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Show HN: Larry's Cheap Houses – Deep Learning Powered Real Estate Deals

larryscheaphouses.com

41–50 of 51 posts

Re: Show HN: Larry's Cheap Houses – Deep Learning Powered Real Estate Deals

#41
post #33

This is such buzzword powered horseshit. Absolutely nothing about this problem domain requires Deep Learning. Simple regression models if implemented properly can do just fine. Not to mention that sites like Redfin/Zillow have access to far more data and already have pretty good models for the most part. Just because you can throw a Neural net at a given problem, doesn't make it the right thing to do... I'd be a lot…

As much as I like the phrase "buzzword-powered horseshit," there are always opportunities to apply new technologies in a creative way. In this case, it seems obvious to me that NNs will do a good job in identifying latent features that would otherwise slip past a linear model.

Sure, NNs "could" do that...but they are far more likely to just memorize a bunch of stuff when someone who isn't well versed with ML just applies an out of the box solution to a problem, looks at a simplified cross-validation number (I hope) and assumes that NN is better than some simpler model.

If the OP had actually posted a blog talking through things he did and how the NN helped and why he believes it is actually learning something useful and not just learning the noise, then this would certainly be interesting. But I've seen far too many people take powerful, flexible models with a large number of parameters and throw them at simple problems, with insufficient data and thought.

I'd normally give someone the benefit of the doubt...but taking the sum total of the quality of the linked web page, the complete lack of any meaningful information, as well as op's reply to my comment that added no real useful information regarding the actual benefit of throwing deep learning at this, I'm still inclined to stick to my original feelings regarding this post.

Re: Show HN: Larry's Cheap Houses – Deep Learning Powered Real Estate Deals

#42
What is the pros/cons between this and something like Realty Shares?

Wouldn't sending an email to a bunch of RE buyers create demand for a cheap property, which would (in theory) raise the bid, which would cascade to making the listing "not cheap"? - Playing devils advocate on this one since I'm sure not everyone would bid for the same properties.

Re: Show HN: Larry's Cheap Houses – Deep Learning Powered Real Estate Deals

#43
Tip for @lawrencewu

Real-estate investors are not looking for houses in the US and Canada. They're looking for investments in Los Angeles, or Kansas, or Salt Lake City, or Arlington Virginia, et al. If you're sending deals to someone in Arizona, for New Hampshire or South Carolina properties, they're overwhelmingly going to fall flat.

Whenever you have the listing breadth to do it, you need to segment the emails down closer to the end user location, or at least make that an option when they sign-up. If I'm looking for a real-estate investments as a normal tier investor (ie I'm not super rich) that might own between one and a few properties, and I live in Boston, I am not investing in properties in Phoenix outside of unusual circumstances (eg the great recession, or going in with someone I just happen to know from there that will handle things locally in Phoenix).

I'd probably go further and suggest you knock down the pin for a specific market first, before sending out broad spectrum listings spanning the US in an email list. Starting out beyond that narrow focus, imo, dramatically increases the odds of failure, that you never properly connect to your email receivers (they don't get enough properties for their local interest, and dump your email list).

Re: Show HN: Larry's Cheap Houses – Deep Learning Powered Real Estate Deals

#44

Pressing the button without entering an email results in a popup that says: Error! Please contact us at founders@larryscheaphouses.com and we'll figure out what's going on. Considering the number of people that are going to glance over the text and assume that the button lets them see the deals you might want to have some basic help text.

I'm getting this even while entering an email

Re: Show HN: Larry's Cheap Houses – Deep Learning Powered Real Estate Deals

#46
post #5

I know "great artists steal" but man is this cutting it close compared to Scott's Cheap Flights. I mean, you even took the same copy text. What's funny is I'm not even sure if I mean that accusatorially or admiringly. Maybe both.

i have very little doubt that the eponymous Scott would not mind. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery :)

Re: Show HN: Larry's Cheap Houses – Deep Learning Powered Real Estate Deals

#47

No privacy policy is kind of a red flag. I mean I'm assuming this is a proof of concept / work in progress, but I also have to assume you're gonna want to monetize it at some point, so I want to know what you're gonna do with my e-mail address before I give it to you.

I assure you, whatever you think is the worst case scenario has already happened with your email.

Re: Show HN: Larry's Cheap Houses – Deep Learning Powered Real Estate Deals

#48
post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Really? I think the photo's OK. Tie unloosened, good mix of casual + business like. Can't detect any obvious lack of confidence. Making his head point towards the text seems like one of those cheesy commercials where a smiling person points at the text next to them.

With regards to the last point, there's actual research to back this up: #3 with the headline "Directional Cues" https://blog.kissmetrics.com/eye-tracking-studies/ Also, looking down and away from another person is not confidence inspiring. I don't think I need to cite research in order to point that out.

Ha ha, its very hard to argue with that. Very impressive.

Re: Show HN: Larry's Cheap Houses – Deep Learning Powered Real Estate Deals

#50
post #26

This is such buzzword powered horseshit. Absolutely nothing about this problem domain requires Deep Learning. Simple regression models if implemented properly can do just fine. Not to mention that sites like Redfin/Zillow have access to far more data and already have pretty good models for the most part. Just because you can throw a Neural net at a given problem, doesn't make it the right thing to do... I'd be a lot…

Does it make it the wrong thing to do? I've never seen anyone so mad at someone for their technical decisions. Redin/Zillow et al won't show you cap rates.

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