Adding Some Sun to Rain City Guide
Dustin on 04 11, 2006
I’m extremely excited to announce that I’ve accepted a position with Move (HOMS) as the Director of Consumer Innovations.
Until recently, Move was known as HomeStore and they (we!) are the people who run Realtor.com, HomeBuilder.com, RentNet, Welcome Wagon, and a few other sites… The idea behind the Move brand is that we’ll be creating a one-stop-shop for connecting consumers with comprehensive real estate information and expertise.
No surprise that this will be a huge change for me and my family. Not only are we moving to Southern California, but I will now have some actually time to spend pushing the boundaries of online real estate technology (I’m no longer a transportation engineer!?!). What a difference a year of blogging can make!
I imagine that there might be a question or two I could answer about this change, but I’ll save the answers to what? why? how? and when? for future posts.
About the Author: Dustin Luther
- Author's website: http://www.raincityguide.com/
- More posts by Dustin
- email the author
56 Responses to “Adding Some Sun to Rain City Guide”
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- Rhonda Porter: you must be so excit
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- Leanne Finlay: Tim, eventually I'll
- ARDELL: Craig, Proof of t
Congratulations Dustin! That’s incredible! I bet Realtor.com is going to generate a lot of innovative products with you as the Director of Consumer Innovations!
Oh woe! What will become of the RCG?
Congrats! and don’t forget your NW roots!
And just like that… I can’t believe what you are willing to for a good blog post: quit your job and move to a different state? I think you are taking the pursuit for comments too far!
Seriously, congratulations and good luck! You are my inspiration!
Too bad all the cool technology you’ll be helping invent won’t make houses in California more affordable.
Anyway, best of luck… If Move does something half as cool as Rain City Guide, I’m sure it’ll be a massive success.
Thanks for the kind words everyone!
i am speechless…
Congratulations! They’re lucky to have you aboard.
Here’s to a smooth move.
I bet it was the new head shot that sealed the deal
Wow, Best of Luck Dustin! No doubt that Move got their monies worth and more!
The title… “Adding Some Sun to Rain City Guide” gives me a ray of hope that you might be moving south, but we won’t lose you and the Guide.
All the best to you and your family Dustin!
I definitely have no plans to give up or change much about Rain City Guide… It is still owned by Anna and I’ve confirmed that blogging will be a part of my job!
I guess its true — blogging dreams really can come true. Congratulations, Dustin, on finding a job to match your passion… or perhaps finding a passion that led to a great job. Nice work, and needless to say you will be sorely missed here in Seattle.
-Craig
Look who is sleeping with the enemy now
Congrats and Best of Luck!
–rob
Rob, that made me bust up…
Here’s a link that should shed light on Rob’s comment.
“So they loaded up the truck and they moved to Beverly…Hills that is, swimming pools…movie stars!” LOL
I think that is great news, Dustin! If you move to the West Side, I have a great agent I can recommend…but it’s pricey. If you end up in Simi Valley…don’t bring any long pants, shorts and sandles only
Wow. Congratulations! Maybe now realtor.com will be able to compete with google, et. al. Maybe charge less than $600 for multiple pictures. Maybe now realtor.com will be a viable alternative.
Congrats, Dustin!
This is fantastic news for Realtors, who by and large don’t have much to show from their exclusive relationship with HOMS. No doubt you will be a breath of fresh air. Good luck, I think you will have your hands full more than you could ever imagine.
Congratulations on your new career. Good Luck to you and your family. Don’t neglect to have a good attorney review that employment contract
Enjoy the avocados and alfalfa sprouts!
Hi Dustin, Congratulations, since talking to you last night about all of the real estate issues of Seattle, I was a little taken back. I feel like, I should stay tuned to your blogs:0( It’s too bad that we never did get the dinner stuff with our new borns. I placed a post on the competition page, that was interesting stuff on the numbers that Marlow placed. Anyway, Congratulations, I am sure we will see each other and stay connected. By the way, what is going to happen with the real estate listings search stuff on RainCityGuide?
Vipin,
Thanks for the comments… In terms of the listing issue we discussed yesterday, I’m definitely still trying to get Branden at the NWMLS to let RCG host a home search. However, I think he got scared, so he stopped talking with me, and instead sent his lawyers to talk with Anna’s broker.
For people new to our situation, the crux of the argument presented by Brendan is that RCG lets other agents market themselves so it can’t be an “agent site” and if it is not an “agent site” then it is not allowed to display MLS information.
Earlier today I thought I might find the time to put a post together on the situation, but things have gotten a little out of hand. Hopefully I’ll find the time soon, because I think it would make an interesting post.
move.com might have a chance of becoming the best real estate resource on the planet with you pushing innovation. Congratulations seems like an understatement. Zoweeeeeee!
PS: I can see potential new blog names: Smog City Guide, Sun City Guide (whoops, that might be taken), Surfer City Guide, Star City Guide, the list is endless…
Congrats! It’s great to see that more and more companies are recognizing the importance of bloggers and direct communication with consumers.
Way to go Dustin! You used your blog as a tool to demonstrate your credibility and expertise as a thought-leader in RE technology. That testifies to the power of blogging as well as to the savvy of the blogger (i.e. you). Congratulations. Well deserved.
Congratulations! I hope this is a good move for you — and I’m very glad that you’ll still be part of this blog. I find myself going through your posts again, occasionally, for advice on possibilities for my sites!
I’m proud proud proud of you Dustin. All of us here in Rain City will be holding you to your word that you won’t be giving up RSG. Can’t wait to hear what part of town you’ll be moving to. And Anna can still be licensed here!
A testament to your grasp of technology and the cutting edge, not to mention fun posts that keeps us thinking.
Dustin, Looks like Top Producer’s address is the same as the Homestore address on your Southern California link in the post. I swore by Top Producer back in its DOS days, but just haven’t found it as useful since it switched to the windows and then online versions. I’ve been thinking of giving it another try, because I haven’t found anything better.
TOP PRODUCER® Systems,
30700 Russell Ranch Road,
Westlake Village, CA, 91362-6399.
Wow Dustin! What amazing news and what an exciting new chapter in your and Annas’ lives! Congratulations to you….what a testimate to your forward thinking and efforts! I came to Seattle from the LA area almost 12 years ago…to escape what I felt at the time was “relentless sunshine”…. and living here has made me appreciate the sun all the more, just like when I lived in California I loved the occassional gray, rainy days! I hope that you will have the time for one last “Meetup” before you go….how you would find the time would be the question? Best Wishes on your achievement!
Deborah
Dustin,
Congrats!
Cool title – Director of Consumer Innovations. I may need to spice up my title now just to fit in
See you on the Real Estate front lines.
All the Best,
-rdb
sellsius
Dustin,
Congratulations and good luck at Move. I’m sure you’ll continue to amaze us with your talents and innovative insight!
Regards,
harvey
Congratulations, Dustin. You do move fast
I will be fascinated to see what all mischief you get up to a Director of Consumer Innovation. Maybe we can all be a part of it.
Hope your copntract allows you to keep Rain City Guide going – this has been a fun ride so far.
Geez – 30 posts in less than 2 days!
Congrats Dustin!
I have learned so much in such a short time by following RCG , your posts in particular, and can’t wait to learn more from you at Move. I am curious what tools you will be using as a real estate buyer for your relocation? I think a few posts on the process and tools you are using would be helpful to us all. (Zillow? Trulia? Realtor.com? etc…)
As a Broker, I am most excited about having forward thinkers like yourself batting for my team! Good Luck!
Brad,
Great idea… Anna and I have been talking about how we can milk our move to S. California for at least a month’s worth of good posts!
Dustin-
Congrats on the move to California’s better half
Look me up when in town. I would love to meet you in person. I will buy you a brew. Or if you miss home, I will buy you a starbucks. We might be able to find one around here some place.
Tim
I miss a couple days of RCG and what happens…the whole world goes crazy.
WOW – this is awesome. This is huge and couldn’t happen to a nicer ( or mor deserving) person. You’ve definately led the field in innovative use of blogging about real estate. I look forward to hearing more as you start your new venture.
BIGGEST QUESTION — when is the RCG send off party for you and Anna?
Tim, I’ll definitely look you up… Expect an email sooner than later!
And Robert… I think a party sounds great. Anyone have some ideas and/or suggestions they want to share?
And when might that farewell party be? My house is always fair game, though a billiard hall sounds like more fun.
Congrats Dustin!
Good luck with the new venture at Move.
Congratulations on what sounds like a fantastic opportunity to expand your horizons. Best wishes to you and your family.
[...] The Mind of a Seller April 13, 2006 So we’re moving… [...]
I love the Billiard hall idea – may I recommend, the Parlor Billiards & Spirits in Bellevue at Lincoln Square? I’d normally say Jillians, but I’m still mad at the city of Seattle for my parking ticket last week.
Don’t let the man get you down! Congrats…
Congrats, Dustin. That’s exciting and I hope things turn out really well!
dave
Hmm… My firstborn & his family within driving distance? Too good to be true. Hurry up and get back to California. We need you.
[...] The Mind of a Home Buyer April 15, 2006 So, we’re moving to Southern California, and we have some obvious questions we want answered: [...]
[...] (it’s sure not shining here) Yesterday, in a post titled Adding Some Sun to Rain City Guide, Dustin Luther announced that he’s joining the Move (formerly Homestore) team and will become their new Director of Consumer Innovations. A few months ago, after a $100 million cash infusion from private equity group Elevation Partners was announced, Dustin proposed a mission: Imagine that you’ve been invited to 2800 Sand Hill Road to discuss the future of real estate with Roger McNamee, Fred Anderson, Bono, John Riccitiello, John Doerr, and Joe Hanauer. What do you tell them? What features do you want to see in real estate search? If you are an agent, what is the biggest pain that someone could fix with a technical solution? If you are a buyer, what are the major gaps you see in the current system? What information do you wish you had? I know that some of my readers have some great ideas. Please share as much as you’re willing. Remember that these guys want to work “within” the current system (i.e. cooperate with real estate agents!), and, most importantly, these people are thinking huge… $100M huge! [...]
Wow. Cool.
Silly question:
What exactly does “Director of Consumer Innovations” mean?
Congrats!
Congratulations Dustin! Sounds like really great opportunity for you. Good luck and best wishes to you and your loved ones!
Thogek,
Give me a few months and I’ll have a much better idea!
[...] Adding Some Sun to Rain City Guide – 49 comments [...]
Are we there yet?
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[...] Wow! What a ride! December 7, 2007 About an hour ago I walked out of Move’s offices for the last time as an employee. For those of you who’ve been around RCG for a while, you’ll remember that I took a position as Director of Consumer Innovations at Move with great enthusiasm back in April of 2006. Taking the position was a huge deal for me and my family and now that I’ve decided to leave, [...]
[...] an epic personal journey that has allowed me to foster a fabulously healthy real estate community, learn a tremendous amount about building and marketing real estate websites, and make a living educating real estate professionals on how to improve their online [...]
[...] Dustin Luther – Move [...]
[...] Dustin Luther – Move [...]