Terms of Service

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing and using FriendRE ("the Platform", "we", "us", or "our"), you accept and agree to be bound by the terms and provisions of this agreement. If you do not agree to these terms, please do not use the Platform.

These Terms of Service apply to all users of the Platform, including without limitation users who are browsers, vendors, customers, merchants, and/or contributors of content.

2. Eligibility

You must be at least 18 years of age to use FriendRE. By using the Platform, you represent and warrant that:

• You are at least 18 years old
• You have the legal capacity to enter into these Terms
• You will comply with all applicable laws and regulations
• All information you provide is accurate and current

3. Account Registration and Security

To access certain features of the Platform, you must register for an account. Authentication is managed by our third-party provider, Clerk. By registering, you agree that:

• You must provide accurate, complete, and current information
• You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials
• You are responsible for all activities that occur under your account
• You must immediately notify us of any unauthorized access or security breaches
• You may not transfer your account to another person without our consent

We reserve the right to terminate accounts that provide false information or violate our terms.

4. User Roles and Professional Verification

FriendRE supports different user roles including Realtors, Lenders, Attorneys, Service Professionals, and general users:

• Professional users must provide accurate licensing and credential information
• We reserve the right to verify professional credentials at any time
• Misrepresentation of professional status may result in immediate account termination
• Professional users must maintain current and valid licenses in their jurisdiction
• Professional users must comply with all applicable industry regulations and ethics codes
• A verified professional badge requires an active Professional plan subscription

5. Subscription Plans and Billing

FriendRE offers a free tier and two paid subscription plans:

• Free tier: Access to the social feed, video browsing, neighborhood insights, the Home Value CMA tool, mortgage calculator, community groups, and the karma system at no cost
• Power User plan: $4.99/month or $49.99/year, includes a Power User badge, ad-free experience, priority support, and early access to new features
• Professional plan: $29.99/month or $299.99/year, includes everything in Power User plus CRM tools, lead pipeline, appointment scheduling, verified professional badge, priority search placement, advanced analytics, and branded valuation reports. Requires a professional role (Realtor, Lender, Attorney, or Service Professional)
• Office plan: A custom plan for brokerages and teams, available by contacting our sales team. Pricing and features are provided on request
• Free trial: The Power User and Professional plans include a 14-day free trial with no credit card required to start
• Other plans: Additional or promotional plans (including a verified-checkmark plan offered in certain contexts) may be available from time to time. Where offered, the applicable price and features are disclosed to you at the point of purchase, and the billing terms below apply

Billing Terms

• Subscriptions are billed in advance on a monthly or annual basis through Stripe and renew automatically at the end of each billing period, at the then-current price, until you cancel
• You may cancel your subscription at any time; access continues through the end of the billing period
• Refunds are not provided for partial billing periods
• We reserve the right to change subscription pricing with 30 days' notice
• Trial users will receive email reminders before the trial expires (3-day, 2-day, and 1-day warnings)
• If you do not subscribe after the trial, your account reverts to the free tier — no charges are applied

6. User Content and Conduct

You are solely responsible for the content you post, share, or transmit through the Platform, including posts, videos, comments, messages, and files. By posting content, you represent and warrant that:

• You own or have the necessary rights to the content
• The content does not violate any third-party rights
• The content complies with all applicable laws
• The content does not contain malicious code or viruses
• Video content shared via URL is from a supported platform and complies with that platform's terms of service

Content License

By posting content on FriendRE, you grant us a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use, reproduce, modify, and display such content for the purpose of operating and improving the Platform.

Karma and Reputation

The karma and achievement system rewards genuine community participation. Artificially manipulating karma scores, gaming the leaderboard system, or abusing the referral program through fake accounts or deceptive means is prohibited and may result in account suspension or karma forfeiture. Karma, achievements, game scores and leaderboard rankings have no cash value and cannot be redeemed, sold or transferred. Cosmetic items unlocked with karma (such as profile frames in the Karma Store) are not property, have no cash value, cannot be bought with money, are non-transferable and non-refundable, and may be changed or withdrawn by FriendRE at any time.

7. Prohibited Activities

You agree NOT to engage in any of the following prohibited activities:

• Harassment or abuse: Harassing, threatening, or abusing other users
• Spam: Sending unsolicited messages or advertisements
• Fraud or scams: Engaging in fraudulent activities or scams
• Impersonation: Impersonating another person or entity
• Illegal activities: Using the Platform for any illegal purpose
• Unauthorized access: Attempting to access other users' accounts
• Malicious code: Uploading viruses, malware, or harmful code
• Data scraping: Systematically extracting data from the Platform
• Circumvention: Bypassing security measures, rate limits, or access restrictions
• Discrimination: Discriminating based on protected characteristics in housing or services
• Misinformation: Deliberately spreading false information about properties, markets, or professionals
• Platform manipulation: Artificially inflating engagement metrics, karma, or leaderboard rankings
• Referral abuse: Creating fake accounts or using deceptive means to exploit the referral program
• CRM misuse: Using CRM data or lead information for purposes outside of legitimate real estate business

8. Messaging and Communications

FriendRE provides messaging features subject to the following:

• Free users may only message users they mutually follow
• Professional subscribers may message any user on the Platform
• You may not use messaging for spam, harassment, or unsolicited commercial communications
• We reserve the right to monitor messages to prevent abuse and ensure safety
• File sharing and video calls are subject to size and usage limits
• You are responsible for all communications sent from your account

9. AI-Powered Features

FriendRE uses artificial intelligence to power certain features:

• Jane AI Assistant: An AI-powered chatbot that provides general real estate information and platform assistance. Jane's responses are generated by AI and should not be considered professional real estate, legal, or financial advice.

AI-generated content is provided "as is" without guarantees of accuracy. Users should independently verify any information provided by AI features before making decisions.

10. Home Value CMA and Financial Tools

FriendRE provides a Home Value Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) tool, mortgage calculators, and comparable sales data for informational purposes only:

• Our Home Value CMA generates an estimate from the property details you provide and recent comparable sold listings. It is a CMA, not an Automated Valuation Model (AVM), and is not a professional appraisal or broker price opinion
• Mortgage calculations are estimates and may not reflect actual lending terms
• Comparable sales data is sourced from MLS records and public records, and may not be current or complete
• These tools should not be used as the sole basis for any financial, real estate, or investment decision
• Always consult with qualified professionals (appraisers, lenders, real estate agents) before making decisions

11. MLS Data and Listing Information

FriendRE displays real estate listing data sourced from Multiple Listing Services (MLS), including the Midwest Real Estate Data LLC (MRED), and third-party data providers. By using the Platform, you acknowledge and agree to the following:

Data Accuracy and Reliability

• Listing information is based on data submitted to the MRED and other MLS sources. All data is obtained from various sources and may not have been verified by the listing broker or MRED
• MRED and participating brokers make no warranty, representation, or guarantee as to the accuracy, timeliness, or completeness of the information
• Information is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed. You should independently verify any information before relying on it for any purpose
• Listing data is updated periodically but may not reflect the most current status of a property

Listing Availability and Exclusions

• Not all listings available in the MLS may appear on this website. Some listings may have been excluded based on data freshness, geographic availability, listing status, or other factors
• FriendRE currently displays listings for select metropolitan areas and may not provide comprehensive coverage of all markets
• Stale listings (older than 7 days without update) may be periodically removed from the Platform
• The absence of a listing on this website does not indicate that a property is no longer available

Permitted Use

• Listing information is provided for consumers' personal, non-commercial use only
• You may not use listing data for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties you may be interested in purchasing or renting
• Systematic downloading, copying, or redistribution of listing data is strictly prohibited

Data Removal Upon License Termination

In the event that FriendRE's MLS data license is terminated, all MLS-sourced listing data will be promptly removed from the Platform. This includes all cached property listings, listing photos, broker and agent attribution data, and associated metadata. Users who have saved or bookmarked MLS-sourced listings will be notified that this data is no longer available.

IDX Compliance Contact

For questions regarding listing data accuracy, removal requests, or IDX compliance issues, please contact our compliance team at [email protected]. We aim to respond to all listing-related inquiries within one business day.

12. Fair Housing Commitment

FriendRE is committed to compliance with the Fair Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 3601 et seq.) and all applicable federal, state, and local fair housing laws. The Platform does not allow, facilitate, or encourage discrimination in the sale, rental, or financing of housing based on:

• Race or color
• Religion
• Sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation)
• National origin
• Familial status
• Disability or handicap
• Any other class protected by applicable law

All listing data displayed on the Platform is presented without discrimination. Users and professionals who use the Platform must comply with all applicable fair housing laws. Any user who believes they have experienced housing discrimination may file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) at www.hud.gov/fairhousing or by calling 1-800-669-9777.

13. CRM and Lead Management

Professional subscribers have access to customer relationship management (CRM) tools:

• CRM data (leads, client notes, appointments) is stored securely and accessible only to the account holder
• You are responsible for complying with all applicable data protection laws (e.g., CAN-SPAM, TCPA) when contacting leads
• Contact and lead information submitted through the Platform may be shared with one or more relevant professionals — assigned by role (real estate agent, and optionally lender and/or attorney) and geographic proximity in rotation — and stored in their CRM. Professionals pay FriendRE a flat subscription, never a fee per request or per transaction; FriendRE does not recommend, rank or endorse any professional, and does not evaluate your matter when assigning it
• We are not liable for any actions taken by professionals based on lead information
• Testimonials and reviews must represent genuine client experiences

14. Intellectual Property Rights

The Platform and its original content, features, and functionality are owned by FriendRE and are protected by international copyright, trademark, patent, trade secret, and other intellectual property laws.

Our trademarks and trade dress may not be used in connection with any product or service without our prior written consent.

15. DMCA and Copyright Complaints

FriendRE respects the intellectual property rights of others and complies with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). If you believe that content on the Platform — including listing photos, descriptions, or user-generated content — infringes your copyright, you may submit a DMCA takedown notice.

How to Submit a DMCA Notice

Your notice must include the following:

• A physical or electronic signature of the copyright owner or authorized agent
• Identification of the copyrighted work claimed to have been infringed
• Identification of the material that is claimed to be infringing, with sufficient detail to locate it on the Platform
• Your contact information (name, address, telephone number, and email)
• A statement that you have a good faith belief that use of the material is not authorized by the copyright owner
• A statement, under penalty of perjury, that the information in the notification is accurate and that you are the copyright owner or authorized to act on their behalf

DMCA Agent Contact

Send DMCA notices to our designated agent:

Takedown Procedure and Timeline

• Upon receipt of a valid DMCA notice, we will acknowledge receipt within 2 business days
• Infringing material will be removed or access disabled within 5 business days of receiving a valid notice
• The content provider will be notified of the takedown and may file a counter-notification
• If a valid counter-notification is received, the original complainant will be notified and has 10 business days to file a court action before content may be restored
• Repeat infringers may have their accounts terminated

16. Third-Party Services

The Platform integrates with and relies upon third-party services, including but not limited to:

• Clerk: Authentication and session management
• Stripe: Payment processing for subscriptions
• Google Maps Platform: Location services, maps, and places data
• OpenStreetMap / Nominatim: Geocoding, map tiles, walkability and bikeability scoring, and nearby amenity data
• OpenRouter: AI model gateway that powers the "Jane" AI chat assistant, currently routing to a Google Gemini model
• Resend: Transactional and digest email delivery
• LiveKit: Video and audio calling
• U.S. Census Bureau: Housing and population statistics
• FEMA National Flood Hazard Layer: Flood zone designations (approximate, not authoritative)
• U.S. Geological Survey (USGS): Elevation data
• Midwest Real Estate Data LLC (MRED): MLS listing data via MLS Grid API
• DigitalOcean: Cloud hosting, managed database, and object storage
• Cloudflare: DNS, TLS termination, CDN, and DDoS protection
• Upstash Redis: Distributed rate limiting and abuse prevention
• Sentry: Error monitoring and performance tracking
• Firebase Cloud Messaging: Push notifications in the Android and iOS apps

We are not responsible for the content, privacy policies, or practices of third-party services. Your use of third-party services is governed by their respective terms and is at your own risk.

17. Content Moderation and Removal

We reserve the right, but are not obligated, to:

• Monitor and review user content using automated and manual moderation
• Remove or modify content that violates these Terms
• Suspend or terminate accounts that violate these Terms
• Cooperate with law enforcement investigations
• Apply rate limiting to prevent abuse of Platform features
• Take any action we deem necessary to protect the Platform or our users

18. Notifications and Communications

By creating an account, you agree to receive:

• Transactional emails: Account verification, password resets, security alerts, and subscription receipts
• In-app notifications: Likes, comments, follows, messages, achievements, and search alerts delivered in real-time
• Weekly digest: A summary of platform activity sent every Monday (unsubscribe anytime)
• Trial reminders: Email notifications before your professional trial expires
• Push notifications: Browser notifications if you opt in (can be disabled in settings)

19. Account Termination

We may terminate or suspend your account immediately, without prior notice or liability, for any reason, including:

• Breach of these Terms of Service
• Violation of applicable laws or regulations
• Fraudulent, abusive, or illegal activity
• Manipulation of the karma, achievement, or referral systems
• At our sole discretion for any other reason

Upon termination, your right to use the Platform will immediately cease. Active subscriptions will not be refunded for the current billing period. You may also delete your account at any time through your account settings, which will permanently remove your data including posts, comments, messages, CRM data, and karma history, subject to the exceptions described in our Privacy Policy.

20. Disclaimers and Limitation of Liability

As-Is Service

THE PLATFORM IS PROVIDED ON AN "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" BASIS WITHOUT ANY WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED. WE DO NOT WARRANT THAT THE PLATFORM WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED, SECURE, OR ERROR-FREE.

Beta Platform Status

FriendRE is currently in beta and under active development. Features, pricing, and functionality may be added, modified, replaced, suspended, or removed at any time without prior notice. Data, content, and account state may be subject to changes or resets as we iterate on the Platform. The "AS IS" and "AS AVAILABLE" disclaimer above applies with particular emphasis during the beta period, and your continued use of the Platform constitutes acceptance of these conditions.

Not a Brokerage or Licensed Real Estate Entity

FRIENDRE IS A SOCIAL NETWORKING PLATFORM AND IS NOT A REAL ESTATE BROKERAGE, APPRAISAL FIRM, MORTGAGE LENDER, OR ANY OTHER LICENSED REAL ESTATE ENTITY. WE DO NOT OPERATE AS OR HOLD OURSELVES OUT TO BE A BROKERAGE. WE DO NOT FACILITATE, NEGOTIATE, BROKER, OR PARTICIPATE IN REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS. PROFESSIONAL USERS ON OUR PLATFORM OPERATE INDEPENDENTLY UNDER THEIR OWN LICENSES AND BROKERAGES.

No Professional Advice

Information on the Platform — including Home Value CMAs, mortgage calculations, AI assistant responses, census data, and comparable sales — is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute professional real estate, legal, financial, or tax advice. These tools do not constitute an appraisal or broker price opinion. Always consult with qualified professionals before making decisions.

Environmental and Hazard Data

Flood zone designations displayed on the Platform are sourced from FEMA's National Flood Hazard Layer (NFHL) and may not reflect the most current flood maps. Flood zone boundaries are approximate; a property's actual flood zone determination requires a formal FEMA Elevation Certificate or Letter of Map Amendment (LOMA). Elevation data is sourced from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). Walkability, bikeability, and transit access scores are computed from OpenStreetMap data and represent FriendRE's own proprietary methodology — they are not affiliated with or endorsed by Walk Score, a Redfin company. Nearby amenity data (grocery stores, pharmacies, schools, etc.) is sourced from OpenStreetMap and may be incomplete or outdated. None of this data should be relied upon for flood insurance decisions, mortgage qualification, property valuation, or any other financial or legal purpose. Consult qualified professionals for authoritative determinations.

Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, FRIENDRE SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, OR ANY LOSS OF PROFITS OR REVENUES, WHETHER INCURRED DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, OR ANY LOSS OF DATA, USE, GOODWILL, OR OTHER INTANGIBLE LOSSES.

21. Communications from FriendRE

FriendRE communicates with you through three channels: in-app notifications, web push notifications (only if you grant your browser's permission), and email.

Service Communications

While you hold an account, we send communications necessary to operate it — for example security verification codes, billing and subscription notices (including trial expiration), account and moderation notices, incoming call alerts, support replies, and time-sensitive lead-assignment notices for participating professionals. These service communications cannot be disabled while your account is active.

Optional Communications

Everything else is optional and under your control in Settings → Notifications — including social activity notifications (messages, comments, likes, follows, mentions), game and streak updates, the weekly email digest, and promotional or product-announcement emails. Promotional emails additionally include an unsubscribe link that takes effect immediately. Web push can be revoked at any time in your browser settings or from the Platform.

22. Indemnification

You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless FriendRE, its officers, directors, employees, and agents from any claims, damages, losses, liabilities, and expenses (including attorneys' fees) arising out of or related to your use of the Platform, your violation of these Terms, or your violation of any rights of another.

23. Dispute Resolution

Informal Resolution

Before filing any formal dispute, you agree to first contact us at [email protected] or by mail (Section 27) with a short description of the dispute, and to give us 60 days to try to resolve it informally. We agree to do the same before starting any proceeding against you.

Governing Law

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Illinois, United States, without regard to its conflict of law provisions.

Agreement to Arbitrate

If a dispute arising out of or relating to these Terms or the Platform is not resolved informally within 60 days, you and FriendRE agree to resolve it by final and binding arbitration on an individual basis, except as described below. The arbitration will be administered by the American Arbitration Association (AAA) under its Consumer Arbitration Rules then in effect (available at adr.org), before a single arbitrator. Hearings will be held by video or telephone or, if an in-person hearing is needed, in Cook County, Illinois, unless you and we agree otherwise. The arbitrator may award the same individual relief a court could. FriendRE will pay all filing, administration and arbitrator fees above the amount you would pay to file a claim in court, unless the arbitrator finds your claim was brought frivolously or for an improper purpose.

Exceptions

• Either party may bring an individual claim in small claims court instead, as long as it stays there.
• Either party may ask a court for injunctive or other equitable relief to stop the infringement or misuse of intellectual property.

No Class Actions

Disputes are resolved only on an individual basis. Neither you nor FriendRE may bring or take part in a class, collective or representative proceeding, and the arbitrator may not combine claims of different people. If this paragraph is found unenforceable for a particular claim, that claim must be decided in court and not in arbitration.

Your Right to Opt Out

You may opt out of this agreement to arbitrate within 30 days of first accepting these Terms (or, for existing members, within 30 days of the "Last updated" date above) by emailing [email protected] with the subject "Arbitration opt-out" and your name and account email, or by writing to the address in Section 27. Opting out does not affect any other part of these Terms.

Courts

Any claim that is not arbitrated (including after an opt-out) will be brought only in the state or federal courts located in Cook County, Illinois, and you and FriendRE consent to their jurisdiction.

24. Changes to Terms

We reserve the right to modify or replace these Terms at any time at our sole discretion. If a revision is material, we will:

• Provide at least 30 days' notice prior to any new terms taking effect
• Notify users via email or prominent notice on the Platform
• Update the "Last updated" date at the top of this page

Your continued use of the Platform after changes become effective constitutes acceptance of the new Terms.

25. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be unenforceable or invalid, that provision will be limited or eliminated to the minimum extent necessary so that these Terms will otherwise remain in full force and effect.

26. Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and FriendRE regarding your use of the Platform.

27. Contact Information

If you have any questions about these Terms of Service, please contact us through the Platform's support system, by visiting our help center, or by mail: