Movoto

Movoto operates as an online real estate brokerage platform, serving homebuyers, sellers, and homeowners across all 50 U.S. states. The company was founded in 2005 by Henry Shao, who was reportedly frustrated with the traditional real estate process after buying and selling several homes as a personal hobby. Shao, who had previously been a marketing director at a semiconductor firm, aimed to simplify real estate research and transactions.

The company's platform functions as a comprehensive property search tool, utilizing data from the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) to provide current and detailed listings. Users can filter searches by a wide range of criteria, including price, location, size, and specific amenities. Beyond property listings, Movoto provides users with market trend data, neighborhood information, and school ratings to support informed decision-making. The platform is accessible via its website and mobile apps, with user preferences saved and synchronized across devices.

Movoto's business model is centered on connecting consumers with real estate professionals. The company generates revenue primarily through referral fees from its network of partner agents when a transaction closes. It functions as a licensed brokerage and employs its own agents in some markets, while also maintaining a large network of vetted partner agents from various brokerages. This structure allows Movoto to be deeply involved from initial lead generation to the final transaction closing. For consumers, the platform facilitates connections with these agents and offers tools like home value estimators and mortgage calculators.

Movoto has undergone significant ownership changes throughout its history. In 2013, it was acquired by the Japanese human resources and real estate giant Recruit Holdings. The company briefly became independent again in 2018 before being acquired in June 2020 by OJO Labs, an Austin-based company specializing in AI-driven real estate technology. This acquisition integrated OJO Labs' AI-powered conversational assistant with Movoto's search portal to enhance the user experience. Most recently, in May 2025, mortgage lender Lower acquired Movoto and its parent OJO Labs to create a more integrated platform combining property search with mortgage services. Following this acquisition, the combined entity aims to create an end-to-end homeownership platform, connecting homebuyers with both real estate agents and loan officers from the beginning of their search.

Keywords: real estate brokerage, property search, MLS listings, home buying, home selling, real estate agents, market trends, home value estimator, real estate data, lead generation, OJO Labs, Lower, mortgage lending, proptech, residential properties, neighborhood insights, property listings, agent network, homeownership platform, real estate technology