The Compass-Zillow Lawsuit Isn’t Just Legal Drama—It’s a Battle Over Real Estate’s Innovation DNA
Glenn Sanford, CEO of eXp, just weighed in on the Compass-Zillow lawsuit—and whether you agree with him or not, his post hits a critical nerve about where this industry could be headed.
Here’s what he said on LinkedIn yesterday:
“If private, controlled listing networks had been the norm in 2009, eXp would never have gotten off the ground… Success would depend on capital for acquisitions rather than innovation in agent services.”
Sanford’s point is simple: real estate’s open listing system (warts and all) is what gave smaller, leaner companies a shot at growing. His argument isn’t really about defending eXp—he’s making a broader case that listing transparency fuels competition, while private exclusivity kills it.
This echoes much of what I said in my earlier piece on the lawsuit—“Why the Compass vs. Zillow Lawsuit May Reshape Real Estate’s Digital Future”. The stakes in this legal fight go far beyond who wins in court. They touch on whether the future of real estate will be driven by service, tech, and innovation—or locked behind the capital walls of whoever controls listing access.
Sanford’s right that innovation often starts with access. Take that away, and you’re not just protecting incumbents—you’re rewriting the rules to exclude anyone who can’t buy their way in. He also points out the real cost to consumers when inventory becomes exclusive: fewer choices, higher prices, and limited representation.
You don’t have to cheer for any one player in this lawsuit to see the bigger picture. As Sanford puts it, this is about “whether real estate maintains a competitive landscape where innovation can emerge from anywhere.” That’s a question every brokerage, agent, and MLS should be thinking about—because the outcome of this case could determine just how wide that door stays open.