Redfin
An American technology-enabled real estate brokerage and property marketplace.
Last updated October 22, 2026
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Overview
Redfin is a technology-enabled real estate company that provides brokerage, home-search, rental, mortgage, and related property services in the United States and Canada. The company began in Seattle in 2004 with a map-based website intended to make property search more transparent and efficient. Its early model connected online listings, mapping, and real-estate data with salaried or technology-supported agents, challenging traditional brokerage economics through lower listing fees and buyer commission refunds. The company was founded by David Eraker, Michael Dougherty, and David Selinger. Selinger, who had previously worked on data mining and personalization at Amazon, helped develop Redfin's mapping and property-data systems. Glenn Kelman became chief executive in 2005 and led the company through its geographic expansion, public offering, later restructuring, and eventual acquisition by Rocket Companies. Redfin expanded from Seattle into the San Francisco Bay Area in 2006 and subsequently entered markets including Southern California, Boston, Baltimore, and Washington, D.C. Its consumer-facing website and mobile products combined searchable listings with estimated property values, agent information, tour scheduling, market data, and transaction tools. The company also developed services for sellers, including discounted or flat-fee brokerage arrangements, and for buyers, including refunds or rebates subject to applicable rules and transaction conditions. During the 2010s, Redfin broadened its technology offering. It introduced tools showing aspects of an agent's sales history, although an early version was withdrawn after criticism regarding data accuracy. Redfin Estimate, an automated valuation product, was launched in 2015, as was Book it Now, which enabled users to request property tours on demand. The company later experimented with direct home purchasing and resale through RedfinNow, partnered with Opendoor to provide instant-offer requests, and entered rentals through the 2021 acquisition of RentPath. Redfin became a public company in July 2017. Its growth strategy was affected by housing-market cycles, changing mortgage conditions, the cost of employing agents, and the economics of buying homes for resale. In 2022, Redfin reduced its workforce and discontinued RedfinNow. The company also faced regulatory and litigation issues, including a 2007 dispute with the Northwest Multiple Listing Service over consumer reviews and a fair-housing lawsuit resolved in 2022 through a settlement and policy changes. Rocket Companies acquired Redfin in July 2025, making Redfin a subsidiary within Rocket's broader housing and financial-services ecosystem. Redfin continues to operate as a consumer real-estate brand, combining online search and data products with human brokerage services. Its positioning remains centered on using software, data, and digital transaction tools to reduce friction and potentially lower the cost of buying and selling homes, while its rental and mortgage capabilities extend the brand beyond conventional residential brokerage.
History
Redfin was established in Seattle in 2004 by David Eraker, Michael Dougherty, and David Selinger. Its initial proposition was to apply mapping, searchable data, and software design to residential property discovery. Rather than treating the internet solely as an advertising channel for conventional agents, Redfin built a consumer platform intended to connect listings, maps, property information, and brokerage services in one workflow. Glenn Kelman became chief executive in September 2005. Under his leadership, Redfin moved from a Seattle search product into an operating brokerage. In 2006 it began offering buying and selling services in Seattle and the San Francisco Bay Area. In 2007 it expanded into Southern California, Boston, Baltimore, and Washington, D.C. The company's model used discounted or flat-fee seller pricing and buyer commission refunds, subject to local rules and transaction requirements, to distinguish Redfin from traditional commission structures. The company's early growth also exposed it to industry rules. In 2007, the Northwest Multiple Listing Service fined Redfin and required it to stop publishing certain home reviews because the material conflicted with multiple-listing-service requirements. In 2011, Redfin introduced a feature showing an agent's sales history, but it later discontinued the feature after concerns that the underlying data could be inaccurate. Redfin continued investing in digital tools during the 2010s. In 2015 it introduced Redfin Estimate, an automated valuation tool, and Book it Now, which enabled consumers to request home tours. In 2017 it launched RedfinNow, a direct home-buying and flipping operation. The same year Redfin completed its initial public offering and became a listed company. The company subsequently tested new transaction models, including enabling certain buyers to make offers on Redfin-listed properties without a separate buyer's agent and partnering with Opendoor so website visitors could request an offer for their homes. Redfin expanded beyond conventional brokerage through rentals and mortgages. Its 2021 acquisition of RentPath gave it a larger rental-search presence. However, the economics of brokerage and home flipping became more difficult as housing-market conditions changed. In June 2022 Redfin announced an 8 percent staff reduction. In November it announced an additional reduction affecting 862 employees, described as 13 percent of its workforce, and said it would wind down RedfinNow. Redfin also faced substantial scrutiny over fair-housing practices. In 2020, several fair-housing organizations sued, alleging that Redfin offered fewer services in minority communities and did not adequately offer lower-priced homes because such transactions were less profitable. The dispute was settled in 2022. Redfin paid a settlement, changed relevant policies, and created an internal monitoring system. In July 2025, Rocket Companies acquired Redfin. The transaction changed Redfin's ownership and corporate context but preserved the brand's role as a consumer-facing real estate platform. Redfin's continuing business combines online property search and data products with agent services for buying and selling homes, together with rental and mortgage-related offerings. Its historical identity remains that of a software-oriented brokerage seeking to make real estate transactions more transparent, convenient, and cost-efficient.
- 2025
Acquisition by Rocket Companies
[1]Rocket Companies acquired Redfin, making it a subsidiary within Rocket's housing ecosystem.
- 2022
Restructuring and RedfinNow wind-down
[1]Redfin announced workforce reductions and discontinued its home-flipping operation.
- 2021
RentPath acquisition expands rental services
[1]Redfin acquired RentPath and expanded its rental marketplace capabilities.
- 2017
Redfin becomes public and launches RedfinNow
[1]Redfin completed its IPO and began its direct home-buying and flipping experiment.
- 2015
Redfin Estimate and Book it Now launch
[1]The company introduced automated valuation and on-demand tour scheduling tools.
- 2007
Major geographic expansion and listing-service dispute
[1]Redfin entered several major U.S. metropolitan areas and was fined by the Northwest Multiple Listing Service over home reviews.
- 2006
Brokerage services begin in additional markets
[1]Redfin expanded its buying and selling services from Seattle into the San Francisco Bay Area.
- 2005
Glenn Kelman becomes chief executive
[1]Kelman was appointed chief executive as Redfin began developing its technology-supported brokerage model.
- 2004
Redfin is founded and launches in Seattle
[1]David Eraker, Michael Dougherty, and David Selinger founded Redfin and launched a map-based real estate search service in Seattle.
Products and positioning
A technology-driven, digitally integrated real estate brokerage positioned around transparent search, data-enabled decisions, convenient transactions, and lower or more flexible brokerage costs.
Digital property marketplace · 2004
Redfin website and mobile applications
Redfin's consumer platforms provide searchable residential listings, maps, property facts, market information, valuation estimates, agent profiles, tour scheduling, and transaction-related features. They serve as the primary entry point for consumers researching homes and connecting with Redfin's brokerage and related services.
Real estate brokerage · 2006
Redfin brokerage services
Redfin provides agent-assisted services for people buying and selling residential property. The brand historically differentiated its brokerage through technology-supported workflows, discounted or flat-fee seller arrangements, and buyer commission refunds or rebates where available under local law and transaction conditions.
Automated valuation · 2015
Redfin Estimate
Redfin Estimate is an automated home-valuation feature intended to help consumers understand an indicative property value. It is a data product rather than a guaranteed appraisal or offer, and its results depend on available property, market, and comparable-sales information.
Rental marketplace · 2021
Redfin rentals
Redfin's rental offering enables users to search rental homes and apartments through its digital marketplace. The business was expanded through the acquisition of RentPath, extending Redfin beyond owner-occupied home transactions.
Direct home buying · 2017
RedfinNow
RedfinNow was Redfin's home-flipping and direct-purchase operation. It bought homes directly, prepared them for resale, and attempted to provide sellers with an alternative to a conventional listing. Redfin announced the wind-down of the division in 2022.
Controversies
2026
Redfin faces two data breach class action lawsuits
Two plaintiffs filed data breach class action complaints against Redfin. According to the source, the complaints followed Redfin's disclosure of an incident affecting 55 Massachusetts residents. The report describes the litigation as class action lawsuits brought in response to that disclosed incident. No further details on the allegations, the relief sought, or the outcome of the cases are provided in the source material.
2022
Fair-housing lawsuit and settlement
Fair-housing organizations alleged that Redfin provided fewer services in minority communities and avoided some lower-priced homes because of their lower profitability. Redfin resolved the case through a settlement, policy changes, and an internal monitoring program.
2020
Surefield co-founder sues Redfin over alleged technology theft
David Eraker filed two lawsuits alleging that Redfin and venture capital backer Madrona Venture Group took technology he developed, including patented 3D home-tour technology. The suits were reported in May 2020. The claims are allegations; the source does not report a court determination.
Brand decisions
2025
Acquisition by Rocket CompaniesM&ABackground
Rocket Companies sought to combine its housing and financial-services capabilities with Redfin's consumer real estate marketplace and brokerage network.
Action taken
Rocket Companies acquired Redfin, which became a subsidiary of the group.
Aftermath
Redfin continued operating under its established consumer brand within Rocket's broader housing ecosystem.
2022
Wind-down of RedfinNowStrategyBackground
The company faced a changing housing market and sought to reduce costs and exposure to direct home ownership.
Action taken
Redfin announced additional workforce reductions and discontinued RedfinNow.
Aftermath
The company refocused on brokerage, marketplace, rental, mortgage, and technology-enabled services.
2017
Initial public offeringOtherBackground
Redfin sought public-market access while expanding its technology-supported brokerage and consumer marketplace.
Action taken
The company completed an initial public offering and became publicly traded.
Aftermath
Redfin operated as a public company until its acquisition by Rocket Companies in 2025.
IPO proceeds. $138 million raised (July 2017)
2017
Launch of RedfinNowStrategyBackground
Redfin explored whether direct home purchasing could complement its brokerage and create a faster selling option for homeowners.
Action taken
The company created a home-flipping division that purchased and resold homes.
Aftermath
Redfin announced the division's wind-down in 2022 as housing-market and operating conditions became less favorable.
Recent events
- Unconfirmed
Redfin faces two data breach class action lawsuits[3]
Reported:
Two plaintiffs filed data breach class action complaints against Redfin. The article says the complaints followed Redfin's disclosure of an incident affecting 55 Massachusetts residents.
Redfin announces Direct Access expansion to 22 markets[6]
Reported:
Redfin announced a rollout of its Direct Access home-tour program to new markets. The program, previously available in 13 markets in California, Nevada and Texas, was planned to become available in 22 markets nationwide.
Redfin partners with ADT to monitor Direct Access homes[6]
Reported:
Redfin announced a partnership with ADT to provide additional security monitoring for homes in Redfin's Direct Access program. ADT will inform sellers about property entries and exits, photograph entrants, monitor doors, and detect unauthorized entry outside touring hours.
RedfinNow launches in Tucson and resumes service in Las Vegas[7]
Reported:
Redfin launched RedfinNow iBuyer services in Tucson, Arizona, and restarted services in parts of Las Vegas.
RedfinNow launches in Phoenix metro[8]
Reported:
Redfin launched its RedfinNow instant homebuying service in the Phoenix metro area, where sellers can request cash offers for their homes and sell to Redfin.
Redfin appoints Kerry D. Chandler to its board[9]
Reported:
Redfin announced that Kerry D. Chandler had joined its board of directors.
Surefield co-founder sues Redfin over alleged technology theft[4]
Reported:
David Eraker filed two suits alleging that Redfin and venture capital backer Madrona Venture Group took technology he developed, including patented 3D home-tour technology. These are allegations; the source does not report a court determination.
David Eraker files patent-related lawsuits against Redfin[5]
Reported:
Redfin co-founder David Eraker filed lawsuits alleging that Redfin violated his patents and copied technology developed by his company Surefield. These are allegations in pending litigation; the article does not report a court determination.
Redfin launches Redfin Premier luxury-home service[10]
Reported:
Redfin launched Redfin Premier, a premium marketing service for homes listed at $1 million or more, in 11 U.S. markets, with plans to roll it out to other large markets over time.
Redfin Direct launches in Texas[11]
Reported:
Redfin launched its Redfin Direct service in Texas, its third market. The platform allows unrepresented buyers to make offers on Redfin-listed homes.
Sources13 sources
- 1Redfinen.wikipedia.org
- 2Redfin official websiteredfin.com
- 3Redfin faces two data breach class action lawsuitsnationalmortgagenews.com
- 4Surefield co-founder sues Redfin over alleged technology thefttherealdeal.com
- 5Surefield co-founder sues Redfin over alleged technology theftinman.com
- 6Redfin宣布将Direct Access扩展至22个市场geekwire.com
- 7RedfinNow进驻图森并恢复拉斯维加斯服务inman.com
- 8RedfinNow在凤凰城都会区推出abc15.com
- 9Redfin 任命 Kerry D. Chandler 为董事会成员prnewswire.com
- 10Redfin推出Redfin Premier豪宅服务inman.com
- 11Redfin Direct 在德克萨斯州推出inman.com
- 12Redfin Faces Class-Action Lawsuit Over Data Breachrismedia.com
- 13Redfin Launches 'Redfin Premier' Service for Luxury Propertiesprnewswire.com
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