Rethink Real Estate

In this forward-looking episode of Rethink Real Estate, host Ben Brady, CEO of Harcourts Auctions, sits down once again with Tony Self, Broker Associate at Harcourts Hunter Mason Realty, to unpack one of the most disruptive moments in modern real estate. From the proposed Compass–Anywhere merger to Zillow’s partnership with OpenAI, Ben and Tony dive into how consolidation, regulation, and artificial intelligence are rewriting the industry’s playbook.They examine the potential consequences if Compass gains control of nearly two-thirds of U.S. real estate transactions, the growing backlash from agents and franchise brands, and what this could mean for competition and consumer choice. Tony brings his insider’s perspective from years in corporate real estate and tech, offering rare insight into how brokers, teams, and independent offices should prepare for what’s next.The conversation then pivots to AI’s rapid evolution — from OpenAI’s partnership with Zillow to Sora’s video generation and the new wave of real es