zillowtrulianew1Some employees at Trulia — including staffers at the company’s Market Leader unit in Bellevue — are receiving notice today that they are losing their jobs just before the acquisition by rival Zillow is consummated.

The exact number of layoffs occurring at the San Francisco-based online real estate company are not known at this time, but two sources tell GeekWire that Trulia’s operation in Bellevue is being especially hard hit as is the sales department. Many of those employees are being notified today.

UPDATE: A source tells GeekWire that more than 100 employees are losing jobs in Bellevue in roles such as sales, sales management, account management, training and customer care. The company also plans to host a career fair for impacted employees this Friday in Bellevue.

Zillow is expected to close its acquisition of Trulia later today, with the company hosting a conference call about the acquisition Wednesday morning at 6 a.m.

Trulia employed 1,100 people at the time of Zillow’s acquisition bid last July. Zillow employed about 1,000 people. At the time that the deal was announced, Zillow did not comment on pending layoffs.

Spencer Rascoff
Spencer Rascoff

However, Zillow CEO Spencer Rascoff said the combined company would achieve $100 million in cost avoidances in 2016 through things such as consolidation of advertising spending and new employee hiring.

“By operating independent consumer brands through one corporation, the companies expect to realize synergies to improve overall operational efficiency over the long-term,” Zillow wrote in a press release at the time of the deal.

The FTC just last week gave final approval on the acquisition, a deal that will combine two of the largest players in online real estate. Together, Zillow and Trulia will have about 130 million monthly visitors.

Representatives at Trulia did not return calls seeking comment on the layoffs, while Zillow declined to comment. The Zillow spokeswoman did confirm that the acquisition is set to close today, noting that a press release will be issued with more details after the markets close.

The layoffs come as Zillow is expanding its footprint at its downtown Seattle headquarters, leasing another five floors.

Trulia actually laid off 85 staffers at its Market Leader division last June, layoffs that came about a year after it bought Market Leader for $355 million. After those cuts, Trulia still employed about 400 people at the Bellevue offices, a number that sources said has shrunk in recent months.

Previously on GeekWire: Here is Zillow’s big concern as it prepares to gobble up rival Trulia

Editor’s note: Story is developing and will be updated as we learn more.

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