Real estate people love to extol the limitless potential of a career in the business. Michele Harrington’s story makes the hype a reality. While Harrington’s path from U.S. Marine to CEO of Southern California’s iconic FirstTeam Real Estate was anything but predictable, there was one constant that fueled her momentum every step of the way:…
A federal judge in the Northern District of Georgia has granted final approval to a series of commission-related antitrust settlements involving several real estate brokerages, bringing an end to the cases after a prolonged fight between two groups of plaintiffs and accusations that the companies negotiated “sweetheart” deals. The dispute stems from a broader clash…
Following commission-focused class-action lawsuits, the National Association of Realtors® (NAR) agreed to rule changes in 2024, one of those being the mandatory use of written buyer agreements before any property showing so as to ensure transparency. But at the state level, laws have been passed contradicting this mandate. In 2025, Alabama passed a law which…
A federal judge handed the National Association of Realtors (NAR) a major legal win today, throwing out a lawsuit by two brokers and an agent in Michigan, who had claimed that rules restricting MLS access violated federal and state antitrust laws. Douglas Hardy, Glenn Champion and Dylan Trent filed the lawsuit all the way back…
Borrowers and buyers suing Zillow for alleged RESPA violations and racketeering laid out new arguments in court filings last week, largely focused on pushing back against the portal’s contention that their lawsuit lacks legal merit while emphasizing their case hinges on agents’ obligations to represent clients’ best interests. The case, composed of two consolidated class-action…
If there’s one declaration most new real estate agents don’t want to hear after spending a lot of time with a homebuyer client it could very well be the following: “We’ve decided to rent.” On one hand, there goes a hefty commission. But on the other hand, while agents logically prefer sales, they can often…
A federal judge has dismissed the majority of federal claims in an antitrust lawsuit brought by four Louisiana real estate brokers challenging the National Association of Realtors®’ (NAR) mandatory three-way membership requirement for MLS access—though the door remains open for the plaintiffs to refile some of those claims. Chief Judge Shelly D. Dick of the…
So-called “premarket” listings appear to be the next big trend for the industry. Zillow’s recent pivot to host what are essentially “Coming Soon” properties (and a mad rush by brokers to strike deals with the portal or other consumer platforms) was an overwhelming affirmation that real estate believes that, to some degree, limited marketing options…
Per a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and court documents, REMAX has reached a settlement agreement in the Batton commission lawsuit (the first and largest by homebuyers) and will pay $8.5 million to resolve claims that it implemented and enforced rules that harmed buyers. The news comes the day after Judge LaShonda…
In today’s market, trust is often the deciding factor in whether a client chooses to move forward with an agent or keep looking. And that trust is usually built, or lost, in the very first conversation. While experience and production matter, how agents show up in those early interactions can make all the difference. First…
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