The issue of private listing networks is not confined to real estate policy; it has also caught the attention of lawmakers nationwide. Several states, including Washington, Illinois, Wisconsin and Connecticut, have passed or considered laws that mandate real estate listings be publicly accessible, a potential limitation on the exclusivity offered by private networks. Now, New…
In a matter of weeks this quarter, all the major brokerages partnered with portals to pre-market their listings. Compass routed its pre-market listings to Redfin; Zillow formed its own coalition—with Keller Williams, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, RE/MAX, United Real Estate and Side—as it launched Zillow Preview. And eXp Realty announced a “Coming Soon” partnership with Realtor.com®,…
Compass is big—historically big. That is something that no one in the industry is disputing. After its acquisition of Anywhere and all that company’s brands, Compass International Holdings (a new parent company overseeing all these new subsidiaries) oversees somewhere in the range of 80,000 agents, who collectively closed half a million transactions last year. What…
“Premarket listings.” It’s the new industry catchphrase, thankfully replacing “commission lawsuits,” but, alas, it comes with its own controversy. The practice of promoting a property to potential buyers and agents before being listed on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) has also made its way into the courtroom, most prominently via a tussle between Compass and…
The legal battle between Northwest MLS (NWMLS) and Compass escalated this past week as NWMLS filed counterclaims in federal court, accusing the nation’s largest residential brokerage of violating Washington’s Consumer Protection Act, fraudulent misrepresentation and tortious interference—charges Compass swiftly dismissed as retaliation by a “monopolist” protecting its own turf. The counterclaims, filed April 2 in…
There is a lot of noise in the real estate industry right now. Clear Cooperation. Private listings. Lawsuits. And now a growing push toward exclusive “Coming Soon” and preview platforms. Let me be clear about where HomeSmart stands. Until shown otherwise, we believe listings should be broadly accessible, not restricted to any one platform or…
Compass continues to make headlines this week as Compass International Holdings has announced the appointment of Rory Golod—previous co-leader of Compass’s brokerage business and chief of staff for CEO Robert Reffkin—to the new role of president of Growth. As the company moves forward, restructuring and setting a new path after its massive merger with Anywhere…
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…
Momentum seems to be building for Zillow Preview, with the portal announcing the addition of 24 additional brokerages to the program just one week after its launch. According to the company, Zillow Preview is designed to expand early visibility for sellers, agents and buyers at a critical moment in the home shopping journey, and the…
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…
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