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…
Buying or selling a home is one of the most significant decisions a person can make. Agents and brokers don’t simply show houses; they identify market signals, manage hundreds of moving parts and protect clients from surprises along the way. Behind every successful transaction is a key ingredient many consumers may not think about—accurate, reliable…
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…
An open letter directed to MLS providers by Compass, Redfin and Rocket Mortgage was made public last week. It represents a new low in disingenuous behavior. In it, they make an argument for “seller choice” in permitting sellers and their agents to withhold listings from MLSs so they can be introduced in “private listing” networks…
A new survey from Zillow finds a striking reversal in market dynamics: by the fourth quarter of 2025, 51% of agents said market conditions were favoring buyers, the first time that had been true all year. From this same time last year, inventory is up 5%, the monthly mortgage payment on a typical U.S. home…
Today, many brokerages feel caught between two priorities: growing the business and protecting the agent experience. Too often, growth wins and service quietly erodes. This results in operational debt that comes to light when the market tightens. That erosion isn’t accidental. Growth fails when the systems meant to support it were built too late. Sustainable…
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…
As a cascade of “premarketing” partnerships and programs sweep through the industry, Compass International Holdings (CIH), Rocket and Redfin have sent out a letter asking MLSs to change their policies to support phased listing distribution and cease punishments on agents for “seller-directed marketing plans.” The letter, obtained by RISMedia, was seemingly shared with MLSs and…
For Teresa Palacios Smith, inclusion is not a program—it is a practice. As chief inclusion and engagement officer at HomeServices of America, Palacios Smith has spent her career building bridges between the real estate industry and the diverse communities it serves. A Cornell-certified DEI expert, she leads initiatives that reach over 23,000 agents across more…
The mad dash for premarket power is showing no signs of slowing, as mega-brokerage eXp announced that it is striking a listing partnership with Realtor.com®, Homes.com and ComeHome.com (HouseCanary’s portal in Google Search), just 24 hours after Zillow launched a similar partnership with five other big national companies. Starting next month, eXp agents will be…
| Newer Posts | Older Posts |