Househappy has a new CEO and fresh funding to help continue development of its real estate listings portal.
The Portland startup earlier this month reeled in a $1.3 million funding round that included participation from Fidelity National Financial.
It also announced a new CEO, tapping former Golf Channel CEO David Manougian as the company’s new leader. Manougian, a Portland native, replaces Househappy founder and former CEO Kevin McCloskey, who is sticking around as a consultant.
Launched in 2013, Househappy offers a simple photo-driven website that lists more than 2 million properties for sale. Real estate agents can post their listings on Househappy for free, while buyers can access property data and agent contact info. The site also offers a directory of service professionals like plumbers and other contractors.
Househappy is operating in a crowded real estate space that includes big players like Zillow, Redfin, and Move Inc., but also features new startups like Surefield, BuildersCloud, Flipt, Pro.com, Porch, and Lasso.
All of those startups are taking a crack at the online real estate arena in new ways, but one does have to wonder if it is getting a bit frothy out there. That said, both Zillow and Move Inc. have shown a tendency to buy companies, so perhaps some of the new entrants are hoping for an acquisition offer.
Manougian said he joined the Househappy team because of the talent level and the opportunity to provide a unique customer experience.
“For Househappy, we believe that consumers and especially the next generation of homebuyers/homeowners want a different experience than what exists today in how they search for homes, buy homes and maintain their homes,” he said. “We are passionate about helping them by providing a more visual and personalized search along with tools to help them manage the most important purchase they will make in their lifetime: their home. We aim to inspire and guide thoughtful and happy home ownership.”
Househappy expects to raise another round later this fall and will soon expand to Seattle after building out its platform for the Portland market. Total funding for the 12-person company is more than $5 million to date.
