Bigger. Better. Bolder. Inman Connect is heading to San Diego. Join thousands of real estate pros, connect with the Inman Community, and gain insights from hundreds of leading minds shaping the industry. If you’re ready to grow your business and invest in yourself, this is where you need to be. Go BIG in San Diego!

Redfin shareholders on Wednesday signed off on the company’s agreement to be acquired by mortgage lending giant Rocket Companies, clearing the way for the deal to close this month.

The $1.75 billion merger agreement was approved by Redfin shareholders at a special meeting Wednesday, according to preliminary voting results.

The window for antitrust regulators to weigh in with questions or objections to the deal closed on May 8. In reporting first quarter earnings, Rocket executives said they expected to close the deal as soon as this quarter, which ends June 30.

Five Senate Democrats on Wednesday condemned Rocket’s plans to acquire Redfin and Mr. Cooper, and asked why antitrust regulators at the Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission declined to challenge the Redfin merger.

“At a time when families already face a housing affordability crisis, these deals would combine the second-largest mortgage originator, the largest mortgage servicer, and the third-most-visited real estate brokerage website in the United States, into a massive, vertically integrated conglomerate that may reduce choice and raise prices for American families in the housing market,” Senate Democrats including Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders and Cory Booker wrote regulators.

“Instead of competing for new customers by offering better products and services, Rocket is attempting to acquire two already massive companies to create a single, vertically integrated conglomerate,” the lawmakers claimed. “Rocket’s proposed acquisitions of Redfin and Mr. Cooper create the potential for Rocket to steer homebuyers to its own products, hike prices based on private data, and block competition.”

In a pitch to investors in March, Rocket executives said that by handling every aspect of homebuying and selling — from home search to mortgage financing and title and closing — transaction costs on the median priced home will drop from $40,000 to $20,000.

Redfin shareholders had filed four lawsuits complaining that shareholders were entitled to more information about the deal. Attorneys for Redfin shareholder Jason Morano, for example, sought class action certification to represent shareholders they claimed were left in the dark by a “materially incomplete and misleading” deal proxy statement.

Morano’s May 9 complaint sought a court order preventing Redfin shareholders from voting on the merger until they’ve received more details on Redfin deal advisor Goldman Sachs’ dual role as a lender to Rocket.

In a May 29 proxy statement, Redfin executives said all four lawsuits “are without merit, that no supplemental disclosures are required under applicable law, and that the requested additional disclosures are immaterial.”

Rocket, which also has its sights set on acquiring the nation’s biggest loan servicer, Mr. Cooper, says acquiring Redfin will help it achieve its goal of capturing 8 percent of the purchase loan market, and the $9.4 billion Mr. Cooper deal will put Rocket in touch with more homeowners who might be ready to refinance.

Rocket wants to handle 20 percent of U.S. mortgage refinancings, and Rocket CEO Varun Krishna said last month that the company has invested about $500 million in AI and other technology that will help the company scale its business without a proportionate increase in expenses after the mergers.

Rocket announced this week that it plans to issue $4 billion in debt and use the proceeds to retire notes held by Mr. Cooper subsidiary Nationstar Mortgage Holdings Inc.

Editor’s note: This story has been updated to include criticism of Rocket’s plans to acquire Redfin and Mr. Cooper by Senate Democrats. 

Get Inman’s Mortgage Brief Newsletter delivered right to your inbox. A weekly roundup of all the biggest news in the world of mortgages and closings delivered every Wednesday. Click here to subscribe.

Email Matt Carter

Bigger. Better. Bolder. Inman Connect is heading to San Diego. Join thousands of real estate pros, connect with the Inman Community, and gain insights from hundreds of leading minds shaping the industry. If you’re ready to grow your business and invest in yourself, this is where you need to be. Go BIG in San Diego!

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has withdrawn its objection to the settlement between plaintiffs and MLS Property Information Network (PIN) in the homeseller commission lawsuit known as Nosalek, according to a response the DOJ filed in the case on Tuesday.

The move by the government agency follows homeseller plaintiffs and defendant MLS PIN submitting a fourth amended settlement agreement last week, which stipulates that offers of cooperative compensation will be prohibited on MLS PIN’s platform (something other MLSs did in the settlement of commission lawsuit case Sitzer | Burnett) and raises the proposed settlement fund from $3 million to $3.95 million, the same amount it would have cost MLS PIN to join NAR’s settlement in Sitzer | Burnett.

The DOJ’s response specified that it was not taking any position on whether or not the proposed settlement was “fair, reasonable, and adequate” so that the court could approve it without influence from the agency. The DOJ also reiterated that it believes “blanket, upfront offers” of buyer broker compensation from homesellers or their agents are anticompetitive in practice and lead to inflated home prices.

Furthermore, even though the parties reached a proposed settlement, it does not mean that they are shielded from “future enforcement actions” by the government, the filing stated. And, if MLS PIN indeed follows the terms of the settlement, that action in itself would not be a defense, should the government decide to take legal action against the MLS in the future.

“Because the proposed settlement was reached between private litigants in a private class action suit, such settlement does not preclude any future enforcement actions by the United States,” the DOJ’s response said. “Nor would compliance with the proposed settlement or new MLS PIN rules implementing that settlement afford a defense to any such enforcement actions.”

If such a warning by the DOJ is true in the Nosalek case, it may also apply to settlements arranged with parties involved in other commission lawsuit cases with approved settlements — which should keep major industry players on their toes.

A preliminary settlement approval hearing is scheduled for June 10 in Massachusetts federal court.

Other defendants in the Nosalek case, including HomeServices of America, Keller Williams, Anywhere and RE/MAX, have all now been granted final approval of their settlements.

Email Lillian Dickerson

Bigger. Better. Bolder. Inman Connect is heading to San Diego. Join thousands of real estate pros, connect with the Inman Community, and gain insights from hundreds of leading minds shaping the industry. If you’re ready to grow your business and invest in yourself, this is where you need to be. Go BIG in San Diego!

An effective sales funnel converts leads into closed deals — spanning the client journey from brand awareness through conversion into a purchase or sale. It’s important to remember that the client lifecycle and the transaction lifestyle are not one and the same — and your transaction expertise, on its own, isn’t enough to build a sustainable real estate business.

While creating a robust, functional sales funnel is a key part of real estate marketing, it’s only part of the equation. An effective client service funnel exceeds expectations, making each person feel seen, heard, valued, and supported, and turns clients into super-fans and super-fans into advocates for you and your brokerage. A client service funnel takes things further — to client retention, loyalty and even advocacy.

Fundamentally, we’re in a client service business where every touchpoint counts. You know you’ve done your job well when your clients become your biggest cheerleaders. I contend that a successful client journey isn’t possible without a top-notch client service funnel. In this article. I’ll share why you need one and how to build one to drive brand loyalty, reputation — and ultimately, repeat business and referrals. 

Sales funnel vs. client service funnel

A sales funnel assumes that every person in your network and each new contact you make is planning to buy or sell this summer — or this year. And they’re not. Real estate is a long game that requires that you nurture every contact, lead, prospect and client relationship — for years and even decades.

The goal is to stay top-of-mind so that when they’re ready to buy or sell, they’ll think of you first. How to make that happen? By surprising and delighting every client through the lifecycle of their transaction, and at every touchpoint thereafter, nurturing your relationship for years. 

Key benefits of a client service funnel

At a recent company-wide meeting, we talked about providing unreasonable hospitality — a concept popularized by author and world-class restaurateur Will Guidara. As an example, The Agency’s CEO and founder, Mauricio Umansky, shared how he likes to chauffeur his clients to showing appointments whenever possible. It’s kind of his thing, and it’s this type of attention to detail that has made Mauricio and The Agency so successful.

The tangible benefits of a well-honed client service funnel include stronger client relationships, higher client retention rates, a deeper client connection with your brand and, ultimately, more repeat and referral business. Collectively, these build a strong foundation for a sustainable, enduring and thriving real estate career.

How to create an exceptional client service funnel

So how do you establish a client service funnel that surprises, delights and crafts exceptional client experiences at every stage of the transaction — and indeed, at every touchpoint in your client relationships? Here are just a few ways to make lasting impressions that your clients will talk about to friends and colleagues for years to come. 

1. Actively listen and connect: Make active listening your superpower because a truly intuitive understanding of your client’s needs, desires, concerns and lifestyle will help you make curated property recommendations and give advice that truly aligns with their preferences and goals. Connect on their preferred platforms (such as text, phone, email or social media); even if you prefer text messaging, pick up the phone if that’s how your client prefers to connect. 
2. Personalize your communication: Tailor your messaging according to each client. Use your CRM systems to track each touchpoint, important dates and their personal details to make each client interaction feel authentic, relevant and timely. Maintain open lines of communication and respond promptly to show your clients that their needs, questions and concerns are your top priority.
3. Proactively problem-solve: Anticipate and solve problems before they escalate to show your commitment to your client’s comfort and well-being. Demystify complex terminology and processes, share valuable info about desired neighborhoods or market trends, and recommend service providers, local contractors or vendors. Stay one step ahead by identifying potential roadblocks in the transaction process and present solutions before your client even realizes there might be an issue. 
4. Be a trusted advisor: A consistent track record of successful closings helps build client confidence, but nothing works as well as demonstrating your genuine desire to support your client’s best interests and goals beyond the fundamentals of their transaction. Consistently deliver on your promises and provide honest guidance, even and especially when you have to say the hard things.
5. Create memorable client experiences: Design unforgettable moments throughout the client journey — whether through creative marketing strategies for their listing, thoughtfully selected closing gifts or exclusive client appreciation events. A thoughtful check-in after their purchase or sale to address concerns and offer ongoing support reinforces your commitment to them, beyond the scope of the transaction. 

Embracing a client service mindset

Agents who embrace a client service mindset in everything they do — turning ordinary interactions into extraordinary experiences — are the ones who truly excel. Once the signatures are dry, client retention requires ongoing support, knowledge sharing, consistent communication and relationship building — all working together to earn loyalty that can transform your clients into advocates who’ll sing your praises. 

When you consistently deliver unreasonable hospitality and exceptional service, you build a legacy of trust that becomes the cornerstone of your long-term real estate success, generating repeat and referral clients that will be the mainstay of your business for decades to come.

Bigger. Better. Bolder. Inman Connect is heading to San Diego. Join thousands of real estate pros, connect with the Inman Community, and gain insights from hundreds of leading minds shaping the industry. If you’re ready to grow your business and invest in yourself, this is where you need to be. Go BIG in San Diego!

If you’re reading this, you’re not just an agent; you’re an entrepreneur. You know that the old ways of doing business are dying, and the agents who treat their practice like a high-growth startup are the ones who will dominate the second half of 2025.

Forget collecting designations like they’re Pokémon cards. We’re talking about strategic investments in skills and systems that deliver tangible ROI.

The most successful agents I know operate like founders, not freelancers. They’re obsessed with leverage, they stack specialized training on top of AI, and they execute faster than the market can even think about copying them

This isn’t just another list of courses. This is your playbook. I want you to vet these 25 accelerators the same way a venture capitalist vets a startup: find the one that solves your biggest constraint right now, schedule it and get back to building.

We’ve broken these down into five critical foundational skills — the leverage points you need to exploit if you want to scale, not just sell.

Theme 1: AI-driven marketing and client acquisition: Your pipeline on autopilot

Your growth in 2025 will scale at the speed of your algorithms. If you’re not leveraging AI in your marketing and lead gen, you’re already behind. These accelerators will help you build a client acquisition machine that runs 24/7.

Execute now. Don’t wait.

Information without implementation is just entertainment. Here’s your action plan for when you finish this article:

1. Pick TWO accelerators from this list that solve your single biggest bottleneck right now. Not five, not 10. Two.
2. Block the first session on your calendar within the next 24 hours. 
3. Share your key takeaways and action items with your team (or a peer) by the end of this week. 

Theme 2: Strategic business architecture and scalability: Systems beat hustle

Hustle gets you started. Systems get you scale. If you’re still the bottleneck in your own business, it’s time to architect for growth. These programs are about building a business that can run (and grow) without your constant intervention.

Theme 3: Elevated client engagement and personal branding: Conversations convert, brand compounds

In a world of AI and automation, genuine human connection and a powerful personal brand are your ultimate differentiators. These accelerators focus on mastering the art of conversation and building a brand that attracts, not just chases.

Theme 4: Financial acumen and wealth creation: Speak the language of investors

Stop talking about curb appeal and start talking cap rates. The best agents understand the numbers, guide investors with confidence and build their own wealth through real estate. 

Theme 5: Future-proofing mindset and innovation: Upgrade the operator — you

Your business can only grow to the extent that you do. Investing in your mindset, your leadership and your ability to innovate is non-negotiable. These are about upgrading the most important asset in your business: you.

The market rewards speed and specificity. 

Choose.

Commit.

Implement.