Listing Bits From Fashion to PropTech: Lauren Martin on Housing and Community
The Listing Bits Podcast is now available on your favorite podcast player!
OverviewGreg Robertson is joined by Lauren Martin (RentSpree) for a wide-ranging conversation covering her unconventional path from fashion design to PropTech, the growing importance of rentals within the MLS ecosystem, and the evolution of her initiative, Renew (Real Estate Network of Empowered Women). The discussion highlights how rentals are becoming central to real estate workflows, how community-building is shaping the industry, and how Renew has scaled from a podcast idea into a multi-day retreat with strong industry engagement.
Key Takeaways-
Nonlinear career path into PropTech: Lauren transitioned from fashion to business and sales, eventually entering real estate through Remine and later joining RentSpree.
-
Rentals are now essential for MLSs: Industry focus is shifting from purely home purchases to broader "housing," with rentals playing a key role in agent-client lifecycle and long-term relationships.
-
MLS as the "source of truth" for rentals: Standardizing rental data inside MLS systems is a major opportunity compared to fragmented platforms like Facebook, Craigslist, and Zillow.
-
RentSpree product expansion: The new RentEdge suite adds tools to fill gaps between for-sale and rental workflows, keeping agents داخل the MLS ecosystem.
-
Renew's growth and impact: What started as a podcast has grown into a large community with thousands of members and events, including a 70-person retreat focused on leadership, confidence, and networking.
-
Industry community matters: Conferences and organizations like Renew help professionals build meaningful relationships, which are key to career growth in real estate.
-
Authenticity attracts community: Lauren emphasizes that being yourself leads to stronger, more meaningful professional and personal connections.
-
Rent the Runway (mentioned for conference attire)
-
Renew (Real Estate Network of Empowered Women) – upcoming events and information
Aligned Showings — MLS-owned showing software built to simplify scheduling, improve communication, and keep MLS data where it belongs.
Giant Steps Job Board – Built for organized real estate and PropTech, not generic tech bros and recruiters who don't know what an MLS is.
Production and editing services by: