AgentReal Estate Tech

rila, the ‘Instagram of real estate,’ rolls out video feature for agents

Users can now upload 30-second videos of homes on the rila app to highlight the features of a property

Los Angeles, California-based home discovery platform rila updated their app to include a video feature. The app will now allow users to upload 30-second videos of homes, which rila says agents can use to highlight the features of a property in a way that engages potential buyers.

The rila beta app, which Forbes calls the “the Instagram of real estate,” uses a social media app interface for real estate agents and homebuyers. Verified agents list their open house properties and buyers can contact the agent on the app, becoming a lead. 

Its goal is to tap into the potential of the millennial real estate consumer base with user-generated photos and — with the new feature — videos.

“I am really excited to build a platform where users can share homes and rila starts to help homeseekers and sellers match through content that fits exactly what they’re looking for,” said Ben Bacal, founder of rila and Revel Real Estate. Bacal also works as a Beverly Hills and Bel Air agent with client celebrities and more than $3 billion in sales under his belt.

The app also allows users to follow their target neighborhoods and markets to receive updates on listings, according to the company.

“We are opening the gates to how real estate information is shared, consumed, and understood. Rila will eventually allow users to be rewarded for helping users discover their next home,” Bacal added.

The company is also developing a proprietary classification and matching home recommendation engine that utilizes AI and machine learning.

Bacal started his brand, Revel Real Estate, under the umbrella of Side, a San Francisco-based real estate unicorn brokerage that raised more than $200 million in funding in 2021. Bacal left Rodeo Realty to join Side in 2019.

Independent residential real estate brokerage Douglas Elliman Realty launched Elliman Productions in November 2022, a similar content creation app for agents that is powered by Infinite Creator. This app allows agents to videos and photos for the promotion of their property listings.