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Fresh off my annual visit to Tokyo and back in the US. Fall is the time when US real estate agents are listening. Budgets are still open. Investors are paying attention. If you’re building in PropTech, there’s no better window to launch, test, and get real traction.
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Here's why fall gives you a head start, and how to use the season wisely.
Every September, the market feels different. When I was starting, fall was the season I landed my first job. Years later, leading a brokerage, things quieted enough for strategic reflection. Now, as an investor, I notice founders using this window to turn plans into reality. They’re building MVPs, testing workflows, and getting real-world signals before the next surge in activity.
If you’re working on something in PropTech, fall presents a unique opportunity.
Why Fall Works
You can build any time of year, but launching in the fall shortens the journey:
Agents and operators are receptive.
By September, new home listings across the U.S. drop sharply, with Redfin reporting a 0.3% decline year‑over‑year and a rise in median days on market to 50 days. As pipelines slow, agents become more open to new processes and digital tools. According to recent NAR survey data, 82% of agents observed clients responding positively to technology, especially tools such as e-signature and AI-driven platforms.
Decision-makers finalize budgets.
Many brokerages and commercial teams lock in next year’s budgets between October and December. If your product gains traction now, you can be included in 2026 plans. The NAR Technology Survey found that 67% of agents agree that their brokerages provide the tech tools they need, often as a result of fall budget cycles.
VCs pursue Q1 deals.
PitchBook and NVCA’s Venture Monitor show most fund managers begin diligence for Q1 deals before year end. Showing up with a product and user traction in this period helps you appear on their radars for the most active funding cycle.
Spring arrives early in real estate.
Housing market data shows new listings start to rise by January, not March, meaning products need to be market-ready by February. Beginning in the fall gives you enough time to launch, test, and refine your MVP.
Timelines Differ
In real estate, agents want to test new tech right away, brokers ask for contracts, and legal teams review risks at their own pace. Give agents the essentials to begin. You don’t need final approval to start real testing. While development can move quickly, MLS and integration approvals often take months. Starting early keeps the process on track. For anything that requires vendor support, integrations, or APIs, aim to secure those before Thanksgiving, as most vendors limit new onboarding until after the holidays.
If you are building, this is what I would ‘Focus’ on
25V
Focus on solving a painful daily task, not launching a platform. Build the smallest product that fixes a clear problem and launch by November.
Recruit 5 to 10 real users, not just friends or advisors. Run weekly feedback calls and use user actions to improve.
Make your product findable, even if you aren't ready to sell, with one landing page, one message, and one signup form. If you aren’t collecting names, you’re invisible.
Hire someone who ships. Traction matters more than team size. Pay for senior technical talent who can deliver clarity and speed.
Test pricing with users early. Anchor it to the value, time saved, deals closed, or churn reduced. Ask for the sale, even in beta.
My Final Thought
Launching a PropTech MVP in the fall aligns with market behavior, budget cycles, and investor attention.
Companies win when they move with the season, not against it.
My advice: sell with the grain of the market.
xoxo,
Maximillian Diez
GP, Twenty Five Ventures
P.S. Stay with me on this journey.
If nothing else, thanks for reading.
