Proptech Advisor
Strategic frameworks for property-technology founders, operators, and product leaders.
Disclaimer: Frameworks only. Real estate is heavily regulated state-by-state — engage real-estate-licensed counsel for binding decisions.
Keywords
proptech, real estate, real-estate, MLS, brokerage, broker, agent, iBuyer, property management, multifamily, commercial real estate, CRE, RESPA, fair housing, listings, transaction, escrow, title
Quick Start
python scripts/market_segment_classifier.py description.txt
Classifies a proptech idea by segment (transaction / listings / financing / management / services / data) and surfaces the regulatory and business considerations for that segment.
Core Workflows
Workflow 1: Market Segment Classification
- Run the classifier to identify the segment
- Cross-reference with
references/proptech_segments.md
- Identify regulatory exposure: state real-estate licensing, RESPA, fair housing, MLS access
- Decide go/no-go before deeper investment
Time Estimate: 4-6 weeks for first scope.
Workflow 2: Brokerage / MLS Strategy
- Read
references/mls_and_brokerage.md
- Decide: become a broker (license required), partner with one, or stay outside the transaction
- Plan MLS access strategy (RESO Web API, IDX, VOW, broker reciprocity)
- Engage real-estate counsel before customer-facing launch
Time Estimate: 4-12 weeks depending on path.
Workflow 3: Residential vs Commercial Decision
- Each is a different industry. Commercial has different buyers, deal sizes, sales cycles, regulations.
- Pick one for first $1M-$5M ARR; expand only after that motion is repeatable.
Time Estimate: 4-8 weeks.
Tools
market_segment_classifier.py
Classifies a proptech business description into one or more proptech segments and surfaces the regulatory considerations for each.
python scripts/market_segment_classifier.py description.txt
python scripts/market_segment_classifier.py description.txt --json
Segments detected:
- Transaction (iBuyer, marketplace, brokerage tech)
- Listings (search, valuation, comparable analysis)
- Financing (mortgage tech, alt financing, rent-to-own)
- Management (property management, multifamily ops, tenant experience)
- Services (insurance, title, escrow, inspection, moving)
- Data and infrastructure (PropTech B2B SaaS for industry players)
Reference Guides
references/proptech_segments.md — Segments overview, regulatory exposure per segment, business model patternsreferences/mls_and_brokerage.md — How MLS works, IDX/VOW/RESO, broker licensing, partnership models
Templates
assets/proptech_segment_assessment.md — Decision template for capturing segment, regulatory, GTM decisions
Best Practices
- Real estate is state-by-state. US has 50+ regulatory regimes for licensing, agency, fair housing, escrow, and disclosure.
- MLS is gated. Most MLSs require broker membership for full access. Plan accordingly.
- RESPA is real. Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act prohibits kickbacks; affiliated business arrangements need proper structuring.
- Fair housing is non-negotiable. Algorithms ranking properties by neighborhood demographics or "school quality" can produce illegal disparate impact.
- Residential and commercial are different industries. Don't try to serve both in one product.
- Cyclical industry. Transaction-based proptech sees revenue swings with rate cycles; build resilience.
1---2name: proptech-advisor3description: Strategic advisory for proptech founders on real-estate segments, MLS/brokerage models, licensing, and business models. Use when scoping a proptech idea or when the user mentions proptech, MLS, brokerage, iBuyer, or RESPA.4license: MIT + Commons Clause5---6
7# Proptech Advisor
8
9Strategic frameworks for property-technology founders, operators, and product leaders.
10
11> **Disclaimer:** Frameworks only. Real estate is heavily regulated state-by-state — engage real-estate-licensed counsel for binding decisions.
12
13---
14
15## Keywords
16
17proptech, real estate, real-estate, MLS, brokerage, broker, agent, iBuyer, property management, multifamily, commercial real estate, CRE, RESPA, fair housing, listings, transaction, escrow, title
18
19---
20
21## Quick Start
22
23```bash
24python scripts/market_segment_classifier.py description.txt
25```
26
27Classifies a proptech idea by segment (transaction / listings / financing / management / services / data) and surfaces the regulatory and business considerations for that segment.
28
29---
30
31## Core Workflows
32
33### Workflow 1: Market Segment Classification
341. Run the classifier to identify the segment
352. Cross-reference with `references/proptech_segments.md`
363. Identify regulatory exposure: state real-estate licensing, RESPA, fair housing, MLS access
374. Decide go/no-go before deeper investment
38
39**Time Estimate:** 4-6 weeks for first scope.
40
41### Workflow 2: Brokerage / MLS Strategy
421. Read `references/mls_and_brokerage.md`
432. Decide: become a broker (license required), partner with one, or stay outside the transaction
443. Plan MLS access strategy (RESO Web API, IDX, VOW, broker reciprocity)
454. Engage real-estate counsel before customer-facing launch
46
47**Time Estimate:** 4-12 weeks depending on path.
48
49### Workflow 3: Residential vs Commercial Decision
501. Each is a different industry. Commercial has different buyers, deal sizes, sales cycles, regulations.
512. Pick one for first $1M-$5M ARR; expand only after that motion is repeatable.
52
53**Time Estimate:** 4-8 weeks.
54
55---
56
57## Tools
58
59### market_segment_classifier.py
60
61Classifies a proptech business description into one or more proptech segments and surfaces the regulatory considerations for each.
62
63```bash
64python scripts/market_segment_classifier.py description.txt
65python scripts/market_segment_classifier.py description.txt --json
66```
67
68**Segments detected:**
69- Transaction (iBuyer, marketplace, brokerage tech)
70- Listings (search, valuation, comparable analysis)
71- Financing (mortgage tech, alt financing, rent-to-own)
72- Management (property management, multifamily ops, tenant experience)
73- Services (insurance, title, escrow, inspection, moving)
74- Data and infrastructure (PropTech B2B SaaS for industry players)
75
76---
77
78## Reference Guides
79
80- **`references/proptech_segments.md`** — Segments overview, regulatory exposure per segment, business model patterns
81- **`references/mls_and_brokerage.md`** — How MLS works, IDX/VOW/RESO, broker licensing, partnership models
82
83---
84
85## Templates
86
87- **`assets/proptech_segment_assessment.md`** — Decision template for capturing segment, regulatory, GTM decisions
88
89---
90
91## Best Practices
92
93- **Real estate is state-by-state.** US has 50+ regulatory regimes for licensing, agency, fair housing, escrow, and disclosure.
94- **MLS is gated.** Most MLSs require broker membership for full access. Plan accordingly.
95- **RESPA is real.** Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act prohibits kickbacks; affiliated business arrangements need proper structuring.
96- **Fair housing is non-negotiable.** Algorithms ranking properties by neighborhood demographics or "school quality" can produce illegal disparate impact.
97- **Residential and commercial are different industries.** Don't try to serve both in one product.
98- **Cyclical industry.** Transaction-based proptech sees revenue swings with rate cycles; build resilience.
borghei