Product and Services Roundup: REA Group, Casavo, Zoopla

This week's Product Roundup starts in Australia, where realestate.com.au has launched a suite of new features...

Oceania: Realestate.com.au launches five new features

Realestate.com.au has introduced five new app features aimed at increasing user engagement and information transparency.

The new features include property walkthrough videos, AI-generated property highlights, and monthly market summaries that track property valuation changes.

Jonathan Swift, Executive General Manager for Consumer Product at REA Group, said:

"We know from our recent research that almost 7 in 10 buyers agree that the more information and understanding they have of the market, the quicker they can negotiate a deal with the agent or seller. They're also telling us that they want interactive floor plans, videos, and more details about what's unique about a property. Our unparalleled market insights and new immersive features are all about being that source of information to help property seekers build their confidence."

Read the full coverage here.

Europe: Casavo completes pivot from iBuyer to Marketplace

Casavo has completed its transition away from the iBuyer model, fully adopting a marketplace approach. The group reports a network of over 150 real estate agents in Italy and France, with plans to reach 200 agents by year-end through expansion into new cities and integration of local agencies.

Giorgio Tinacci, CEO and founder of Casavo, said:

“2024 was a pivotal year: we completed the transformation of our business model, moving to a more sustainable, scalable marketplace model that is consistent with our long-term vision. The revenue growth resulting from this model, the level of operational efficiency achieved, and the expansion of our agent network have validated the strategic transition decision we began in early 2023.”

Casavo announced a 31% increase in revenue for the first half of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, and expects to achieve financial sustainability by the end of Q4 2025. The company projects over 50% year-on-year growth in 2025 and aims to serve more than 1,600 customers.

The company secured a €13 million capital increase in December 2024. Casavo continues to invest in proprietary software for agents and expand its range of solutions for customers.

United Kingdom: Zoopla research reveals local presence is the top driver for how sellers choose their agent

New data from Zoopla indicates that local presence—not price—remains the dominant factor in how UK sellers select estate agents in 2025.

Key Findings from the research include:

• 49% of sellers invite three agents to value their property before choosing one, while 15% of homeowners use only one agent.
• 20% of sellers rank “local presence and nearby sales” as the primary reason for choosing an agent.“Local expertise and reputation” was cited by 13%.
• Only 11% of agents believe consumers prioritise an agent’s ability to negotiate the best price, and the same share think mortgage and financial services support is important. For sellers, mortgage support ranked lowest.
• 30% of sellers chose an agent they had used previously, while 14% were referred to an agent by family or friends.

Rich Hayes, Chief Operating Officer at Zoopla, said:

"Our latest research powerfully highlights what’s driving vendor decision-making in today’s market and underscores the pivotal role of a valuation. It highlights that local presence, expertise, and reputation are far more crucial to consumers, and it really is about building trust with vendors from the outset, not just promoting low fees. Agents that are growing the fastest are shifting their mindset, and leading with marketing, data, and service to justify a higher fee.

That's why Prospect Plus is so powerful. It equips agents with additional insights into seller valuation goals and saved searches, giving them an advantage when it comes to developing rapport, securing instructions, and winning new business."

The research covered 1,006 people who had sold a home in the past five years, and 100 agents.