In an era when nearly 60% of Americans say they regularly see misinformation in online news, one individual has prioritized journalistic integrity over sensationalism, offering the residential real estate brokerage industry a fact-based and trusted source of information.

Stefan Swanepoel, an immigrant from South Africa who moved to San Diego in 1994, has spent the past three decades methodically transforming the way the industry monitors itself. After settling in California—where he spent two formative decades in Orange County—Swanepoel built a national reputation as one of real estate’s most respected analysts, a best-selling author of more than 50 books and reports, and now, the architect behind one of the industry’s most disruptive media ventures: Real Estate News.

The Journey: From Immigrant to Industry Authority

Swanepoel’s story begins with a drive to make a difference. He arrived in the United States with a young family and a sharp, strategic mind—someone who could spot trends and patterns where others often did not. Able to distill complexity into clarity, he gradually became the go-to advisor for executives, associations, and brokerages navigating a rapidly evolving residential real estate landscape.

Through his annual reports and studies, Swanepoel emerged as the leading strategist and information provider in residential real estate. Year after year, he tackled the industry’s most pressing topics, producing reports that set new standards in accuracy and comprehensiveness. Among his most recognized works are the Swanepoel Trends Report—an award-winning annual publication that has served as the industry’s bellwether since 2006—the DANGER Report, commissioned by the National Association of Realtors and exclusively researched and written by Swanepoel, and the Real Estate Almanac, a definitive resource mapping the structure of the brokerage ecosystem every year since 2020.

But even as he chronicled the industry's transformation, he identified another shortcoming: the established news channels that once informed the industry could no longer keep pace with change and became fragmented and unreliable.

Raising the Standard: Objective Journalism for Real Estate

For decades, industry news was dominated by trade publications steeped in sponsorships, pay-to-play placements, and editorial slants that reflected advertisers’ interests more than readers’ need for unbiased news. Objectivity gave way to promotion. Substance was diluted by spin.

Recognizing the need for fact-driven, agenda-free reporting, Swanepoel set out to raise the bar. He envisioned a news service that would uphold the same integrity, precision, and independence as his research—and in 2022, he launched it.

That vision became Real Estate News (REN), launched under the premium domain realestatenews.com—a URL Swanepoel had owned for 25 years. The format was clear-cut: fast, concise, daily reporting tailored to the busy real estate professionals. Each story was written in a concise, bulleted format. No sponsorships. No paid placements. No unnecessary fillers.

It was a bold departure from the industry’s status quo—and exactly what most people wanted. In just three years, Real Estate News has become one of the top two national news services in the residential real estate space. It now boasts tens of thousands of subscribers and millions of annual views and readers. Many major organizations, such as the Houston Association of Realtors, the Austin Board of Realtors, CRMLS, Stellar MLS, and global franchises like RE/MAX, have made REN their preferred news service.

But it’s not just what Real Estate News avoids—it’s what it delivers.

Built for the Real Estate Professional

Real Estate News produces brief but substantive updates. Headlines are not bait-and-switch, but appropriate. The tone is professional, unbiased, and geared entirely toward the reader.

The result is a platform that consistently breaks stories ahead of the curve, with sharper context and cleaner reporting. From commission lawsuits and MLS consolidations to regulatory changes and M&A activity, Real Estate News has become the real-time intelligence layer for a profession under pressure.

Swanepoel understood that real estate professionals don’t have time to wade through bloated ramblings or thinly veiled advertorials. They want the news—fast, factual, and relevant. And if it is not newsworthy, then don’t publish it.

A California Story Worth Telling

Since, it was launched in 2022 Real Estate News has earned a reputation for trustworthiness. Real Estate News is showing the real estate professionals what quality journalism looks like: clear, concise, and uncompromised.

Stefan Swanepoel’s journey from a South African immigrant to real estate oracle and media innovator is a California story of reinvention. As the real estate industry undergoes sweeping changes—from commission lawsuits to structural reforms— Real Estate News is playing its part: ensuring real estate professionals stay informed, grounded, and prepared for what comes next.

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