Those of us in the real estate industry, both information and services, should be keeping an eye on how Google's move into travel plays out.

It was only a matter of time before Google gradually began the inevitable process of "going vertical".  Travel seems to be the logical starting point because it's the "largest e-commerce market".  I'm not sure that's true but even so, if size matters then real estate can't be far behind. 

When (not "if") the day comes, Google's real estate move will be around residential listings and will go way beyond their previous Google Base initiatives.  They will target the encumbants (MLS', listing portals) and work to produce property listing search results that are more targeted, relevant and useful for consumers.  They will transition from search provider to service provider.  Then at some point they will move into the commercial real estate world. 

Back to travel.  It's kind of ironic, isn't it?  Expedia, Travelocity, et al essentially killed the travel agent and now, only 10 years later, Barry Diller seems to be concerned that Expedia's days are numbered.

"If you're not movin' and changin', then you're dyin'"