for climate-friendly improvements that will provide a good return on investment, like swapping out grass for drought-tolerant landscaping.”More than half of homebuyers and sellers have spent at least $1,000 to protect their home against natural disastersFifty-two percent of respondents have invested money to make their home more resilient to climate risks and natural disasters including hurricanes, tornadoes, flooding, rising sea levels, extreme temperatures, wildfires, droughts and/or earthquakes.Seventeen percent of respondents have invested between $5,000 and $10,000 to protect their homes, and another 16% have invested between $10,000 and $20,000.Local governments are also grappling with rising expenses due to climate change, Fairweather said. “As more homes get damaged by natural disasters, it’s becoming increasingly important for municipalities to invest in protecting against climate change,” she said. “Cities will need to reevaluate their zoning guidelines and build more housing in non-disaster-prone areas.”To read the full report, including charts, please visit Redfin Data Center.About RedfinRedfin (www.redfin.com) is a technology-powered real estate company. We help people find a place to live with brokerage, instant home-buying (iBuying), rentals, lending, title insurance, and renovations services. We sell homes for more money and charge half the fee. We also run the country's #1 real-estate brokerage site. Our home-buying customers see homes first with on-demand tours, and our lending and title services help them close quickly. Customers selling a home can take an instant cash offer from Redfin or have our renovations crew fix up their home to sell for top dollar. Our rentals business empowers millions nationwide to find apartments and houses for rent. Since launching in 2006, we've saved customers more than $1 billion in commissions. We serve more than 100 markets across the U.S. and Canada and employ over 6,000 people.For more information or to contact a local Redfin real estate agent, visit www.redfin.com. To learn about housing market trends and download data, visit the Redfin Data Center.Source: Redfin via Business Wire

27. Redfin Reports 3 in 5 Home-Offers Faced Bidding Wars in December, Even Amid Holiday Slowdown | #Matterport

Redfin Reports 3 in 5 Home Offers Faced Bidding Wars in December, Even Amid Holiday SlowdownMany homebuyers are writing upwards of five offers before finding success as remote work, an ongoing housing shortage and low mortgage rates fuel bidding warsSEATTLE--January 18, 2022--(BUSINESS WIRE)--(NASDAQ: RDFN) —Nationwide, 59.6% of home offers written by Redfin agents faced bidding wars in December 2021, according to a new report from Redfin (www.redfin.com), the technology-powered real estate brokerage. That’s the lowest share in 12 months and down from a revised rate of 61.3% in November, but up from 54% in December 2020.Competition has dipped in recent months partly because the housing market typically slows in the winter, with many buyers and sellers taking a break during the holidays. But while the bidding-war rate has fallen from its pandemic peak of 74.6% in April 2021, the housing market remains quite competitive as house hunters grapple with a record shortage of homes for sale.“Buyers should anticipate that they may not win a house until their sixth or seventh bid. If you’re the type of person who falls in love with a house, this is not your market,” said Candace Evans, a Redfin team manager in New York. “If you show a house to 10 buyers, you’ll probably get eight offers. An agent on my team just put a home in the Bronx on the market and started receiving offers even though there hadn't been a single open house or tour yet. The house ultimately received over 10 offers and went for well above the asking price.”The housing market has been remarkably hot during the pandemic as low mortgage rates and remote work have encouraged Americans to move and buy homes. More than half of Redfin offers have faced bidding wars since May 2020. But with rising mortgage rates now making the homebuying process more expensive, some buyers may no longer be able to stretch their budgets in order to write offers competitive enough to win.Pricey Homes Are Most Likely to Face Bidding WarsNearly two-thirds (64.6%) of offers for homes priced between $800,000 and $1 million faced bidding wars in December, the highest share of any price bucket. Next came homes in the $1 million to $1.5 million range (62%), followed by homes priced over $1.5 million (61.7%). Vacation homes, which are often pricey, have become increasingly popular during the pandemic—one possible explanation for elevated competition in the high-end market.The lower price buckets were competitive as well, with more than 55% of offers for homes priced between $200,000 and $800,000 facing bidding wars.Townhouses were the most competitive property type, with 62% of offers facing competition, followed by single-family homes, at 61.3%. Next came multi-family (54.7%) and condos (53.3%). Many house hunters are likely eyeing townhouses after being priced out of the market for single-family homes.Salt Lake City and Tucson Have the Highest Bidding-War RatesSalt Lake City had the highest bidding-war rate of the 37 U.S. metropolitan areas in this analysis, with 74% of offers written by Redfin agents facing competition in December. Next came Tucson, AZ at 73.1% and San Diego, CA at 71.1%. Virginia Beach, VA and Seattle, WA rounded out the top five, with bidding-war rates of 70.6% and 70%, respectively.Metros must have had at least 20 offers recorded by Redfin agents in both December 2021 and November 2021 to be included in this analysis.“I’ve been working with two clients since October and finally got them under contract after they lost out on seven other homes,” said Jennifer Ciacci, a Redfin agent in Portland, OR, where the bidding-war rate was 65.1% last month. “I haven’t seen inventory this low since I started in real estate. Buying a home today is emotionally exhausting, but house hunters aren’t giving up. I’m seeing buyers jump in and write a few offers, lose bidding wars and then retreat for a bit. But they usually end up coming back once they’ve had a chance to lick their wounds.”Ciacci continued: “I tell my buyers not to compromise everything by giving up all the contingencies and safe-guards that are in place to protect them. They need to be aggressive in order to win, but shouldn’t put their family’s financial health in jeopardy by doing things like blindly waiving inspections altogether.”To view the full report, including charts and methodology, please visit: Redfin Data CenterAbout RedfinRedfin (www.redfin.com) is a technology-powered real estate company. We help people find a place to live with brokerage, instant home-buying (iBuying), rentals, lending, title insurance, and renovations services. We sell homes for more money and charge half the fee. We also run the country’s #1 real-estate brokerage site. Our home-buying customers see homes first with on-demand tours, and our lending and title services help them close quickly. Customers selling a home can take an instant cash offer from Redfin or have our renovations crew fix up their home to sell for top dollar. Our rentals business empowers millions nationwide to find apartments and houses for rent. Since launching in 2006, we’ve saved customers more than $1 billion in commissions. We serve more than 100 markets across the U.S. and Canada and employ over 6,000 people.For more information or to contact a local Redfin real estate agent, visit www.redfin.com. To learn about housing market trends and download data, visit the Redfin Data Center.Source: Redfin via Business Wire

26. Matterport, Inc. Announces Completion of Redemption of Public Warrants

Matterport, Inc. Announces Completion of Redemption of Public WarrantsSUNNYVALE, Calif., Jan. 18, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Matterport, Inc. (“Matterport” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: MTTR), the leading spatial data company driving the digital transformation of the built world, today announced the results of its previously announced redemption of all of its outstanding publicly held warrants (“Public Warrants”) to purchase shares of the Company’s Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“Common Stock”).Between December 15, 2021, the date on which the Company announced the redemption of all of its outstanding Public Warrants, and January 14, 2022 (the “Redemption Date”), approximately 9.1 million shares of Common Stock have been issued upon the exercise of Public Warrants by the holders thereof at an exercise price of $11.50 per share, resulting in aggregate proceeds to Matterport of approximately $104.3 million. All unexercised and outstanding Public Warrants as of 5:00 p.m. New York City time on the Redemption Date were redeemed at a price of $0.01 per Public Warrant and, as a result, no Public Warrants currently remain outstanding and the Public Warrants have ceased trading on the New York Stock Exchange. Warrants to purchase Common Stock that were issued under the Warrant Agreement in a private placement simultaneously with the Company’s initial public offering and that are still held by the initial holders thereof or their permitted transferees were not subject to this redemption and remain outstanding.“We are pleased to announce that we have raised a total of $104.3 million through exercises of public warrants in connection with the redemption process,” said JD Fay, Chief Financial Officer of Matterport. “We also saw private warrants exercised during this period, leaving just 1.7 million in total outstanding warrants. The combined redemption and exercises also simplify our capital structure.”About Matterport, Inc.Matterport, Inc. (Nasdaq: MTTR) is leading the digital transformation of the built world. Our groundbreaking spatial data platform turns buildings into data to make nearly every space more valuable and accessible. Millions of buildings in more than 194 countries have been transformed into immersive Matterport digital twins to improve every part of the building lifecycle from planning, construction, and operations to documentation, appraisal and marketing. Learn more at matterport.com and browse a gallery of digital twins.©2021 Matterport, Inc. All rights reserved. Matterport is a registered trademark and the Matterport logo is a trademark of Matterport, Inc. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.Source: Matterport

25. WGAN-TV | Make Potential Virtual Tour Competition Irrelevant with Mashups

Are you experiencing a race-to-the-bottom in pricing in your market?Make potential virtual tour competitors irrelevant with mashups (example above).If a potential client says - "I want a virtual tour like that!" - it's likely that few virtual tour photographers would know how to do this mash-up (or lack the gear and software) that uses:1. ThreeSixty Tours for aerial hero image with 3D and 360 location pins2. Matterport - Look for 3D location pins3. Leica BLK360 - Outdoor scanning of a golf course4. Labpano Pilot Era - for individual 360 photo spheresThe creator of the virtual tour above is: Brisbane, Australia-based Wingman Media Brisbane (@Wingman) Owner Mike Lysov.Mike will be my guest on WGAN-TV Live at 5 on Thursday, 13 January 2022:✓ WGAN-TV: How to Make Potential Virtual Tour Competition Irrelevant with MashupsDemo and discussion will include:1. Demo This Tour - including pointing out which gear and software was used to create each feature2. Behind-the-Scenes Tour - show the how - backend - of ThreeSixty.Tours hosting platform for this tour3. Discuss how this virtual tour helps make potential virtual tour competitors irrelevant with mashupsWith so many 3rd party tools and solutions for virtual tour photographers, it's likely that you can mash-up services – and gear - to create an offering that makes your potential competitors irrelevant.Special Offer for We Get Around Network Standard Members✓ Free use of ThreeSixty Tours (Whitelabel Pro 5 Domain Subscription) as long as you are a Standard Member (Saves $19.99 monthly) | Highlights of WGAN Standard Membership Benefits | Join WGAN Standard MemberQuestions I should ask Mike on this episode of WGAN-TV Live at 5?WGAN Forum Related Discussions✓ How to Make Money with ThreeSixty Tours; Making Your Competition Irrelevant✓ WGAN-TV Live at 5: How to Make Your Matterport Competition Irrelevant✓ Blue Ocean: Make the Competition Irrelevant✓ Transcript: WGAN-TV Intro to 3DVista Virtual Tour Pro Software for MSPsHappy New Year,DanP.S. The top-of-the-line ThreeSixty Tours Whitelabel Pro Domain 5 Plan includes:✓ Responsive viewer embed✓ Social Sharing with Facebook, Twitter and Google+✓ Unlimited Panoramas✓ Unlimited Tours✓ Panorama Branding✓ Tour Branding✓ MLS friendly (no branding option)✓ Option to override branding settings on a per-panorama and per-tour basis✓ CSV Data Import/Export✓ 5 Custom Domain Names (White Label)✓ Seamless integration with WP3D Models Wordpress Plugin (Model Base: ThreeSixty Tours)
Transcript
https://forum.we-get-around.com/topic/16228/page/1/transcript-make-potential-virtual-tour-competition-irrelevant-with-mashups/

24. Active listings Fell 28% Year-Over-Year: Homes Sold in a Medium of 27 Days

Active listings Fell 28% Year-Over-Year: 39% of Pending Sales Under Contract Within Two WeeksHome Prices Start New Year at New HighJanuary is shaping up to be the most competitive month in housing historySEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--(NASDAQ: RDFN) — The median home sale price surged 16% year over year to an all-time high of $365,000 during the week ending January 9, according to a new report from Redfin (www.redfin.com), the technology-powered real estate brokerage.Prices keep climbing because the supply drought keeps deepening while demand increases. The number of homes for sale fell to a new low as listings hit the market at a slower rate than they did early last year. Yet homebuyer activity—as measured by the Redfin Homebuyer Demand Index—jumped 9%. Mortgage rates rose to 3.45% during the seven days ending January 13, making homebuying more expensive as overall inflation hit a 40-year high.“The stage is now set for the most competitive January housing market in recorded history,” said Redfin Chief Economist Daryl Fairweather. “Buyers are pouring into the market to claim a home before mortgage rates rise further as new listings slow to a trickle. The conditions are becoming increasingly challenging for first-time homebuyers, who will have to compete against more experienced buyers who are willing to do whatever it takes to win. But I expect that by the time mortgage rates increase to 3.6%, competition will settle down quickly to levels similar to late-2018.”“Homebuyers are touring nearly every home that comes on the market, waiving every contingency, offering $100,000 over asking price, and still losing out to 9+ other offers,” said Portland Redfin real estate agent Jennifer Ciacci. “As competitive as the market is right now, I advise buyers not to write an offer on a home they don’t really like. The home needs to work for what they want and need, and if it checks off those boxes, that's when you go all-in and take your best shot. But protect your heart; this isn't an easy market."Key housing market takeaways for 400+ U.S. metro areas:Unless otherwise noted, this data covers the four-week period ending January 9. Redfin’s housing market data goes back through 2012.1. The median home-sale price increased 14% year over year to $358,801. For the seven-day period ending January 9, the median price hit $365,000, up 16% from a year earlier and an all-time high.2. The median asking price of newly listed homes increased 12% year over year to $344,190.3. Pending home sales were up 2.5% year over year.4. New listings of homes for sale were down 11% from a year earlier.5. Active listings (the number of homes listed for sale at any point during the period) fell 28% year over year, dropping to an all-time low of 461,000.6. The share of homes that went under contract that had an accepted offer within the first two weeks on the market was 39%, above the 34% rate of a year earlier.7. 29% of homes that went under contract had an accepted offer within one week of hitting the market, up from 25% during the same period a year earlier.8. Homes that sold were on the market for a median of 27 days, down from 35 days a year earlier.41% of homes sold above list price, up from 33% a year earlier.9. On average, 2.4% of homes for sale each week had a price drop, up 0.4 percentage points from the same time in 2021.10. The average sale-to-list price ratio, which measures how close homes are selling to their asking prices, was 100.3%. In other words, the average home sold for 0.3% above its asking price.Other leading indicators of homebuying activity:1. Mortgage purchase applications increased 2% week over week (seasonally adjusted) during the week ending December 31. For the week ending January 13, 30-year mortgage rates rose to 3.45%, the highest level since March 2020.2. The Redfin Homebuyer Demand Index rose 9% during the week ending January 9 and was up 22% from a year earlier.To view the full report, including charts and methodology, please visit: Redfin Data CenterFor more information or to contact a local Redfin real estate agent, visit www.redfin.com. To learn about housing market trends and download data, visit the Redfin Data Center.Source: Redfin via Business Wire

23. Matterport Appoints Rob Hines as Managing Director to Drive Growth in the Americas

Matterport Appoints Rob Hines as Managing Director to Drive Growth in the AmericasVeteran sales executive from Oracle and salesforce.com to lead company’s sales to accelerate new business growth in the regionSUNNYVALE, Calif., Jan. 11, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Matterport, Inc. (Nasdaq: MTTR), the leading spatial data company driving the digital transformation of the built world, today announced that Rob Hines has joined the company as Managing Director, Americas. Hines will oversee sales efforts across the region, including new business and revenue growth, people management and the execution of Matterport’s strategic vision.“As we continue to innovate and expand Matterport’s products and services, it’s important that we have the right leaders in all of our high-growth markets to support our vision and capture the enormous addressable market,” said Jay Remley, Chief Revenue Officer of Matterport. “Rob’s extensive background in leading sales teams, bringing technology products and services to market, and driving customer acquisition will be instrumental in helping us achieve our ambitious growth targets.”Hines joins Matterport from Block.one, a leader in blockchain solutions, where he held the position of Chief Revenue Officer, leading the company’s Blockchain as a Service (BaaS) solution launch and exceeding revenue targets. Prior to Block.one, Hines led large sales teams while holding leadership positions at Oracle and salesforce.com. He has more than 20 years of experience in the technology industry with a focus on marketing and selling SaaS-based applications and data solutions.“Matterport is the clear market leader in the digitization and datafication of the built world with innovative technology powering its products and services, and an endless amount of use cases for its technology,” said Hines. “I’m thrilled to join the Matterport team and look forward to driving growth across all markets and showing customers how our spatial data can create new value for every physical space in the built world.”
More Here
Matterport Appoints Rob Hines as Managing Director, Americas
https://forum.we-get-around.com/topic/16209/matterport-appoints-rob-hines-as-managing-director-americas/

22. Matterport Live Guided Tour (Video Chat) powered by Nodalview

Video
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New! Nodalview enables live guided tours (video chat) within Matterport digital twins (in addition to live guided tours (video chat) within Nodalview 360 virtual tours.On Thursday, 6 January 2021, Brussels, Belgium based Nodalview Co-Founder and CEO Thomas Lepelaars will be my guest for:✓ WGAN-TV | Matterport Live Guided Tour (Video Chat) powered by NodalviewThomas will do a live guide tour demo within a Matterport digital twin and talk about the features and benefits of its new partnership with Matterport that enables live guided tours (video chat) with a Matterport digital twin.Questions That I Will Ask Thomas on WGAN-TV Live at 5Here are some of the questions that I anticipate asking Thomas about the Matterport live guided virtual tour powered by Nodalview:✓ What is a live guided virtual tour?✓ What are the advantages of a live guided virtual tour?✓ Do properties sell faster and at a higher price with the guided virtual tour?✓ Will live guided virtual tours help real estate agents win more and bigger listings?✓ What's the difference between a virtual tour and a guided virtual tour?✓ Is a guided virtual tour like an in-person tour?✓ When should a real estate agent offer a guided virtual tour?✓ Do visitors have to be together behind the same device to visit the property at the same time?✓ Is it possible to show another property during the guided virtual tour?✓ Is it possible to visit a property remotely from a smartphone?✓ Does a guided virtual tour help grow a real estate photographer's business?✓ Pricing?What questions that I should ask Thomas when he is my guest on WGAN-TV Live at 5?Recent Nodalview Media Coverage and Media Release✓ Nodalview Media Release (9 December 2021) Nodalview Offers Vide-Enabled Live Guided Tours/Lead Generation within Matterport Digital Twins✓ Archyworldys (27 October 2021) How Nodalview wants to transform real estate professionals into connected agentsAbout Nodalview (Info Provided by Nodalview)“Nodalview is a powerful sales and marketing platform built for the real estate industry. By leveraging high quality visual assets and immersive content, real estate agents can build winning sales strategies to better attract, engage and qualify potential customers while delivering a modern online buying experience.With Nodalview, agents can grow their online presence, close deals faster with tangible data insights and match the right buyers with the right home.At Nodalview, we believe in the modernization of the real estate industry through cutting edge technology and a customer-centric experience that helps agents sell faster and in a more effective way, while keeping a strong human-first approach.Nodalview supports over 10,000 real estate agents in 30 different countries with an international footprint counting 80+ employees from 10 different nationalities. Nodalview is backed by premium investors from Ghent, London and Madrid.WGAN Forum Related Discussions✓ WGAN Forum posts tagged: NodalviewBest,DanNodalview Links✓ Nodalview website✓ Matterport live guided tour powered by Nodalview✓ Nodalview live guided tour powered by Nodalview✓ Matterport Live Guided Tour (Video Chat) powered by Nodalview Media Release✓ LinkedIn: Thomas Lepelaars✓ Facebook: Nodalview✓ Instagram: nodalview✓ Try Nodalview 14-Day Free Trial✓ Book a free Nodalview Demo
 

21. Realtor.com Forecasts the Best Markets for First-Time Homebuyers in 2022

Realtor.com® Forecasts the Best Markets for First-Time Homebuyers in 2022Struggling to buy your first home? Try Magna, Utah; Chalco, Neb. or Mauldin, S.C., where young homebuyers have a better shot at successSANTA CLARA, Calif., Jan. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- With 2022 shaping up to be another challenging year for hopeful homebuyers, Realtor.com® ran the numbers to find the best markets for people looking to buy their first home this year. The first annual Best Markets for First-Time Homebuyers Report predicts the cities and towns with the best combination of quality of life and affordability that young homebuyers are looking for.What is it that makes these markets great for first-time homebuyers? They have strong job markets, short commute times, plenty of places to eat and drink, a younger population, affordability, and more homes to choose from. The 2022 top 10 markets, in ranked order, are: Magna, Utah, Chalco, Neb., Mauldin, S. C., Beech Grove, Ind., Portsmouth, Va., Cottage Grove, Wis., Grimes, Iowa, Kuna, Idaho, Ferndale, Mich. and Maitland, Fla."Buying a first-home is always a challenging undertaking, and it's been an especially tough couple years for first-time buyers, many of whom are struggling to find a home that's within their budget or win in a competitive bidding situation," said Realtor.com® Chief Economist Danielle Hale. "With this in mind, and the fact that remote work has given people more flexibility in where they live, we wanted to identify markets where first timers have a chance to become homeowners and find a great quality of life."Here are some of the reasons these markets are attractive to first-time homebuyers:1. More homes to choose from – The best markets boast almost twice the number of homes for sale than the national average, in 2021 these markets had 72.9 active listings per 1,000 households compared to the national rate of 44.9. Buyers looking for lots of options should check out Kuna, Idaho, which has the most choice on the list with 160 active listings per 1,000 households.2. Lots of young people – The 10 best markets for first-time homebuyers all have a younger population than the country overall. Specifically, these areas have an average of 15.2% of residents who are between the ages of 25-34 years old compared to 13.5% of the country overall. The youngest city on the list is Maitland, Fla. where you'll find that 17.5% of the population are young adults.3. Plenty to eat and drink – Lifestyle is important to a lot of first-time homebuyers and the best markets also include plenty of options for a night out on the town nearby. Our top places for first time homebuyers are located in metros that have an average of 5.3 food and drink establishments per 1,000 households in the broader metro area, higher than other affordable places on our list, which average 5.0. Foodies can head to Magna in the Salt Lake City metro area, which has the most spots to dine out or grab a drink at 5.8 per 1,000 households.4. More affordable homes – Sticking to a budget can be tricky for many first-time homebuyers, but the best markets have options for the cost-conscious. By comparing the typical home list price to the average income for young adults, Realtor.com® determined that the home-price-to-income ratio in the best markets (3.9) was much lower than the national rate (5.0). Home shoppers who are looking for affordability can head to Chalco, Neb. or Ferndale, Mich., which offer the most affordability on the list.5. Lots of good jobs – A healthy job market is important when finding a place to settle down, and the best markets are in metro areas that have lots of jobs to offer. These metro areas have a forecasted unemployment rate of just 2.7%, well below the national average of 3.6%. If job selection is at the top of the wish-list, buyers can check out Chalco, Neb. in the Omaha metro area and Cottage Grove, Wis. in the Madison metro area which both have a forecasted unemployment rate of just 2.2%.6. Strong local housing markets – All of the cities on the list are located within metro areas that are forecasted to have strong home sales and price growth. Sales in these surrounding metro areas are projected to grow at 10.2% in 2022, much faster than the national average of 6.6%. Prices are expected to rise by 5.4%, which is significantly higher than the national average rate of 2.9%. Magna, Utah, which is in the Salt Lake City metro, has the highest expected sales growth rate of 15.2% and the highest expected price growth of 8.5%.7. Shorter commutes – No one wants to spend hours a day in the car or on a train, and the best markets offer jobs that are close to home. In fact, the average commute time in these markets is 26 minutes – that's 4 minutes faster than the national average. If you're looking for a short commute, try Grimes, Iowa, where locals typically get to work in just 23 minutes.First-time homebuyers can visit Realtor.com® to learn more about the buying process, find out how much they can afford, and even get connected to a lender to get pre-approved for a mortgage. And to stay competitive in this fast-moving market, shoppers can set a price alert so they know as soon as a home that fits their wish list hits the market and use Realtor.com®'s collaborate and share features to quickly get feedback from friends and family.
Media Release Continues Here
Realtor.com Forecasts the Best Markets for First-Time Homebuyers in 2022https://forum.we-get-around.com/topic/16199/page/1/realtorcom-forecasts-the-best-markets-for-first-time-homebuyers-in-2022/

20. 12% of 1st-Time Homebuyers Say Selling Crypto Helped Save for Down Payment

12% of First-Time Homebuyers Say Selling Crypto Helped Save for Down Payment, Up From 5% in 2019Digital currencies are becoming an increasingly common payment method as millennials rush the housing marketSEATTLE--(January 7, 2022 via BUSINESS WIRE)-- (NASDAQ: RDFN) — One in nine first-time homebuyers (11.6%) surveyed in the fourth quarter said selling cryptocurrency had helped them save for a down payment, according to a new report from Redfin (www.redfin.com), the technology-powered real estate brokerage. This is up from 8.8% in the third quarter of 2020 and 4.6% in the third quarter of 2019.“With extra time and a lack of exciting ways to spend money, many people began trading cryptocurrencies during the pandemic,” said Redfin Chief Economist Daryl Fairweather. “Some of those investments went up in smoke, but others went ‘to the moon,' or at least rose enough to help fund a down payment on a home.”The report is based on a Redfin-commissioned survey of 1,500 U.S. residents planning to buy or sell a home in the next 12 months, which was fielded to a representative sample of the American population and conducted by research technology company Lucid from December 10 to December 13, 2021.The report focuses on the 215 of those 1,500 respondents who answered the question “How did you accumulate the money you need for a down payment?” which Redfin only posed to participants who indicated they were planning to buy their first home in the next year. The most common response was “saved directly from paychecks” (52%), while less common answers included “cash gift from family” (12%) and “pulled money out of a retirement fund early” (10%).Bitcoin, the world’s largest digital currency, hit a record high of nearly $69,000 in November. Ether, the second most valuable cryptocurrency, also reached an all-time high, though both coins have since lost some of those gains. With surging home prices leading to larger down payments, some buyers are finding non-traditional ways to cover the cost and compete with other bidders.“Crypto is one way for people without generational wealth to win a lottery ticket to the middle class,” Fairweather said.Digital currencies are also likely on the rise as a payment method among homebuyers because millennials and Generation Z are taking up an increasing share of the U.S. housing market. Millennials, who own more cryptocurrency than other generations, now account for more than half of new mortgages.To view the full report, including charts and methodology, please visit Redfin Data Center.About RedfinRedfin (www.redfin.com) is a technology-powered real estate company. We help people find a place to live with brokerage, instant home-buying (iBuying), rentals, lending, title insurance, and renovations services. We sell homes for more money and charge half the fee. We also run the country's #1 real-estate brokerage site. Our home-buying customers see homes first with on-demand tours, and our lending and title services help them close quickly. Customers selling a home can take an instant cash offer from Redfin or have our renovations crew fix up their home to sell for top dollar. Our rentals business empowers millions nationwide to find apartments and houses for rent. Since launching in 2006, we've saved customers more than $1 billion in commissions. We serve more than 100 markets across the U.S. and Canada and employ over 6,000 people.For more information or to contact a local Redfin real estate agent, visit www.redfin.com. To learn about housing market trends and download data, visit the Redfin Data Center.Source: Redfin Via Business Wire

19. 3i Wins CES 2022 Innovation Award with Pivo Pod X (for Pivo Real Estate)

3i Wins CES 2022 Innovation Award with Pivo Pod X (for Pivo Real Estate)Seoul--(Newswire) January 6, 2022 -- 3i (3i, CEOs Ken Kim, Jiwuck Jung), a metaverse technology company including artificial intelligence (AI), augmented reality (AR), and virtual reality (VR) says it won the Innovation Award at the 2022 Consumer Electronics Show (CES), the largest information technology (IT) and home appliance exhibition.According to 3i, the product that won the Innovation Award is its Pivo Pod X (for Pivo Real Estate virtual tours); which is being unveiled at a CES event ahead of its launch in the first half of this year. 3i is focusing on promoting its product power by participating in the event as a direct exhibitor in the metaverse field and demonstrating it to buyers, media and consumers around the world.Pivo Pod X, a new model with auto-tracking function based on artificial intelligence, can move in both horizontal and vertical axes, so it supports up to 60° vertical movement and 360° horizontal movement when shooting video with a smartphone.In addition, it is an optimal creator solution that can create various contents using dedicated applications (such as Pivo Real Estate virtual tours). It helps to create a higher level of content by filming a more dynamic range of activities. In addition, the user's experience has been improved with the battery life maintained for 24 hours.3i composes a variety of Pivo product lineups, including Pivo Pod X, depending on the user's purpose. With the auto-tracking function, AI tracks the movements of people, animals, and objects to provide a service optimized for shooting exercise-related videos or presentation videos. In addition, the desired space can be created as a Pivo Real Estate 3D virtual tours through Pivo Tour iOS and Android App, making the space more lively.3i, which is developing technology and expanding its business through success in attracting an investment of [$23.2 million] in 2021, has been used by 100 creators selected by the LinkedIn 2022 Creator Accelerator Program, the world's largest business-specialized social media, following receiving this Innovation Award. The market awareness is increasing, with Pivo being selected as the product they want to make.3i CEO Ken Kim said, “I am delighted that Pivo’s technology has been recognized by winning the CES Innovation Award.3i OverviewFounded in 2016, 3I is a platform business that connects Pivo’s Smart Pod hardware and applications as its main business. Beamo is also a 3i brand. In particular, it has related technologies such as AI so that anyone can easily and better use the real world experience in the digital world by using the leading technology to capture, share, and collaborate with real content and information in the digital space. Website: 3i | Pivo Real EstateSource: 3i via NewsWire | @PivoRealEstate

18. Redfin | Active Residential Real Estate Listings Down 27% from a Year Earlier | #Matterport

Redfin Reports Homebuyers Face Record Supply Shortage Heading into 2022Home prices were up 14% and pending sales rose 4% from a year earlier despite a record low number of homes for saleSEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE / January 6, 2022)--(NASDAQ: RDFN) — The housing market started off the new year with fewer homes for sale than ever before as active listings fell 27% from a year earlier, according to a new report from Redfin (www.redfin.com), the technology-powered real estate brokerage.The number of newly-listed homes for sale fell 10%, but anecdotes from Redfin agents suggest that listings may soon begin to pick up.“We’re kicking off yet another year with a whole lot of buyers whose home search has been ongoing for months, and they are as eager as ever,” said Redfin Chief Economist Daryl Fairweather. “This month, the stage will be set for the 2022 housing market, and we’ll be closely watching whether prices climb like they usually do in January or whether they start off high and stagnate. We’re also keeping a close eye on new listings. I’ve already been hearing from Redfin agents in extremely supply-constrained markets like Austin that they are getting more interest than usual from homeowners about selling early this year. A lot of these people spent the last couple months getting their homes spruced up and ready to list. This gives me hope that more sellers will be motivated to take action now that the new year has arrived.”Key housing market takeaways for 400+ U.S. metro areas:Unless otherwise noted, this data covers the four-week period ending January 2. Redfin’s housing market data goes back through 2012.1. The median home-sale price increased 14% year over year to $358,460, just shy of an all-time high.2. The median asking price of newly listed homes increased 12% year over year to $341,200.3. Pending home sales were up 3.5% year over year.4. New listings of homes for sale were down 10% from a year earlier.5. Active listings (the number of homes listed for sale at any point during the period) fell 27% year over year, dropping below $500,000 for the first time to an all-time low of $482,000.6. The share of homes that went under contract that had an accepted offer within the first two weeks on the market was 40%, above the 35% rate of a year earlier.7. 29% of homes that went under contract had an accepted offer within one week of hitting the market, up from 25% during the same period a year earlier.8. Homes that sold were on the market for a median of 27 days, down from 34 days a year earlier.9. 41% of homes sold above list price, up from 33% a year earlier.10. On average, 2.4% of homes for sale each week had a price drop, up 0.5 percentage points from the same time in 2021.11. The average sale-to-list price ratio, which measures how close homes are selling to their asking prices, was 100.3%. In other words, the average home sold for 0.3% above its asking price.Other leading indicators of homebuying activity:1. Mortgage purchase applications decreased 4% week over week (seasonally adjusted) during the week ending December 31. For the week ending December 30, 30-year mortgage rates inched up to 3.11%.2. The Redfin Homebuyer Demand Index rose 7% during the week ending January 2 and was up 18% from a year earlier.To view the full report, including charts and methodology, please visit Redfin Data Center.About RedfinRedfin (www.redfin.com) is a technology-powered real estate company. We help people find a place to live with brokerage, instant home-buying (iBuying), rentals, lending, title insurance, and renovations services. We sell homes for more money and charge half the fee. We also run the country's #1 real-estate brokerage site. Our home-buying customers see homes first with on-demand tours, and our lending and title services help them close quickly. Customers selling a home can take an instant cash offer from Redfin or have our renovations crew fix up their home to sell for top dollar. Our rentals business empowers millions nationwide to find apartments and houses for rent. Since launching in 2006, we've saved customers more than $1 billion in commissions. We serve more than 100 markets across the U.S. and Canada and employ over 6,000 people.For more information or to contact a local Redfin real estate agent, visit www.redfin.com. To learn about housing market trends and download data, visit the Redfin Data Center.Source: Redfin via BusinessWire

17. Redfin: Demand for Vacation Homes Up 77% From Pre-Pandemic in December 2022

Redfin: Demand for Vacation Homes Up 77% From Pre-Pandemic in December 2022While demand for second homes fell just slightly last month, affluent buyers continued to take advantage of remote work and low mortgage ratesSEATTLE--(January 6, 2022; BUSINESS WIRE)-- (NASDAQ: RDFN) —Demand for vacation homes was up 77% from pre-pandemic levels in December, according to a new report from Redfin (www.redfin.com), the technology-powered real estate brokerage. This is slightly below the 80% increase in November and the record 92% gain in January, but up significantly from the 2021 low hit in August.Interest in second homes started to surge in mid-2020 as affluent Americans dispatched to vacation destinations, taking advantage of low mortgage rates and remote work. The slight slowdown in mortgage-rate locks from November to December is likely an effect of the holiday season and not indicative of dampening demand.“The wealthy are still flush with cash and have access to cheap debt, which is why second home purchases remain far above pre-pandemic levels,” said Redfin Chief Economist Daryl Fairweather. “While interest in second homes is stabilizing after the big boom in the second half of 2020 and the beginning of 2021, I expect demand to remain high well into this year. Remote work isn’t going anywhere and mortgage rates are still quite low.”Redfin’s report is based on an analysis of mortgage-rate lock data from real estate analytics firm Optimal Blue. A mortgage-rate lock is an agreement between a homebuyer and a lender that allows the homebuyer to lock in an interest rate on a mortgage for a certain period of time, offering protection against future interest-rate hikes. Homebuyers must specify whether they are applying to secure a mortgage rate for a primary home, a second home or an investment property. Roughly 80% of mortgage-rate locks result in actual home purchases.To view the full report, including charts and methodology, please visit Redfin Data Center.About RedfinRedfin (www.redfin.com) is a technology-powered real estate company. We help people find a place to live with brokerage, instant home-buying (iBuying), rentals, lending, title insurance, and renovations services. We sell homes for more money and charge half the fee. We also run the country's #1 real-estate brokerage site. Our home-buying customers see homes first with on-demand tours, and our lending and title services help them close quickly. Customers selling a home can take an instant cash offer from Redfin or have our renovations crew fix up their home to sell for top dollar. Our rentals business empowers millions nationwide to find apartments and houses for rent. Since launching in 2006, we've saved customers more than $1 billion in commissions. We serve more than 100 markets across the U.S. and Canada and employ over 6,000 people.For more information or to contact a local Redfin real estate agent, visit www.redfin.com. To learn about housing market trends and download data, visit the Redfin Data Center.Source: Redfin via BusinessWire

16-Matterport Completes Acquisition of Enview to Bring Powerful Property Insights and Analytics to Millions of Digital Twins

Matterport Completes Acquisition of Enview to Bring Powerful Property Insights and Analytics to Millions of Digital TwinsEnview’s advanced technology and specialized team to strengthen the Matterport data platform and provide customers with advanced business intelligence for any physical spaceSUNNYVALE, California, January 6, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Matterport, Inc. (“Matterport”) (Nasdaq: MTTR), the leading spatial data company driving the digital transformation of the built world, today announced it has completed its acquisition of Enview, Inc. (“Enview”), a pioneer in the scalable, artificial intelligence (AI) for 3D spatial data.On January 5, 2022, Matterport acquired 100% of the issued and outstanding equity interests in Enview for an aggregate purchase price of 1.59 million shares of Matterport’s Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“Common Stock”) and $35.5 million in cash. All shares of Common Stock issued in the transaction are subject to a lock-up period expiring 180 days following the closing of the transaction.Enview’s 3D AI platform has been deployed at nation-scale to solve mission critical challenges ranging from critical infrastructure protection for Fortune 500 energy companies, automating property analytics for insurance and disaster recovery applications, and logistics and mobility applications for national security customers. The acquisition of the technology and team will enable Matterport to speed the development of its next-generation spatial data analytics platform that optimizes the operations and management of any physical space, while providing powerful insights and building intelligence.“For more than a decade Matterport has led the digital transformation of the built world,” said RJ Pittman, Matterport’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “We turn buildings into data, and for the next decade of growth, our focus centers on unlocking the power of that data for our customers around the world.Enview’s powerful spatial data analysis technology fits right into this strategy and readily complements the Matterport platform. Together, we can deliver breakthrough building analysis and data insights to our customers including automated building inspections, AI-powered space planning, and property utilization analysis to deliver operating efficiencies in a completely digital environment,” he added.Founded in San Francisco in 2015, Enview’s AI-based automation platform provides a highly extensible framework for rapidly solving complex 3D challenges as part of a digital twin ecosystem. Enview’s core technology combines novel AI, purpose built for 3D, with an enterprise platform that enables complex workflows to be automated for nation-scale datasets.Enview’s technology performs a variety of 3D spatial operations, including object recognition, feature extraction, feature-based change detection, 2D and 3D measurement and attribution. The company’s Explore product is designed to democratize and automate the previously manual task of extracting insights from complex, sensor-fused 2D and 3D data.Public and private sector organizations currently use Enview’s AI platform to virtualize the physical world and derive insights, including to protect people and infrastructure, and enhance national security.For example, Enview is the recipient of a Phase III Small Business Innovation Research award from the Commander of the U.S. Pacific Air Forces and a Phase II award from the U.S. Army Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office for AI-enabled 3D modeling of installations and fusion of indoor / outdoor digital twins for mission planning and facilities management.“Matterport is the clear leader in the massive market to digitize the world’s built spaces,” said San Gunawardana, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Enview. “Joining Matterport provides a unique opportunity to pair our leading 3D AI technology with Matterport’s rich spatial data to provide new levels of datafication and insight to customers around the world.We could not have asked for a better company to partner with to extend our work and build a world-class analytics platform for customers to increase the value of every one of the world’s 4 billion buildings.”Update on Public Warrant RedemptionAs previously announced on December 15, 2021, Matterport expects to redeem all of its outstanding warrants (the “Public Warrants”) to purchase shares of Common Stock that were issued as part of the units sold in the company’s initial public offering and that remain outstanding at 5:00 p.m. New York City time on January 14, 2022.As of December 31, 2021, approximately 7.1 million shares of Common Stock have been issued upon the exercise of Public Warrants by the holders thereof at an exercise price of $11.50 per share, resulting in aggregate proceeds to Matterport of approximately $81.5 million.About MatterportMatterport, Inc. (Nasdaq: MTTR) is leading the digital transformation of the built world. Our groundbreaking spatial data platform turns buildings into data to make nearly every space more valuable and accessible. Millions of buildings in more than 194 countries have been transformed into immersive Matterport digital twins to improve every part of the building lifecycle from planning, construction, and operations to documentation, appraisal and marketing. Learn more at www.matterport.com.©2022 Matterport, Inc. All rights reserved. Enview and Enview Explore are trademarks of Enview, Inc. and Matterport and the Matterport logo are trademarks of Matterport, Inc. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.Source: Matterport

15. HomeJab | More than 50% of Homeowners are Not Prepared for Photoshoot

New HomeJab Real Estate Photo Study Finds Sellers are UnpreparedSurvey also asks photography pros to rate real estate agents' "professionalism"---Download HomeJab Study---CHERRY HILL, N.J., Jan. 5, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- A new study of real estate photographers released today by HomeJab found that homeowners selling their homes are often not prepared for a photoshoot ordered by their real estate agent.HomeJab, which provides real estate agents on-demand professional real estate photography and other visual production services nationwide, asked more than 300 professional photographers, "How often are homeowners not prepared for a shoot?"More than half of the professional real estate photographers said that most of the time – half to more than half – homeowners are unprepared."Agents may be assuming their sellers know what they need to do to have their home ready for a photoshoot," said Joe Jesuele, founder and CEO of HomeJab. "But photography occurs very early in the listing process, and sellers may not realize what professional photographers need to make the right impressions," Jesuele added.According to Jon Biddle, a 10-year real estate photography veteran from Philadelphia, PA who shoots more than 100 properties a year, many homeowners forget to declutter their homes, putting away personal items on counters – cell phones, purses, drinking glasses, liquor and more. "That can detract attention away from what is important," Biddle said. "Sellers often have to spend 20 minutes or more putting away personal items," Biddle added, "and agents could do more to make sure they're ready."The HomeJab survey also turned the tables on real estate agents by asking photographers, "How professional is the typical real estate agent who hires you?" on a scale of 1-10, 10 being highly professional. Overall, photographers gave an average rating of 7.6, indicating agents who hire them are very professional.Flavio Villacorta, a professional real estate photographer who serves Washington, D.C., shared that he/she finds that real estate agents who invest in professional photography – as well as 3D tours and aerial footage – have high professional standards in everything they do. "Most agents who only use professionally shot photos for their listings are typically the best agents in the marketplace," Villacorta said.With the explosion in the popularity of using aerial photography to market homes for sale over the last several years, the HomeJab study asked professional real estate photographers if they have been harassed by someone when flying a drone to shoot aerial footage of a listing.The HomeJab survey found that one-in-three photographers experienced harassment when flying a drone. The research also revealed that just 15% of photographers surveyed said they had never flown a drone.Future Tech TrendsFinally, the survey asked professional real estate photographers to pick two technologies related to their business that they are "most excited about."The findings: The vast majority of photographers said "drones," topping the list with 68%. 360-degree cameras came in at the #2 spot with 54%. Automated editing technology was #3 with 35%. New mobile phones cameras (e.g., iPhone 13) were #4 with 18%. NFTs (blockchain) was ranked #5 with 17%."The surprise is the strong interest in NFTs," said HomeJab's Jesuele. "Five years ago, NFTs didn't even exist. Now one-in-six photographers pick it as a Top 5 technology. NFTs are starting to make their way into all areas of creative arts, including a growing interest among professional real estate photographers, and that's exciting."The HomeJab Professional Real Estate Photographer Survey collected responses from 310 professional real estate photographers nationwide. Fifty percent of the photographers surveyed shoot more than 100 property listings annually. Nearly one-in-three photographers surveyed shoot more than 200 property listings annually, with 40% of the participants being professional photographers for at least six years.The photographers polled represent all areas of the country: 22% from the Northeast, 25% from the Southeast, 17% from the Midwest, 19% from the Southwest, 7% from the Northwest, and 10% from other locations.About HomeJabHomeJab is America's most popular and reliable on-demand professional real estate photography and video service for real estate pros. Learn more at: www.HomeJab.comSource: HomeJab via PR Newswire

14. U-Haul: 2021 Top 25 U.S. Growth Cities

U-Haul Growth Index: Florida has 10 of Top 25 U.S. Growth CitiesKissimmee-St. Cloud netted the most U-Haul trucks in 2021, followed by Raleigh-DurhamPHOENIX, Jan. 4, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The sun-soaked Kissimmee-St. Cloud market less than 30 miles south of Orlando isn't just for vacationers chasing roller-coaster rides and encounters with a famous mouse.In 2021, no American city or market netted more do-it-yourself movers in U-Haul® trucks.Kissimmee-St. Cloud, which ranked second for growth in 2019 and 2020, earned the No. 1 spot in 2021. It is one of 10 Florida markets among the top 25 growth cities, according to transactional data compiled for the annual U-Haul Growth Index.The North Carolina hotbed of Raleigh-Durham – which was No. 1 on this list in 2019 – remains a top growth area at No. 2 in 2021. It is followed by Florida's Palm Bay-Melbourne market and then North Port, the No. 1 growth city of 2020. Madison, Wis., rounds out the top five.Growth cities are calculated by the net gain of one-way U-Haul trucks entering a city/market versus leaving that city/market in a calendar year. Migration trends data is compiled from well over 2 million one-way U-Haul truck customer transactions that occur annually. Neighboring cities in U-Haul markets are often packaged together for migration trends purposes."Florida remains competitive, especially during the COVID era," said Miguel Caminos, U-Haul Company of Orlando president. "We've pushed through and business is thriving. It's not just people moving to Florida, but businesses moving because they see better opportunities here."Texas boasts five growth cities among the top 25, led by the College Station-Bryan market at No. 7. Grapevine, Austin, Richardson and Carrollton also make the cut as premier destinations for U-Haul customers. Together, Florida and Texas account for 60% of the top 25 growth cities.While California ranks last among U-Haul growth states, it enjoyed pockets of growth in 2021 – the Sacramento-Roseville market is the No. 8 growth city, while San Diego ranks 12th.Other Florida cities to make the top 25 are: Fort Myers-North Fort Myers; Clermont; Sarasota-Bradenton; Daytona Beach; Port St. Lucie; Brandon-Riverview; and Ocala.Arrivals of U-Haul trucks into Kissimmee-St. Cloud climbed 31% while departures rose 29% as overall moving traffic spiked in the market. Arriving trucks accounted for 53.2% of all one-way U-Haul traffic in Kissimmee-St. Cloud."Florida has always been a destination location for retirees, but more so (in 2021), I think a lot of people took early retirements and decided to come down," said Mario Martinez, U-Haul Area District Vice President of Southern Florida."There are many other reasons why people are coming to Florida, and have come in previous years. We have lower cost (of living) than other states. There is no state income tax – that's a huge factor. The warm weather. Basically, we have summer weather all year long. Attractions. Our beaches. The activities. There's just so much to do. Jobs that are available play a very important part in people moving into Florida. And during this pandemic for the past two years, we've also pretty much been open the entire time. This state has kept on going, and (2021) has just been busy all the way around."Visit myuhaulstory.com to view the top 50 growth states, individual state reports and the top 25 Canadian growth cities.While U-Haul migration trends do not correlate directly to population or economic growth, the U-Haul Growth Index is an effective gauge of how well cities are both attracting and maintaining residents.2021 U-Haul Top 25 U.S. GROWTH CITIES1. Kissimmee-St. Cloud, FL (2)2. Raleigh-Durham, NC3. Palm Bay-Melbourne, FL (23)4. North Port, FL (1)5. Madison, WI (5)6. Fort Myers-North Fort Myers, FL7. College Station-Bryan, TX8. Sacramento-Roseville, CA (11)9. Clermont, FL10. Sarasota-Bradenton, FL11. Daytona Beach, FL12. San Diego, CA13. Port St. Lucie, FL (3)14. Milwaukee, WI (13)15. Grapevine, TX16. Austin, TX17. Myrtle Beach, SC18. Surprise, AZ (8)19. Brandon-Riverview. FL20. Wilmington, NC21. Denver, CO22. Richardson, TX23. Auburn-Opelika, AL (4)24. Ocala, FL (6)25. Carrollton, TX2020 growth rankings in parentheses, if rankedSource: U-Haul via PR NewswirePLUS FIVE more notable cities that just missed the cut but posted big growth numbers in 2021:1. Greenville, SC2. Fort Collins, CO3. Seattle, WA4. Conroe, TX5. Nashville, TNU-Haul is the authority on migration trends thanks to its expansive network that blankets all 50 states and 10 Canadian provinces. The geographical coverage from more than 23,000 U-Haul truck- and trailer-sharing locations provides a comprehensive overview of where people are moving like no one else in the industry. Find U-Haul stores and neighborhood dealers at uhaul.com/locations.Independent small business owners interested in joining the U-Haul Dealer Network at no cost and earning commissions from rental transactions at their locations can visit uhaul.com/dealer to learn more and submit an information form.Increased demand for Moving Help® through movinghelp.com has mirrored increased demand for one-way U-Haul equipment during the pandemic. Moving Help has been the No. 1 choice of customers seeking labor services for loading and unloading during their moves since 2002, offering a network of 6,700 local and independent Moving Help Service Providers across all 50 states and 10 Canadian provinces. With more than 5 million jobs completed and 2.3 million customer reviews, customers have access to the largest network of moving labor services in North America through Moving Help.About U-HAULSince 1945, U-Haul has been the No. 1 choice of do-it-yourself movers, with a network of more than 23,000 locations across all 50 states and 10 Canadian provinces. U-Haul Truck Share 24/7 offers secure access to U-Haul trucks every hour of every day through the customer dispatch option on their smartphones and our proprietary Live Verify technology. Our customers' patronage has enabled the U-Haul fleet to grow to approximately 176,000 trucks, 126,000 trailers and 46,000 towing devices. U-Haul offers nearly 825,000 rentable storage units and 71.6 million square feet of self-storage space at owned and managed facilities throughout North America. U-Haul is the largest retailer of propane in the U.S., and continues to be the largest installer of permanent trailer hitches in the automotive aftermarket industry. U-Haul has been recognized repeatedly as a leading "Best for Vets" employer and was recently named one of the 15 Healthiest Workplaces in America.Source: U-Haul via PR Newswire

13. Zillow Forecast | Top 10 Hottest Residential Real Estate Marketings for 2022

Zillow Forecast: Top 10 Hottest Residential Real Estate Marketings for 2022Based on a blend of factors, such as job and home price growth, Zillow expects housing markets in the Sun Belt to be the most competitive in the U.S.- The Sun Belt dominates Zillow's list of hottest housing markets for the second year in a row. Tampa, Jacksonville, Raleigh, San Antonio and Charlotte top Zillow's rankings.- Six of the 10 markets on Zillow's list have added more jobs than new homes over the past two years, adding competition for available homes.- New York, Milwaukee and San Francisco should be the coolest housing markets in 2022, but sellers will have the upper hand even in cooler markets.SEATTLE, Jan. 4, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The hottest housing market of 2022 will be Tampa, according to a new Zillow® analysis. Rounding out the top five are Jacksonville, Raleigh, San Antonio and Charlotte in what is anticipated to be another hot year for housing across the Sun Belt.Zillow economists expect the housing market to back off just a bit from a record-breaking pace in 2021, but home shoppers looking in the 10 hottest markets are likely to face strong competition, rising prices and limited inventory that will be snatched off the market quickly. Tampa tops Zillow's list of hottest housing markets due to a combination of strong forecasted home value growth, a thriving job market, relatively scarce and fast-moving inventory, and demographics that indicate a good number of potential buyers."Home buyers are attracted to markets in the Sun Belt that offer relative affordability, fast-growing economies and weather that allows them to enjoy the outdoors year-round," says Zillow economist Alexandra Lee. "Across the board, sellers will remain in the driver's seat, but especially so in the hottest markets. Buyers should be ready for strong competition for homes, which means bidding wars and homes flying off the market only days after they are listed."Zillow's 10 hottest housing markets of 2022: [Zillow Economists Expectations]1. Tampa2. Jacksonville3. Raleigh4. San Antonio5. Charlotte6. Nashville7. Atlanta8. Phoenix9. Orlando10. AustinWith the huge millennial generation's pent-up desire to move now being fulfilled as it ages into its peak home-buying years, together with the wave of baby boomers entering retirement amid the "Great Resignation," Zillow economists expect incredibly strong price appreciation and sales volume to continue into next year — forecasting 14.3% national home value growth through November 2022. Each of the top 10 hottest metros are anticipated to exceed that, with Tampa home values predicted to grow 24.6% during that time.Work will play a key role in moving decisions next year — for remote and on-site workers alike — and a strong labor market has factored into Zillow's hottest markets list, as well. With more flexible work opportunities and a recovering labor market, many areas experiencing high demand for housing are also seeing increased local job growth. Six of the 10 markets on Zillow's list have added more jobs than new homes over the past two years, intensifying the competition expected in these markets.Last year's hottest market, Austin, fell to No. 10 this year, while Denver, last year's fifth-hottest market, fell to 15th. Outside of the Sun Belt, the hottest markets are expected to be in the Midwest. Salt Lake City (13th overall), Kansas City (14th), Oklahoma City (16th) — which is sometimes considered a Sun Belt city depending on where the border is drawn — Columbus (17th) and Indianapolis (18th) just missed making the list.The coolest markets out of the 50 largest U.S. metro areas are expected to be New York, Milwaukee, San Francisco, Chicago and San Jose. But in today's supercharged housing market, buyers shouldn't necessarily expect screaming deals in even these cooler markets. Home values are forecasted to grow by at least 10% over the next 12 months in all metros except San Francisco (9.9%).Research methodologyZillow analyzed the 50 largest U.S. metro areas to forecast the hottest, or most competitive, housing markets of 2022. The analysis incorporates expected home value appreciation from November 2021 to November 2022, the anticipated change in home value appreciation from 2021, the flow of for-sale inventory, an estimate of the net new number of home-owning households based on current demographic trends and new jobs per new housing unit permitted.About Zillow GroupZillow Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: Z and ZG) is reimagining real estate to make it easier to unlock life's next chapter. As the most visited real estate website in the United States, Zillow® and its affiliates offer customers an on-demand experience for selling, buying, renting or financing with transparency and ease.Zillow Group's affiliates and subsidiaries include Zillow®, Zillow Offers®, Zillow Premier Agent®, Zillow Home Loans™, Zillow Closing Services™, Zillow Homes, Inc., Trulia®, Out East®, ShowingTime®, Bridge Interactive®, dotloop®, StreetEasy® and HotPads®. Zillow Home Loans, LLC is an Equal Housing Lender, NMLS #10287 (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org).SOURCE: Zillow via PR Newswire

12. Where and Why Did Americans Move in 2021: Top 10 Moved To/From USA States

Where and Why Did Americans Move in 2021? United Van Lines 45th Annual National Movers Study Reveals the Top States People Moved To and FromThe Pandemic Continued to Influence Americans' Decisions to Move as They Relocated to Lower-Density Areas and Desired to be Closer to FamilyWhere and Why Did Americans Move in 2021: Top 10 Moved To/From USA StatesST. LOUIS, Jan. 3, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- United Van Lines released the company's 45th Annual National Movers Study today, which indicates Americans were on the move to lower-density areas and to be closer to their families throughout last year.The annual study, which tracks the company's exclusive data for customers' state-to-state migration patterns, determined Vermont as the state with the highest percentage of inbound migration (74%) with United Van Lines. Topping the list of outbound locations was New Jersey (71%), which has held the spot for the past four years.South Dakota (69%), South Carolina (63%), West Virginia (63%) and Florida (62%) were also revealed as the top inbound states for 2021. Meanwhile, states like Illinois (67%), New York (63%), Connecticut (60%) and California (59%), which have regularly appeared on the top outbound list in recent years, again ranked among states with the largest exoduses.In addition to the state-by-state data, each year United Van Lines also conducts an accompanying survey to examine the motivations and influences for Americans' interstate moves. This year's survey results indicated 31.8% of Americans who moved did so in order to be closer to family – a new trend coming out of the pandemic as priorities and lifestyle choices shift. Additionally, 32.5% of Americans moved for a new job or job transfer, a significant decrease from 2015, when more than 60% of Americans cited a job or transfer."This new data from United Van Lines is indicative of COVID-19's impact on domestic migration patterns, with 2021 bringing an acceleration of moves to smaller, midsized towns and cities," Michael A. Stoll, economist and professor in the Department of Public Policy at the University of California, Los Angeles, said. "We're seeing this not only occur because of Americans' desire to leave high density areas due to risk of infection, but also due to the transformation of how we're able to work, with more flexibility to work remote."What's more, amid the pandemic, many Gen Xers are retiring (often at a younger age than past generations), joining the Baby Boomer generation. While many are retiring to states like Florida, United Van Lines' data reveals they're not necessarily heading to heavily populated cities like Orlando and Miami — they're venturing to less dense places like Punta Gorda (81% inbound), Sarasota (79% inbound) and Fort Myers-Cape Coral (77% inbound). Similarly, in Oregon, cities including Medford-Ashland (83%) and Eugene-Springfield (79%) saw high inbound migration in 2021."For 45 years now, our annual United Van Lines study, with its data-driven insights, has allowed us to explore a deeper understanding of Americans' overall migration patterns," Eily Cummings, director of corporate communications at United Van Lines, said. "As the pandemic continues to impact our day-to-day, we're seeing that lifestyle changes — including the increased ability to work from home — and wanting to be closer to family are key factors in why Americans are moving today."Moving InThe top inbound states of 2021 were:1. Vermont2. South Dakota3. South Carolina4. West Virginia5. Florida6. Alabama7. Tennessee8. Oregon9. Idaho10 Rhode IslandOf the top ten inbound states, six — Vermont, South Dakota, West Virginia, Alabama, Oregon and Idaho — are among the 20 least densely populated states in America, with less than 100 people per square mile. And, Tennessee and South Carolina are among the top 25.Moving OutThe top outbound states for 2021 were:1. New Jersey2. Illinois3. New York4. Connecticut5. California6. Michigan7. Massachusetts8. Louisiana9. Ohio10. NebraskaNine of the top 10 outbound states are considered densely populated, further illustrating America's shift to less crowded states.BalancedSeveral states saw nearly the same number of residents moving inbound as outbound. Kentucky and Wyoming are among these "balanced states."Since 1977, United Van Lines annually tracks migration patterns on a state-by-state basis. The 2021 study is based on household moves handled by United within the 48 contiguous states and Washington, D.C. and ranks states based off the inbound and outbound percentages of total moves in each state. United classifies states as "high inbound" if 55 percent or more of the moves are going into a state, "high outbound" if 55 percent or more moves were coming out of a state or "balanced" if the difference between inbound and outbound is negligible.To view the entire 2021 study, an interactive map and archived press releases and photos from United, please visit United Van Lines.Source: United Van Lines Media Release via PR Newswire

11. Active Listings Fell 26.1% Year-Over-Year (All-Time Low) | Down 44.8% from 2019 | Redfin Media Release

Active Listings fell 26.1% year-over-year/all-time low; down 44.8% from '19New for sale home listings down 6.4% from 2020: up 15.6% from 2019Redfin Reports Home Prices Rise to New Record HighA dip in new listings contributed to the ongoing supply shortage as home prices hit another all-time highSEATTLE, Dec. 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- (NASDAQ: RDFN) — The median home sale price rose 14.6% year over year to a new all-time high of $361,171 during the four-week period ending December 26, 2021 according to a new report from Redfin (www.redfin.com), the technology-powered real estate brokerage. This comes as the number of homes for sale fell to a record low.New listings and pending sales both dropped to their lowest levels since January, and touring activity was down compared with the same period in 2019 and 2020."The holiday effect of homebuyers and sellers diverting their time and attention toward travel and celebrations was even more extreme than during the pre-pandemic Christmas week of 2019," said Redfin Deputy Chief Economist Taylor Marr. "We see this slowdown as a temporary consequence of the holidays, and not as an indication that homebuyer demand is backing off. Those who did purchase homes over the holidays paid high prices due to the ongoing supply shortage."Key housing market takeaways for 400+ U.S. metro areas:Unless otherwise noted, this data covers the four-week period ending December 26. Redfin's housing market data goes back through 2012.✓ The median asking price of newly listed homes increased 12.9% year over year to $345,348, up 28.7% from 2019.✓ Pending home sales were up 4.2% year over year and up 55.2% compared to the same period in 2019.✓ New listings of homes for sale were down 6.4% from a year earlier but up 15.6% from 2019.✓ Active listings (the number of homes listed for sale at any point during the period) fell 26.1% year over year to an all-time low and were down 44.8% from 2019.✓ The share of homes that went under contract that had an accepted offer within the first two weeks on the market was 40.3%, above the 35% rate of a year earlier and the 24.5% rate in 2019.29.6% of homes that went under contract had an accepted offer within one week of hitting the market, up from 25.3% during the same period a year earlier and 15.8% in 2019.✓ Homes that sold were on the market for a median of 26 days, down from 33 days a year earlier and 50 days in 2019.✓ 42.1% of homes sold above list price, up from 33.6% a year earlier and 19.9% in 2019.✓ On average, 2.8% of homes for sale each week had a price drop, up 0.5 percentage points from the same time in 2020 and up 0.3 points from this time in 2019.✓ The average sale-to-list price ratio, which measures how close homes are selling to their asking prices, was 100.4%. In other words, the average home sold for 0.4% above its asking price.Other leading indicators of homebuying activity:Mortgage purchase applications decreased 3% week over week (seasonally adjusted) during the week ending December 23. For the week ending December 23, 30-year mortgage rates declined to 3.05%. Mortgage data is from the week ending December 23 because data sources did not update over the holiday week.Touring activity through December 26 was 8.7 percentage points behind 2019 and 8.5 points behind 2020 relative to the first week of January, according to home tour technology company ShowingTime.The Redfin Homebuyer Demand Index was up 17% from a year earlier.To view the full report, including charts and methodology, please visit:https://www.redfin.com/news/housing-market-update-record-high-home-price/About RedfinRedfin (www.redfin.com) is a technology-powered real estate company. We help people find a place to live with brokerage, instant home-buying (iBuying), rentals, lending, title insurance, and renovations services. We sell homes for more money and charge half the fee. We also run the country's #1 real-estate brokerage site. Our home-buying customers see homes first with on-demand tours, and our lending and title services help them close quickly. Customers selling a home can take an instant cash offer from Redfin or have our renovations crew fix up their home to sell for top dollar. Our rentals business empowers millions nationwide to find apartments and houses for rent. Since launching in 2006, we've saved customers more than $1 billion in commissions. We serve more than 100 markets across the U.S. and Canada and employ over 6,000 people.Source: Redfin via PRNewswireWGAN Forum Related Discussions Tagged: Redfin | Statistics | News | Media Release | Real Estate Agents

10. 75% of Homebuyers and Sellers Report Changing Plans Due to Inflation | Redfin Media Release

Redfin Survey: Three-Quarters of Homebuyers & Sellers Report Changing Plans Due to InflationRoughly 1 in 10 respondents are cancelling their plans to buy or sell a home because of inflation. 29% are delaying homebuying plans due to inflation, while 24% are accelerating their plansSEATTLE, Dec. 29, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- (NASDAQ: RDFN) — Seventy-three percent of homebuyers and sellers say inflation is influencing their future buying or selling plans, according to a new report from Redfin (www.redfin.com), the technology-powered real estate brokerage. Responding to a recent Redfin-commissioned survey of Americans who are planning to buy or sell a home in the next 12 months, 29% of respondents said they're delaying homebuying plans due to inflation. Twenty-four percent of respondents are moving up their homebuying plans and 11% are canceling plans altogether.Meanwhile, 10% of respondents said inflation is causing them to move up their home selling plans, 7% are delaying their selling plans and 3% are canceling."The way Americans interpret news about rising prices can have a variety of effects on their financial decisions, including homebuying," said Redfin Chief Economist Daryl Fairweather. "Some people may delay buying because they're worried that with prices rising on everything from food to fuel, now is not the right time to make a huge purchase. But others might move faster to find a house because they're worried home prices and rent prices will increase even more, and they want to lock in a fixed payment."The survey results come amid reports that inflation is at its highest level in nearly 40 years, with consumer prices jumping 6.8% in November from a year earlier. Increasing prices for gas and other energy sources are driving the inflation surge.Seventy-three percent of survey respondents said rising gas prices are impacting decisions about their homebuying plans or their commute. Thirty-five percent said they plan to drive less or drive a more efficient vehicle because of rising gas prices, while 25% plan to shorten their commutes. Twenty-one percent said they plan to buy a cheaper home."Different homebuyers react to high fuel prices in different ways, depending on their circumstances," said Redfin Deputy Chief Economist Taylor Marr. "Some people will pay a premium to shorten their commute, while others will opt for a more affordable home to make up for expensive gas or a new – but more fuel-efficient – vehicle."Three-quarters of respondents said the rising cost of home energy is impacting their homebuying or selling plans. Specifically, 36% of respondents said they plan to add energy-saving features to their home, 33% plan to move to a more energy-efficient home and 15% plan to move to a smaller home.To read the full report, including charts and graphs, please visit: https://www.redfin.com/news/inflation-homebuying-survey/About RedfinRedfin (www.redfin.com) is a technology-powered real estate company. We help people find a place to live with brokerage, instant home-buying (iBuying), rentals, lending, title insurance, and renovations services. We sell homes for more money and charge half the fee. We also run the country's #1 real-estate brokerage site. Our home-buying customers see homes first with on-demand tours, and our lending and title services help them close quickly. Customers selling a home can take an instant cash offer from Redfin or have our renovations crew fix up their home to sell for top dollar. Our rentals business empowers millions nationwide to find apartments and houses for rent. Since launching in 2006, we've saved customers more than $1 billion in commissions. We serve more than 100 markets across the U.S. and Canada and employ over 6,000 people.Source: Redfin via PRNewswire

9. Domino’s Pizza Largest USA Franchisee uses Matterport: Slices Time in Half | Matterport Media Release

RPM Pizza Streamlines Store Renovation with Matterport and Cuts Project Time in HalfAmerica’s largest Domino’s Pizza Franchisee uses Matterport digital twins to remotely manage maintenance and projects for 30 stores
SUNNYVALE, Calif., Dec. 09, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Matterport, Inc. (Nasdaq: MTTR), the leading spatial data company driving the digital transformation of the built world, today announced that RPM Pizza, the largest Domino’s Pizza franchisee in the country, adopted Matterport to expedite the simultaneous redesign and renovation of 30 stores in just six months, a process that would typically take twice as long. By capturing digital twins of stores with Matterport, the company has cut the time to initiate these projects by 50 percent by enabling virtual site visits and collaboration in 3D.“Improving store design and layout lets us better serve our customers,” said Nate Lee, Facilities Manager for RPM Pizza. “Two of our key principles for serving our facilities' clients are reasonable cost and on-time response. To meet these goals, we needed to improve their space at a reasonable cost as quickly as possible. Matterport helped us achieve that.”In order to meet RPM Pizza’s goal of reducing the average delivery time (ADT) between receiving and delivering an order, the company needed to redesign store layouts and upgrade the equipment to increase food prep efficiency. Digital twins - or photorealistic, accurate 3D replicas of each store - enabled facilities managers to virtually assess areas of improvement for each store, significantly shorten lengthy bidding processes, and ensure that expensive, new equipment would fit by using accurate digital measurements.“Matterport enables us to communicate more clearly and consistently with our contractors and leadership. This new workflow allows them to visit the store without needing to travel, so we can work together in real time to make informed decisions about the project,” continued Lee.RPM relies on Matterport as a tool for ongoing collaboration even after renovations are complete. If an individual store has an HVAC issue, that store’s digital twin can easily be accessed. Knowing exactly where to find the equipment in question and access the information about it through embedded Mattertags can help troubleshoot the issue on the spot.“RPM Pizza is a great example of digital twins shifting how facilities are designed, constructed and managed in a progressively more remote world,” said Stephanie Lin, Director of Business Strategy for Retail and AEC at Matterport. “Matterport eases the pain of typically manual and laborious design and build activities such as obtaining site measurements, documenting and maintaining on-site equipment, contractor bidding and negotiation, and complex coordination between facility management related trades. All of this enables teams to remain connected at every stage of the process by providing quick and easy access to retrieve current store conditions while maximizing efficiency at the same time.”Learn about Matterport for Facilities Management here. Learn more about how RPM Pizza uses the Matterport platform, including store layouts before and after renovation, here or watch a video [above].About RPM Pizza LLCRPM Pizza, the largest Domino’s Pizza franchisee in the U.S. for over 40 years, is family-owned and operates over 175 stores in five states, including Indiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Alabama, and Louisiana. https://www.rpmpizza.com/About MatterportMatterport, Inc. (Nasdaq: MTTR) is leading the digital transformation of the built world. Our groundbreaking spatial data platform turns buildings into data to make spaces more valuable and accessible. Millions of buildings in more than 170 countries have been transformed into immersive Matterport digital twins to improve every part of the building lifecycle from planning, construction, and operations to documentation, appraisal and marketing. Learn more at: www.matterport.com.©2021 Matterport, Inc. All rights reserved. Matterport is a registered trademark and the Matterport logo is a trademark of Matterport, Inc. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.
Source: Matterport via Global Newswire

8. Active listings fall to new all-time low, down 25% from 2020; 43% from 2019 | Redfin Media Release

Redfin Reports Home Prices Hit Record High as Supply Hits Record LowHowever, homebuying demand may be slowing down as winter approachesSEATTLE, Dec. 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- (NASDAQ: RDFN) — The median home sale price rose to a record high, while the number of homes for sale fell to an all-time low, according to a new report from Redfin (redfin.com), the technology-powered real estate brokerage.There are some signs that homebuying may be returning to a more typical seasonal trend as the share of homes sold in one week fell after Thanksgiving more than it has since early September. Pending home sales fell to their lowest level since February."Homebuying demand seems to be returning to a slowdown trend that we'd typically expect to see in the last few weeks of the year," said Redfin Chief Economist Daryl Fairweather. "The latest research on the Omicron variant seems to be easing consumers' worst fears, but a lot of uncertainty remains in the economy—from inflation, jobs and wages to how the Fed reacts to those factors. Amid all that economic uncertainty, the notion that home prices will continue to grow in the nearterm feels relatively certain."Key housing market takeaways for 400+ U.S. metro areas:Unless otherwise noted, this data covers the four-week period ending December 5, 2021. Redfin's housing market data goes back through 2012.✓ The median home-sale price hit a new all-time high of $360,250, up 14% year over year. This was up 30% from the same period in 2019.✓ Asking prices of newly listed homes were up 11% from the same time a year ago and up 27% from 2019 to a median of $347,500.✓ Pending home sales were up 5% year over year, and up 49% compared to the same period in 2019.New listings of homes for sale were down 7% from a year earlier, but up 11% from 2019.✓ Active listings (the number of homes listed for sale at any point during the period) fell to a new all-time low, down 25% from 2020 and 43% from 2019.✓ After climbing in a counter-seasonal trend during October and November, the share of homes that went under contract that had an accepted offer within the first two weeks on the market fell nearly 2 points from the four-week period ending November 28 to 43%, still above the 36% rate of a year earlier and the 27% rate in 2019.✓ 31% of homes that went under contract had an accepted offer within one week of hitting the market, up from 26% during the same period a year earlier and 17% in 2019. This measure also reversed course in the latest week and began a more typical seasonal decline.✓ Homes that sold were on the market for a median of 25 days, down from 31 days a year earlier and 47 days in 2019.✓ 43% of homes sold above list price, up from 35% a year earlier and 21% in 2019.On average, 3.6% of homes for sale each week had a price drop, up 0.6 percentage points from the same time in 2020 and up 0.2 points from this time in 2019.✓ The average sale-to-list price ratio, which measures how close homes are selling to their asking prices, was 100.5%. In other words, the average home sold for 0.5% above its asking price.Other leading indicators of homebuying activity:✓ Mortgage purchase applications decreased 5% week over week (seasonally adjusted) during the week ending December 3. For the week ending December 2, 30-year mortgage rates were flat at 3.1%.✓ Touring activity through December 5 was 12 percentage points ahead of 2019 relative to the first week of January, according to home tour technology company ShowingTime.✓ The Redfin Homebuyer Demand Index rose 9% during the week ending December 5 and was up 15% from a year earlier.To view the full report, including charts and methodology, please visit: https://www.redfin.com/news/housing-market-update-record-high-price-record-low-inventory/About RedfinRedfin (www.redfin.com) is a technology-powered real estate company. We help people find a place to live with brokerage, instant home-buying (iBuying), rentals, lending, title insurance, and renovations services. We sell homes for more money and charge half the fee. We also run the country's #1 real-estate brokerage site. Our home-buying customers see homes first with on-demand tours, and our lending and title services help them close quickly. Customers selling a home can take an instant cash offer from Redfin or have our renovations crew fix up their home to sell for top dollar. Our rentals business empowers millions nationwide to find apartments and houses for rent. Since launching in 2006, we've saved customers more than $1 billion in commissions. We serve more than 100 markets across the U.S. and Canada and employ over 6,000 people.# # # #Source: Redfin via PRNewswire

7. Cushman & Wakefield and Matterport Enter Into Global Agreement | Matterport Media Release

Cushman & Wakefield and Matterport Enter Into Global Agreement Accelerating Virtual Commercial Property MarketingAgreement Adds 3D Capture to Firm’s CRE Virtual Offering Across Its FootprintJune 18, 2020BALTIMORE & SUNNYVALE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Matterport, the market leader for spatial data capture, today announced a global agreement with Cushman & Wakefield (NYSE: CWK), one of the world’s largest real estate services firms. With Matterport Capture Services, Cushman & Wakefield will be able to offer clients a turnkey solution to scan commercial properties in 3D across its footprint.“This agreement perfectly showcases our technology strategy, which is simple but powerful—namely to work with strategic partners to deliver innovative tools that generate deep insights and create value for our clients,” said John Forrester, President of Cushman & Wakefield.Through Matterport’s industry-leading 3D data platform and Matterport Capture Technicians skilled in operating Matterport Pro2 cameras, Cushman & Wakefield’s real estate professionals are able to showcase properties to prospective tenants and buyers in a virtual environment with dimensionally-accurate digital twins.“Our clients are increasingly relying on us to provide data and insights to help drive decision making and solve complex business challenges,” said Adam Stanley, Chief Information Officer and Chief Digital Officer at Cushman & Wakefield. “This collaboration is a textbook example of how we’re moving the real estate process forward for property owners and users enabling our professionals to deliver exceptional service to our clients through a virtual solution that is imperative in the current environment.”Matterport Capture Services is a fully managed solution for enterprises that require one-click access to scheduling an experienced and reliable Matterport professional to scan their properties. By adding a unique link to an immersive 3D digital twin to their website, in their listings, emails or social media channels, Cushman & Wakefield professionals exponentially open up the number of prospects who walk through any property. Clients from virtually anywhere in the world can tour it at any time as if they were actually there; understand the scope of the property in dollhouse view and enter it from any angle; and digitally measure rooms, floors, ceiling heights and furniture to assess if the space fits their needs.“Cushman & Wakefield understands the power of our unique spatial data platform and the business opportunities unlocked with Matterport digital twins,” said RJ Pittman, CEO of Matterport. “With push-button access to thousands of Matterport Capture Technicians in 375 cities across North America and EMEA, Cushman & Wakefield can use Matterport to enhance their services by increasing efficiency and utilization across a global portfolio of properties.”Experience a Matterport digital twin from Cushman & Wakefield here: https://my.matterport.com/show/?m=6cMmJFW11ScAbout Cushman & WakefieldCushman & Wakefield (NYSE: CWK) is a leading global real estate services firm that delivers exceptional value for real estate occupiers and owners. Cushman & Wakefield is among the largest real estate services firms with approximately 53,000 employees in 400 offices and 60 countries. In 2019, the firm had revenue of $8.8 billion across core services of property, facilities and project management, leasing, capital markets, valuation and other services. To learn more, visit www.cushmanwakefield.comAbout MatterportMatterport is the leading spatial data company digitizing and indexing the built world. Its unique 3D capture technology creates the spatial data layer on which the industry can interoperate, and the company’s all-in-one 3D data platform makes it fast and easy to turn any physical space into an accurate and immersive digital twin. The Matterport platform helps customers realize the full potential of a space at every stage of its lifecycle including planning, construction, appraisal, marketing and operations. Learn more at matterport.com and browse our gallery of digital twins.Source: Matterport and Cushman & Wakefield via BusinessWire

6. Urbanimmersive Acquires Agento Marketing | Urbanimmersive Media Release

Urbanimmersive Media Release | Urbanimmersive Acquires Agento Marketing
Saint-Hubert (Quebec), December 16th, 2021 - Urbanimmersive Inc. (“Urbanimmersive”, the “Company” or “UI”) (TSX VENTURE: UI) (OTCQB: UBMRF) is pleased to announce having completed the acquisition of all the shares outstanding of the real estate photography agency Agento Marketing ('Agento') for a purchase price of $1.2M, paid through the immediate issuance of 1,518,987 shares of the Company at a price of $0.79 per share plus a contingent share payment (earn-outs) totaling up to $600k payable in 12 months and conditional on Agento minimum revenue growth and EBITDA margin milestones to be met over the next year. All shares issued today are subject to a minimum 4-month hold period until April 16, 2022.Agento is a fast-growing and profitable real estate photography service business strategically located in the Gatineau/Ottawa (Canada) region with a diversified customer base serving high profile real estate brokers. Agento revenues for its last twelve months ending Oct. 31, 2021 were totaling $840k."We are proud to having completed the acquisition of Agento, a leading brand in real estate photography within their territories which had experienced significant growth over the last few years and which is driven by three skilled and successful entrepreneurs who will be joining our Group. This strategic acquisition should also help our UI Signature brand in Ontario to expand its coverage and consolidate further the Ontarian market”, said Ghislain Lemire, President and CEO of Urbanimmersive."We are delighted to join Urbanimmersive Group, a world leader in real estate 3D marketing solutions which shall enhance our marketing product offering with their innovative 3D solutions and assist us with their human, technological, customer support and administrative resources to allow us to focus on expanding our business furthermore”, said Emilio Ousset, President of Agento Marketing.TSX Venture Exchange has not reviewed this press release and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release.About Agento MarketingAgento Marketing, founded in 2017, is a full-service real estate photography service based in Gatineau (Quebec), having completed over 5,000 photo shoots in the past year. To learn more, visit. fr.agento.marketing.About UrbanimmersiveUrbanimmersive develops and commercializes real estate photography technologies and services focused on redefining industry visual content standards. The Company all-in-one platform enables high-volume photography businesses to increase operational productivity delivering feature-rich 3D tours and floor plans, leading-edge property websites and high-resolution AI-indexed images. The Company operating segments include software (SaaS), 360 camera hardware and, in a growing number of North American cities, technology-powered real estate photography service business units leading the industry photo-shoots standards transformation. For more information, visit urbanimmersive.com.

5. Nodalview Offers Video-Enabled Guided Tour/Lead Gen within Matterport Tours | Matterport Media Release

Nodalview announces partnership with Matterport to unlock a modern online real estate experience.Nodalview Offers Vide-Enabled Guided Tours/Lead Generation within Matterport Digital Twins---Nodalview's technology lets agents seamlessly invite potential buyers to remotely join video-enabled sessions and guide them through the [Matterport] digital twin as they would do during an in-person tour. While agents have full control of the tour, they can also let prospective buyers virtually walk around independently, replicating the typical experience of an in-person viewing for maximum impact.---Brussels, December 9, 2021 - Nodalview, the innovative sales and marketing platform for real estate professionals is excited to announce its partnership with Matterport, the leading spatial data company driving the digital transformation of the built world. The partnership lets agents use Matterport’s state-of-the-art digital twins on Nodalview’s unique real estate-focused sales enablement platform.Founded in 2016, Nodalview is a European Proptech that today empowers more than 10,000 real estate professionals worldwide to better attract, engage, and qualify candidates online, by leveraging high quality property visuals including photos, virtual tours, and videos.With the integration of Matterport digital twins to their platform, Nodalview aims to strengthen their ambition to help real estate agents use immersive content and data to deliver a modern and efficient sales process.A Human-First ApproachThe strongly fragmented real estate market of which 98% of companies are micro enterprises (less than 10 FTE) is fueled by the need for buyers and sellers to find a trustworthy local and experienced professional. This is explained by real estate often representing the most significant transaction of a lifetime. This reality proves that today’s consumers aren't willing to completely outsource a transaction this big and personal purely to technology, reinforcing the importance of human interaction during this process.“Becoming the preferred partner in this transaction is today’s main challenge for real estate agents with buyers and sellers that have become increasingly demanding in this digital era” says Thomas Lepelaars, CEO and Co-founder of Nodalview. “Our mission at Nodalview is to build software that empowers real estate professionals to deliver a richer buying experience while keeping a human-first approach.”Digital Experiences are on the Rise in a Booming MarketLike many others, the real estate industry has been shaken by the global pandemic, forcing years of digital adoption in just a couple of months. As the world began instituting stay-at-home orders, the use of virtual tours on real estate listings has boomed with a rapid adoption by consumers who wanted to search for homes in a manner that was convenient and safe for both home shoppers and homeowners. These immersive experiences have proven to be a convenient and effective way to qualify potential properties to visit, alongside traditional photography and video.While virtual digital experiences are on the rise, in-person tours will always remain an important part of the traditional real estate transaction, even in the hot post-pandemic real estate market. With Nodalview’s platform, agents maximize the ROI of their 3D tours by leveraging the same content multiple times in the buying or rental journey, driving innovation and efficiency to the traditional search process.A Modern, Human Buying ExperienceIn real estate, each property has its unique selling points that often can’t be translated visually. By combining high fidelity Matterport digital twins with Nodalview, [real estate] agents can conduct immersive digital viewings. Nodalview's technology lets agents seamlessly invite potential buyers to remotely join video-enabled sessions and guide them through the digital twin as they would do during an in-person tour. While [real estate] agents have full control of the tour, they can also let prospective buyers virtually walk around independently, replicating the typical experience of an in-person viewing for maximum impact.Thanks to Nodalview, consumers combine the benefit of a Matterport experience with the comfort of having expert advice from an agent. This not only lets agents fully understand whether the property meets the search criteria of the buyers, but also lets the agents easily switch between listings, making the search even more convenient as agents can showcase multiple properties in their portfolio. All of this is possible without losing time in transportation, from the comfort of one’s own home or office without the need for buyers and agents to be physically together to engage with property visits.Alongside guided virtual tours, Nodalview also lets agents natively embed lead generation forms, track specific engagement and better understand how online leads are navigating their 3D digital twins. Ultimately, these unique data-driven insights help real estate agents not only sell faster and in a more effective way, but also enable fact-based reporting to sellers.Thomas Lepelaars, Co-Founder & CEO of Nodalview"We are seeing that the top performing agents are now systematically shooting virtual tours to offer this modern and convenient buying experience to both the sellers and the buyers. Agents adopting this modern sales process have a true competitive edge in a hot market, bringing a higher chance of selling faster and at the best price. We are thrilled to partner with Matterport to reinforce this experience with state-of-the-art 3D digital twins and offer the modern real estate agent the most effective tools to exceed today’s buyers and sellers expectations."Conway Chen, Vice President of Business Development and Alliances of Matterport“The ability to gain access to properties virtually has become an expectation of real estate buyers around the world. For homeowners, virtual home tours drive increased visibility and digital traffic to their homes, helping them sell faster. Nodalview is a key partner in our efforts to drive the digital transformation of the built world. Together with Nodalview, we’re excited to enable more real estate agents to capture digital twins of their properties and help enhance their customer engagement experiences.”About Nodalview“Nodalview is a powerful sales and marketing platform built for the real estate industry. By leveraging high quality visual assets and immersive content, real estate agents can build winning sales strategies to better attract, engage and qualify potential customers while delivering a modern online buying experience.With Nodalview, agents can grow their online presence, close deals faster with tangible data insights and match the right buyers with the right home.At Nodalview, we believe in the modernization of the real estate industry through cutting edge technology and a customer-centric experience that helps agents sell faster and in a more effective way, while keeping a strong human-first approach.Nodalview supports over 10,000 real estate agents in 30 different countries with an international footprint counting 80+ employees from 10 different nationalities. Nodalview is backed by premium investors from Ghent, London and Madrid.About MatterportMatterport, Inc. (Nasdaq: MTTR) is leading the digital transformation of the built world. Our groundbreaking spatial data platform turns buildings into data to make spaces more valuable and accessible. Millions of buildings in more than 150 countries have been transformed into immersive Matterport digital twins to improve every part of the building lifecycle from planning, construction, and operations to documentation, appraisal and marketing. Learn more at: www.matterport.com©2021 Matterport, Inc. All rights reserved. Matterport is a registered trademark and the Matterport logo is a trademark of Matterport, Inc. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.

4. Matterport Receives Comparably Awards: Best Company Culture/Best for Women | Matterport Media Release

Matterport Receives Comparably awards for Best Company Culture and Best Company for WomenMultiple category wins demonstrate Matterport’s dedication to its peopleSUNNYVALE, Calif., Dec. 16, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Matterport, Inc. (“Matterport”) (Nasdaq: MTTR), the leading spatial data company driving the digital transformation of the built world, today announced that Matterport has won two Comparably Awards, including Best Company Culture and Best Company for Women. Matterport ranked in the top 50 for small/mid-sized companies in both categories.“As our team of Matterpeeps continues to grow, promoting our employees’ quality of life and ensuring that Matterport is a place where women can thrive have remained top priorities,” said Jean Barbagelata, Chief People Officer of Matterport. “These awards feel particularly meaningful because they are based on feedback from our own people. We’re proud to hear that our employees, of which 40 per cent are female, feel empowered and connected, even during a global pandemic.”Best Company Culture AwardComparably’s Best Company Culture category focuses on 16 core culture metrics, ranging from compensation and career growth to leadership and work environment. Feedback was anonymously collected by employees during a 12-month voting period between November 2020 and November 2021.Best Company for Women AwardComparably’s Best Company for Women category is based on sentiment ratings provided by female employees who anonymously rated their companies during a 12-month voting period between November 2020 and November 2021. Rankings were determined by a series of 50 questions in 20 core culture metrics, including compensation, career growth, leadership, and work environment.To achieve its goal of creating an inclusive workplace that brings out the best in each individual, Matterport holds monthly discussions on a variety of diversity and inclusion topics and provides an inclusion-focused Slack channel for employees to have more informal discussions. Additionally, all employees are trained on recognizing and responding to unconscious bias.Earlier this year, Matterport won three Comparably awards, including Best Compensation, Best Leadership Team and Best Company Outlook, all based on ratings from Matterport employees.For more information, visit Matterport’s Comparably page at comparably.com/companies/matterport.To learn about Corporate Responsibility at Matterport, visit https://matterport.com/diversity-and-inclusion.About MatterportMatterport, Inc. (Nasdaq: MTTR) is leading the digital transformation of the built world. Our groundbreaking spatial data platform turns buildings into data to make nearly every space more valuable and accessible. Millions of buildings in more than 170 countries have been transformed into immersive Matterport digital twins to improve every part of the building lifecycle from planning, construction, and operations to documentation, appraisal and marketing. Learn more at: www.matterport.com©2021 Matterport, Inc. All rights reserved. Matterport is a registered trademark and the Matterport logo is a trademark of Matterport, Inc. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.Source: Matterport Media Release via Global Newswire

3. Matterport Powers New Experiences for Retailers and Consumers | Matterport Media Release

Matterport Powers New Experiences for Retailers and ConsumersRetailers turn to digital twins to reach consumers virtually while providing offline, shoppable experiencesSUNNYVALE, Calif., Dec. 21, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Matterport, Inc. (“Matterport”) (Nasdaq: MTTR), the leading spatial data company driving the digital transformation of the built world, is powering new experiences for retailers and their customers. Using Capture Services On-Demand, Matterport Pro2 cameras, or the Matterport Smartphone app, retail customers are creating virtual showrooms, curating shoppable digital experiences with e-commerce integration, and making store operations more efficient.“Our retail customers use Matterport technology in a variety of different ways, whether that’s creating a virtual showroom where consumers can shop for holiday gifts or using digital twins to remotely manage store design and operations,” said Conway Chen, Vice President of Business Development of Matterport. “Even for consumers who may be locked down in their own country due to the pandemic, they can still visit their favorite store virtually and see merchandise presented in a real space, as if they were walking through an actual showroom. Our technology is also allowing influencers and designers to merchandise their products directly to their followers. Matterport technology is improving the shopping experience for both retailers and consumers.”Harrods uses Matterport Capture Services to create virtual showroom for consumersWith travel still not possible for many Harrods customers, the world-renowned London-based department store searched for a creative solution that would still allow customers to visit. Using Matterport Capture Services, a platform for enterprise customers to connect with Matterport Capture Technicians to scan spaces, Harrods created a virtual showroom showcasing its new home and furniture department. The immersive experience provides personal shopping consultations and allows customers to view products so they can better plan an in-store visit, if desired. For Harrods, Matterport offered the solution needed to create a more immersive virtual shopping experience than traditional online shopping.“Whilst travel may still be impossible for some of our customers, we wanted to find a creative solution for them to visit the department from the comfort of their home, no matter where in the world that may be,” says Annalise Fard, Director of Interiors, Beauty, Fine Watches and Jewelry at Harrods. “We also thought Matterport would be a great tool for customers who would rather shop from home through our personal shopping services or for those customers that would like to peruse the showroom ahead of visiting Harrods to help them better plan their visit.” Read the case study.Openhaus creates immersive e-commerce platform with Matterport featuring influencer homesCarson Clement, co-founder of Openhaus and a Matterport Pro2 owner, was inspired by the camera’s ability to create digital twins. The technology inspired him to launch Openhaus – a shoppable, virtual home tour experience that invites consumers to shop the homes of influencers, designers, and tastemakers. With Matterport’s smartphone app available for iPhone and Android, these influencers create a digital twin of their physical space, and use Mattertags within these spaces allowing shoppers to view their homes, and interact with and purchase household items featured through these digital twins.“Brands spend a lot of money making their retail spaces beautiful, but those are limited by physical geography constraints,” said Clement. “We can capitalize on those investments with gorgeous, immersive online shopping experiences in 3D. For companies that want consumers to spend more time engaging with their brands in a memorable way, Openhaus is an ideal solution,” says Clement. Read the case study.For more information about how Matterport is helping retail customers transform their digital footprint, visit matterport.com/industries/retail.About MatterportMatterport, Inc. (Nasdaq: MTTR) is leading the digital transformation of the built world. Our groundbreaking spatial data platform turns buildings into data to make nearly every space more valuable and accessible. Millions of buildings in more than 170 countries have been transformed into immersive Matterport digital twins to improve every part of the building lifecycle from planning, construction, and operations to documentation, appraisal and marketing. Learn more at www.matterport.com.©2021 Matterport, Inc. All rights reserved. Matterport is a registered trademark and the Matterport logo is a trademark of Matterport, Inc. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.Source: Matterport via Global Newswire---WGAN Forum Related Discussions Tagged:| Openhaus | Retail Stores | Shopping | Media Release | News | Showrooms | Matterport Capture Services Program | MatterTags |

2. WGAN-TV | 9 Benefits of Matterport for Property Damage Insurance Claims

WGAN-TV: 9 Benefits of Matterport for Property Damage Insurance ClaimsHi All,If you are a Matterport Service Provider seeking opportunities with companies that do large property damage insurance claims documentation, plan to watch 5 pm EDT Thursday, 30 September 2021:✓ WGAN-TV Live at 5: 9 Benefits of Matterport for Property Damage Insurance ClaimsMy guest will be greater Chicago area Property Damage Consultants' Jonathan Sabath whom will discuss how Matterport helps insurance adjusters and insurance companies communicate in new, collaborative ways to accelerate insurance claims, including:1. Less Time2. More Detail3. 24/7 Access by stakeholders (Insurance Company, Building Owner, Adjuster, Legal/Litigation)4. Easier to communicate5. Easier to document6. Reduce claim disputes7. Increase speed of claim approvals (and payment)8. Remote measurements9. Easier collaborationIn addition to discussing these nine benefits of Matterport for property damage insurance claims, I will ask Jon about:1. his tools/workflow used in conjunction with Matterport digital twins2. how various stakeholders in insurance claim documentation use Matterport3. how Matterport Service Providers should reach out to various stakeholders to get businessBy understanding the benefits of Matterport for property damage insurance claims from a state certified public adjuster of 25+ years that uses Matterport for large insurance claims, MSPs will be better positioned to seek and secure Matterport scanning opportunities for insurance claim documentation.For additional backstory, please see this Matterport Blog post that inspired this WGAN-TV Live at 5 show:✓ Matterport Blog (16 August 2021) Learn how Sabath Property Damage Consultants gets policyholders back to their restored property fasterQuestions I should ask Jon on WGAN-TV Live at 5?Best,DanAbout Property Damage Consultants' Jonathan Sabath (Source: LinkedIn)Property damage appraisal for insurance purposes. We help the insured public after a property loss due to fire, water, hurricane, or any other covered peril resulting in a first-party property insurance claim. We are an advocate for the policyholder and specialize in the repair, or restoration of the damaged property as well.[Jonathan is a Property Damage Consultant, State Licensed Public Adjuster, Xactimate Certified and Bonded and Matterport Certified Building Estimator]WGAN Forum Related Discussions1. Transcript: WGAN-TV | MSPs: Matterport & Xactimate for Insurance Adjusting2. Transcript: Matterport Insurance Claims: Flood/Fire Remediation/Restoration3. Transcript for Matterport Webinar: TruePlan-to-Xactimate>Insurance/Restoration4. Transcript: Matterport Webinar for General Contractors/Insurance Adjusting5. Transcript: Matterport Webinar: Matterport TruePlan™ (Xactimate)6. New Integration Accelerates Matterport TruePlan to Xactimate Ordering7. WGAN Forum discussions tagged: Insurance | Fire | Flood | Restoration | Renovation | Xactimate | TruePlanJonathan Sabath Links✓ LinkedIn: Jonathan Sabath✓ Twitter: Jon Sabath

1. WGAN-TV | Real Estate Photography Training/Conference | 26-27 May 22 St Louis

WGAN.INFO/REPconference | Save $50 | Coupon Code: WGAN
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WGAN-TV Live at 5Real Estate Photography Training Conference | (REP Training Conference) | 26-27 May 2022 St LouisSave $50---WGAN Coupon Code to Save $50 on REP Training Conference | Real Estate Photography Training Conference AND received 12-months WGAN-TV Training U (in Matterport): WGAN---Hi All,Will I see you at – REP Training Conference – the Real Estate Photography (REP) Training Conference Thursday, 26 May and Friday, 27 May 2022 in St. Louis, Missouri (at the Hilton at the Ballpark)?On WGAN-TV Live at 5 on Thursday, 16 December 2021, my guest is 2022 Real Estate Photography (REP) Training Conference Co-Organizer Zach Molino to talk about:✓ WGAN-TV Live at 5 | Why Attend the Real Estate Photography Conference (REP Training Conference)I will ask Zach to talk about:1. the 2022 REP Training Conference Trainers/Speakers2. the 2022 REP Training Conference Topics3. why attend the 2022 REP Training Conference?Questions that I should ask Zach during this WGAN-TV Live at 54 show?Plus ...REP Two-Day Workshop/Conference Includes What I wish I knew before I started How to get your first 10 clients and un-tapped methods to obtain more clients How to take and edit stunning twilight photos Licensing Images / Copyright Infringement / Intellectual Property Contracts for contract photographers Taxes, accounting/bookkeeping, business structure, liability insurance Hiring and managing contract photographers Lots of Q&A Tons of constructive criticism and tips for improvement Managing your in-house team and maximizing their production Photo-balance and framing shots Improve your photos with composition and managing the light Creating floor plans, tours and other add-ons to increase revenue How to obtain and photograph more luxury listings All things Matterport and 3D How to quickly shoot and edit video (drone and camera) Scheduling and tour platforms - pros and cons of each Having a Client Relation manager can save and expand your business How to shoot and edit Flambient and/or Flash Photography Outsource editing, how to find and train the right company How to take stunning Commercial/Architectural photos How to add various drone services Brand management - growing and maintaining your brand Social media and SEO marketing How to price your services How to increase your prices with little to no complaints Balancing your personal life with your photography business How to maintain a boutique experience - even as you scale How to take your business to the next level What agents are really looking for - the customer experience Do my photos look good, how can I improve them How to get started in this industry the right way How to transition from part-time to full-time All of the gear used by all of our speakers and coachesREP Training Conference | Real Estate Photography Conference Speakers Amir Frank - Senior Evangelist, Matterport Amy Thorp - Owner/Lead Photographer, Amy Thorp Photography Brendan Hsu - Conference Host and Managing Partner, Aerial Canvas Dan Smigrod- Founder and Managing Editor, We Get Around Network Forum and WGAN-TV David Deal - Founder, The Law Offices of David Deal Charly Simon - Founder & CEO, Charly Simon Photo and Charly Simon Training Chris Miller - Founder, One Point Media Christopher Bradford - CFO & Architectural Photographer/Cinematic Creator, Dream Home Images Darryl Stringer - Real Estate Photographer Coach/Consultant, buildaphotographybusiness.com Eli Jones - Founder, Norman & Young and Real Estate Photographer Pro Greg Hansen - Chief Operations Officer, Dream Home Images Josh Mais - Founder, Show & Tour and Sherpa Media Krista Abel - Founder and CEO of Dream Home Images Samantha Ward - Founder, Picture KC Vic DeVore - Founder, DeVore DesignREP Conference Links REP Training Conference Website Register Now for REP Training Conference Ask Questions about REP Training Conference (Photographers) Ask Questions about REP Training Conference (Vendors)I look forward to meeting you at - REP Training Conference - the Real Estate Photography (REP) Training Conference Thursday, 26 May and Friday, 27 May 2022 in St. Louis, Missouri (at the Hilton at the Ballpark).Best,Dan SmigrodFounder and Managing EditorWe Get Around Network Forum and WGAN-TVAtlanta