Christopher Sadowski
A new real estate platform is giving homebuyers an unprecedented peek into their potential neighborhoods — revealing everything from political leanings to local demographics — before they even commit to buying.
Oyssey, a tech startup soft-launching this month in South Florida and New York City, lets buyers access neighborhood political affiliations based on election results and campaign contributions, along with housing trends and other social data.
The platform is betting that today’s buyers care just as much about their neighbors’ values as they do about square footage or modern finishes.
“It’s about getting buyers homes that they love,” CEO Huw Nierenberg, a former Boston real estate agent told Axios, which reported news of the tool. Nierenberg didn’t immediately respond to The Post’s request for comment.
He says buyers’ priorities have evolved, explaining that during house tours, “buyers often move from asking whether the water heater is leaking to wondering if their neighbors are folks they’d like to invite to dinner someday.”
The site operates as a one-stop shop for homebuyers, streamlining the process of browsing listings, signing contracts and communicating with agents — all while integrating block-by-block political and consumer data.
Oyssey markets the service to real estate agents and brokers via a subscription model, though buyers can use the platform for free by invitation from their agents.
The launch comes at a turbulent time for the real estate industry.
Oyssey
A recent class-action lawsuit against the National Association of Realtors now requires buyers to sign contracts with agents and negotiate commission fees upfront, a shakeup Oyssey aims to capitalize on by simplifying the process for both parties.
For agents, the platform offers a competitive edge by arming them with exclusive data, while buyers gain unique insights into the social fabric of their future neighborhoods.
“It’s a win-win for buyers and agents,” Nierenberg said, adding that the political transparency could be a major factor for buyers looking for a sense of belonging in their new communities.
But one industry insider tells The Post he’s concerned with what this could do to the social fabric of America.
“We are already becoming increasingly polarized as a nation, I fear this could further deepen it.”