“Is Open Real Estate a national MLS?” That question, proffered by Open Real Estate itself on its website as soon as the initiative was launched, made it clear the founders—namely, AGNT (eXp and NextHome), HomeServices of America, Real REMAX Group and Keller Williams—knew that at least some in the industry would see that project in…
Editor’s note: The COURT REPORT is RISMedia’s weekly look at current and upcoming lawsuits, investigations and other legal developments around real estate. NAR wants Compass’s data and depositions on private listings, CCP Compass is not directly involved in a long-running lawsuit filed by the now-defunct PLS.com, which sued the National Association of Realtors® (NAR) and…
Outspoken independent broker Anthony Lamacchia, who has never hesitated to share opinions and engage on hot industry topics, has been relatively quiet (at least by his standards) on the current industrywide debate over listing policies. Until now. In a 13-minute video posted to his coaching YouTube channel on Oct. 19, Lamacchia excoriated Compass’s focus on…
One day after Compass’s deadline for MLSs to change rules or get sued, another listing service is defying the mega-brokerage, with Texas-based Unlock MLS alleging Compass mischaracterizes its rules—and has also privately praised those same policies before threatening litigation. In a letter from Ellen Sessions, a lawyer representing Unlock, addressed to Compass and dated Oct.…
Real estate’s Multiple Listing Service (MLS) was built on a century of shared data and mutual trust among brokers. Now, a panel of industry executives says that trust between agents and consumers is fraying as more properties get pulled into private listing networks. And, increasingly, panelists warn trust and cooperation between rival brokerages is wearing…
Editor’s note: The COURT REPORT is RISMedia’s weekly look at current and upcoming lawsuits, investigations and other legal developments around real estate. NAR and Mauricio Umansky spar over decade-old fraud allegation In a long-running lawsuit filed by listing startup PLS.com against the National Association of Realtors® (NAR), allegations of “unprofessional” conduct and “improper” demands are…
The National Association of Realtors® (NAR), in a long-running lawsuit filed by a private listing startup, is now seeking to scrutinize the communications of the American Real Estate Association (ARA, a competing association that made headlines and grew rapidly in the wake of the Burnett verdict and scandals at NAR). In a court filing last…
Above, Brian Donnellan, left, and Brian Schneider In an op-ed published earlier this month, Brian Donnellan, CEO of Bright MLS, referred to much of the recent industry upheaval as “noise.” Partnerships, consolidations, new entrants—all things that “sidestep” issues that directly affect real estate professionals, he argued. Also in that op-ed, Donnellan revealed that Bright was…
Above: CRMLS CEO Art Carter Back in 2020, the Clear Cooperation Policy (CCP)—compelling agents to submit properties to the MLS within one day of public marketing—recieved immediate pushback. But the headlines mostly centered on the reactions of ostensible outsiders, including listing startups that filed lawsuits and antitrust law enforcement that flagged the policy as potentially…
A federal judge dealt a significant blow to Washington-based Northwest Multiple Listing Service (NWMLS), refusing to throw out an antitrust lawsuit brought by the real estate giant Compass. In the 23-page order filed Thursday, U.S. District Judge Jamal N. Whitehead denied NWMLS’s motion to dismiss the lawsuit, ruling that Compass at this early stage, had…
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