Goby Homes launches transaction platform, founder honored

Nickelson said the platform was developed to reduce transaction failures and cybersecurity risks that continue to plague the industry. Nearly 250,000 real estate deals fall through each year in the U.S., according to Goby, and roughly half of real estate businesses have experienced a cyberattack in the past two years.

“Despite countless tools available, transactions still fall apart because key information gets missed, roles and responsibilities are unclear, and real-time transparency is almost nonexistent,” Nickelson said. “Without a shared source of accountability, confusion builds, leading to friction, a poor client experience, and ultimately, fallout.”

The Goby Homes platform serves as a central hub for all parties involved in a transaction — buyers, sellers, brokers and agents — allowing them to track progress, manage documents and communicate in a more structured and secure environment.

Personal motivation

Nickelson — who was inspired to launch the company after his aunt nearly lost a home purchase due to communication breakdowns — said the experience highlighted the need for a better system.

“Seeing her miss out not only on the home she envisioned for her family but also on the opportunity to build wealth through homeownership motivated me to find a better way,” he said. “My mission is to improve the home buying and selling experience and ensure that clients ultimately get what they came to us for.”

Dan Weisman — director of Innovation Strategy at NAR — praised Nickelson’s approach to solving longstanding industry challenges.

“We believe technology advancements are fundamentally driven by the individuals creating ideas and building innovations,” Weisman said. “NAR’s iOi Innovator of the Year Award celebrates the innovators and the solutions they’ve built to empower real estate professionals to exceed goals and grow their businesses.”

Human factor remains key

Nickelson accepted the award with a nod to the importance of human expertise in an industry increasingly shaped by digital tools.

“Receiving the Innovation of the Year award is a tremendous honor,” he said. “It reinforces my belief that while technology plays a crucial role in streamlining processes, in the real estate industry, particularly when dealing with our clients’ most significant investments, there’s truly no such thing as a completely ‘end-to-end’ platform driven solely by artificial intelligence.

“The nuances of each deal demand the experience and know-how of seasoned professionals. Our platform is designed to empower these professionals by providing them with better tools, not to replace their invaluable expertise.”

Nickelson was also recently recognized with the Innovation Impact Award from the National Fair Housing Alliance and selected for the Equity Angels’ Catalyst Program.

The Goby Homes communication platform is currently available to brokers, agents, and clients nationwide.