Big Four bank makes strategic acquisition of proptech startup
One of the country’s big four banks has upped its interest in the Australian real estate landscape with the acquisition of a proptech start-up that provides access to accurate predictive information.
ANZ has announced it has acquired Australian property start-up REALas.
Launched in 2011, REALas offers a unique algorithm to predict property prices, and has quickly forged a reputation for being an accurate predictor of sale prices.
ANZ managing director for customer experience and digital channels Peter Dalton said the move is of strategic value to ANZ.
“This is an important acquisition for our digital transformation,” he said.
“We know customers are increasingly turning to online resources for help as they navigate the Australian property market.”
He also lauded the work that REALas is doing.
“It’s also a great success story of an Australian start-up,” said Mr Dalton.
“We’re really pleased to be working with them and looking at how we might incorporate some of their features into ANZ’s products and services in the future.”
REALas CEO Josh Rowe said there is a great deal of market intelligence that backs the predictive offering.
“The algorithm at the center of our site was built using the latest data science methods, local market knowledge from property experts and crowdsourced data from buyers,” said Mr Rowe.
“Its predictions change in response to the market, which means buyers have access to the latest prediction right up to the time of sale.”
Mr Rowe said he was pleased to be involved with ANZ.
“We’re thrilled that ANZ has recognised the value in what we’ve built over the past six years and we’re looking forward to growing our service and helping people get the information they need to make better decisions when buying or selling property.”
REALas.com will continue to operate independently as a wholly owned subsidiary of ANZ.
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