“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…
Four brokerage giants are launching what they call “shared infrastructure” to keep listings shared broadly, seemingly in direct opposition to Compass and its campaign to undo cooperation-focused rules, in an initiative dubbed “Open Real Estate.” The four companies founding the initiative are Keller Williams, AGNT (parent of eXp and NextHome), HomeServices of America and Real…
Three separate federal lawsuits involving Compass and seven different MLSs are now making their way through the (often slow-moving) civil litigation process, marking a clear new level of conflict between incumbents defending long-running industry practices and deep-pocketed disruptors with new priorities. The confrontation comes after more than a year of fast-escalating tensions, in which the…
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…
A third MLS today publicly rejected threats from Compass over listing rules, as New York-based OneKey MLS joined CRMLS in California and Unlock MLS in Texas in refusing to change policies despite significant back-channel pressure and legal threats from the mega-brokerage. In a release early this morning, OneKey CEO Richard Haggerty said the MLS would…
Above, Sue Yannaccone. Photo by AJ Canaria WASHINGTON, D.C.—Compass International Holdings (CIH) COO Sue Yannaccone has been through a pretty big transition. Serving as president and CEO of Anywhere Brands for six years, she is now leading operations for the largest real estate brokerage in the world, as it seeks to reshape the industry 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.…
CRMLS is not waiting around for a promised lawsuit from Compass over its listing policies, filing its own federal lawsuit against the mega-brokerage late last night as a fight over exclusive inventory and listing control has once again spilled into federal court. In the 36-page complaint, CRMLS asked a federal judge in New York to…
Amid the evolving arms race for inventory, and policy disputes focused on listing access, Compass today launched what it is calling a website “redesign,” bringing a huge amount of “Coming Soon” listings from all its brands together in one place. Dubbed “See It First,” the mega-brokerage is pitching the new format as a way to…
Last night’s ruling in Zillow’s lawsuit against Chicago-based MLS MRED and mega-brokerage Compass represented a significant legal setback for the portal, even as the larger fight over policy and market power plays out on multiple fronts. A source close to MRED told RISMedia shortly after the court ruling that the MLS is prepared to enforce…
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