OT: Understanding clients' businesses

My brother sells Real Estate in California where the market is fiercely competitive.  It's not uncommon for new listings to sell the first day & in some cases attract multiple offers. 

IMO, the best RE web sites look great but never at the expense of form & function.  No Flash stuff either.

A great IDX search feature is essential. Buyers & sellers want to find what they're looking for quickly and not be limited to just the agent's inventory. 

Prospective clients also need to get a call back from the agent or broker ASAP, not 3 days later.   

Best Practices for Your Real Estate Website Home Page | Realtor Magazine

paulk7737514  wrote I am trying to beef up my knowledge of the real estate business in order to sell a real estate website. However, the complexity of the business is driving me crazy, not to mention the competition with vertical market companies that specialize in real estate websites. Any DW users with real estate website experience care to comment?

I should think there is a far reaching spectrum of individuals/companies selling real estate, especially in the US where anyone and everyone can get in on the act, without having much or any experience.

You wont be able to infiltrate the top tier as they are out of your reach and beyond your skill level  BUT there will be room for you to target those that dont have infinite 'cash to trash'. It's much the same as any industry - those developers/companies that only have dollar signs engrained on their pupils won't be able to, or feel its beneath them, to work for those real estate business that have lower budgets than they feel they are worth or can command. That's good as it spreads the work around and suitable client/developer relationships are formed based on differing critrea.

I would concentrate on what you do best and assess if your skills are a good fit when the oportunity arises.

paulk7737514  wrote I am trying to beef up my knowledge of the real estate business in order to sell a real estate website.

SMH. You have a real estate question, NOT a dreamweaver question.