Via Matrix, The New York Times:
Zillow.com, the Web site that provides free home valuations, has been accused by a coalition of community activist groups of undervaluing the homes in black and Latino neighborhoods.
The headline of the story: “A Home Valuation Web Site Is Accused of Discrimination.” I said the headline would be “Computerized Redlining,” but this is The New York Times, the dignified hand-maiden of the left. In any case, the charges of racism will get more hysterical until Zillow.com either pays up or shuts this shake-down down.
But why is this article in the Times today, when this “news” broke last week? To soften Zillow.com up, to let them know what they’re in for if they resist.
If you want something to be frightened about on Halloween, here it is…
Our story so far:
- Welcome to Race Piracy 2.0: Zillow.com is targetted for the crime of having deep pockets…
- Zillow.com shake-down: This is the first shoe dropping…
- Zillow.com shake-down: Creeping disclaimerism as a subject-changing gambit…
- The Zillow.com shake-down: How the other shoe will drop…
- The Zillow.com shake-down: BloodhoundBlog’s take so far — and a chance to win a BloodhoundRealty.com Tee Shirt…
- The Zillow.com shake-down: Preparing for the denouement…
- The Zillow.com shake-down: The piling on begins — and Spencer Tracy is nowhere to be found…
- Defending Zillow.com…
- The Zillow.com shake-down: At last a discouraging word about NCRC…
- Avid AVM aversion extends only to Zillow.com: NCRC off-shoot starts competing on-line valuation service…
- The Zillow.com shake-down: Deconstructing the NCRC complaint…
Technorati Tags: blogging, disintermediation, real estate marketing
Galen says:
I agree with your take on the story and I find it very hard to believe that Zillow as intentionally or inadvertently undervalued minority homes.
That said, do you really think the New York Times should use words like “shakedown” or should they not report on news unless it’s only hours old? They’re notorious for holding stories picked up by other papers for a week or two and then printing them as if they were new. I sincerely doubt they do this for political reasons.
“The dignified hand-maiden of the left?” Maybe, but not in this case. In this case they’re reporting the news – a nonprofit has accused Zillow of undervaluing homes. No evidence has been provided by the nonprofit. Zillow is disappointed that they were not contacted first. That’s the news. Shakedown is our shared opinion.
November 1, 2006 — 5:50 pm
Gresham Real Estate says:
Me too. Zillow has a program(a non discrimination robot) that looks at home values in the general proximity of a home. I’m an immigrant to this country also, and I just have to say this is just too much.
December 18, 2007 — 4:48 pm