In an entirely expected move last Friday, Oct. 16, Compass filed a federal antitrust lawsuit against California-based CRMLS, asking a judge to prevent the MLS from enforcing its “mandatory submission” policies that the brokerage argues violates antitrust policies. As it has continued to campaign for changes to certain MLS policies, a Compass spokesperson told RISMedia…
Iowa-based NoCoast MLS and Chicagoland MLS MRED today announced a new partnership that they say will further connect real estate professionals throughout the Midwest, as MRED continues to pursue a national (and potentially international) expansion of its platform. Created by Iowa REALTORS®, NoCoast MLS serves approximately 1,300 real estate professionals through five participating REALTOR® associations…
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.…
Accusing the mega-brokerage of conducting a scorched earth—and illegal—pressure campaign, California-based CRMLS said it has rejected a Compass “demand” that it alter rules around public marketing, and is preparing its own legal and public response to what it characterizes as self-serving and cynical moves to consolidate market share. CRMLS General Counsel Ed Zorn, in a…
A new bill in New Jersey seeks to protect homebuyers’ privacy by removing interior listing photos from public MLS feeds after a home is sold. The bill, introduced in the New Jersey State Assembly earlier this month, requires real estate brokers to provide an image removal request form to homebuyers before the date of sale…
What is a “private” listing? Short answer, not everyone agrees. Cooperation—that is, brokers sharing their listings with all other real estate professionals in order to facilitate a sale—has long been the default practice in residential real estate. The National Association of Realtors® (NAR) traces the first precursor to a “multiple listing service,” or MLS, back…
Editor’s note: The COURT REPORT is RISMedia’s weekly look at current and upcoming lawsuits, investigations and other legal developments around real estate. eXp denied judgment ahead of trial, though Sanford scores win Judge Andre Birotte of the federal central district of California ruled late last week that a jury will decide whether eXp is liable…
The battle over private listings is playing out nearly everywhere—from statehouses and courthouses to brokerage offices and Wall Street boardrooms. As opponents and supporters of the practice make their cases, the debate looks vastly different depending on the venue. But one tool that is nearly always effective is data. And as the practice draws more…
Stellar MLS has announced the REALTORS® Association of Citrus County (RACC) as its newest corporate shareholder, expanding access to technology, tools, data and support to real estate professionals throughout Florida’s largest MLS coverage area, while connecting RACC members to the scale, service and stability of a nearly 80,000-customer MLS community. According to a release, this…
Bright MLS, covering a huge swath of territory across the Mid-Atlantic coast region, is currently the largest multiple listing service in the country. Being the largest often means that the decisions it makes will set the bar for smaller players—particularly in a time of rapid change and uncertainty. This week, Bright announced significant updates to…
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