Why Wood Is Winning Over Commercial Real Estate Developers

Propmodo Technology

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Greetings,

This week has been a tough one for Zillow. The FTC has filed a lawsuit against Zillow and Redfin, alleging that Zillow paid Redfin $100 million to step aside in the rental listings business. Regulators are signaling that they’re watching consolidation strategies much more closely. If this judgment gets upheld it will remove the ability for online marketplaces to syndicate listing through other platforms, taking power away from the large listing platforms and making it more difficult for the real estate industry to market properties.

The irony is that Zillow and Redfin built their reputations by challenging the old guard of real estate, only to find themselves accused of trying to entrench their own market positions. In a space where scale is everything, it’s not surprising that these firms would look for ways to consolidate power, but it does raise the question of whether the sector’s biggest players are innovating for consumers or protecting their own margins.

This week we are focusing on mass timber construction. Once niche, it is now a mainstream strategy as architects and developers embrace it for sustainability, speed, and design appeal. Unlike steel and concrete, engineered timber products reduce carbon footprints while meeting modern structural demands. Cities like Portland, Toronto, and Milwaukee already feature high-rise timber offices and residential towers that showcase strength and flexibility. With codes adapting for taller structures and investors seeking greener assets, mass timber is emerging as both a design trend and competitive edge in commercial real estate.

Let’s go!

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Construction Technology

Bytes

💸 Settle for less
RealPage has settled the lawsuit brought by the Attorney General of Nevada on behalf of renters for its alleged role in price fixing.

🌾 Grown in office
A company is specializing in turning empty office buildings into indoor urban farms.

🇩🇪 In da haus
German real estate services company Drees & Sommer is the anchor investor in a newly launched PropTech focused venture fund, Bau Ventures.

Overheard

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Propmodo Technology is edited by Franco Faraudo with contributions from readers like you and the Propmodo team.

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