Real Estate News & Industry Updates

Latest real estate news and on the real estate industry and profession.

Zillow’s Big Rule Change: Game-Changer or Nothing Burger?

April 21, 2025
Zillow's Big Rule Change: Game-Changer or Nothing Burger?

Zillow’s April 18 clarification, courtesy of Chief Industry Development Officer Errol Samuelson’s LinkedIn post, attempts to clear the air after some major industry blowback following their April 10 announcement. Zillow boldly doubled down on its shiny new “listing access standards,” insisting that any listing marketed to some buyers must be accessible to all—essentially throwing shade at the trendy rise of private listing networks. Samuelson confidently frames these standards as a noble effort to level the playing field and ensure transparency. But, just to spice things up, he also dismisses opposing views as “misinformation,” suggesting critics are merely craving the spotlight.

So, what exactly is Zillow allowing or disallowing under this supposedly big rule shift?

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Redfin Joins Zillow in Blocking Listings Not First Shared via MLS

April 14, 2025
Redfin Follows Zillows lead on blocking non MLS Listings

Glenn Kelman, CEO of Redfin, announced this week that Redfin.com will no longer display listings that were publicly marketed before being shared through the MLS. In a post published April 14th on Redfin’s blog, Kelman stated, “Because we believe that all buyers should be able to see all listings, Redfin.com will not publish any listings that have been publicly marketed before being shared with all real estate websites via the MLS.” In an effort to support this approach, he also called on MLSs to adopt a coming-soon designation that hides days on market and price changes, features often cited by agents and sellers as barriers to listing early on the MLS.

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Zillow and Compass Tackle NAR Clear Cooperation Policy from Opposite Angles

April 10, 2025
Public vs Private Listings- Zillow vs Compass

Moments ago, Zillow announced new listing access standards aligned with the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) Clear Cooperation Policy, taking a firm stance on listing transparency. According to Zillow’s press release, the standards, effective May 2025, emphasize that any property publicly marketed must be listed on the MLS within one day and also displayed on Zillow and other platforms receiving MLS feeds.

Zillow’s release states clearly, “If a listing is marketed directly to consumers without being listed on the MLS and made widely available where buyers search for homes, it will not be published on Zillow.” They justify this position by arguing selective access to listings “create confusion, harm consumers, and erode trust in the marketplace.”

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DOJ Picks Roger Alford—What it Means for NAR, Clear Cooperation, and the Future of MLS

April 3, 2025
Roger Alford - DOJ - NAR and Clear Cooperation

There’s been a major development at the Department of Justice (DOJ) that’s got my attention, and it should have yours too. Roger Alford, a law professor from Notre Dame with extensive antitrust experience—most notably as an expert witness for plaintiffs in the landmark 2023 Sitzer/Burnett lawsuit against the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR)—has just been appointed Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the DOJ’s Antitrust Division. To put it plainly, that’s big news for real estate.

I’ve written extensively about how DOJ scrutiny is reshaping our industry, particularly regarding policies like Clear Cooperation and mandatory REALTOR® membership for MLS access. Alford’s appointment signals loud and clear that the DOJ isn’t backing off anytime soon—in fact, they’re doubling down. In the Sitzer case, Alford testified that NAR’s Clear Cooperation Policy (CCP) isn’t designed to benefit sellers, but rather to preserve MLS monopoly power by cutting off alternative options for agents. With him now positioned at DOJ, expect intensified scrutiny around rules that limit competition.

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Real Estate Agents Grapple with Growing Dissatisfaction Toward the National Association of REALTORS®

April 2, 2025
NAR Dissatisfaction by Agents

A recent industry-wide survey has revealed a notable shift in real estate agents’ attitudes toward the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR), highlighting growing dissatisfaction and skepticism among professionals. Over half (51%) of surveyed agents reported an unfavorable view of NAR, a significant increase from just 19% the previous year. This stark change is largely driven by the aftermath of the NAR settlement, which imposed stricter transparency requirements and fundamentally altered how commissions are communicated and negotiated, causing disruption in traditional brokerage practices.

Agents are feeling the impact directly in their day-to-day business, with nearly two out of five (38%) stating the settlement negatively affected their operations. More than half (54.4%) have noticed heightened client demands for commission negotiations, reflecting increased pressure to justify their services and fees. According to Redfin, which conducted the survey, this growing dissatisfaction with NAR underscores a deeper struggle within the profession, as agents grapple with declining commissions, increased competition, and shifting consumer expectations.

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Agents, NAR Just Changed the Rules—What the New Listing Policy Means for You

March 25, 2025
National Association of REALTORS (NAR) Clear Cooperation Policy

Today, the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) unveiled important updates to its widely debated Clear Cooperation Policy (CCP). After extensive discussions involving real estate brokers, MLS executives, agents, and industry legal experts, NAR introduced the “Multiple Listing Options for Sellers” initiative, designed to enhance seller options and address concerns about market fairness and consumer flexibility.

In previous articles, I’ve detailed why the original CCP faced significant opposition, notably highlighting attorney Michael Ketchmark’s recent public warning directed at NAR brokers. Ketchmark, who represented plaintiffs in the high-profile Sitzer antitrust lawsuit, explicitly warned that brokers who continued supporting CCP risked facing antitrust legal actions.

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The Growing Push for Private Listing Networks: What Home Sellers Need to Know

March 20, 2025

A growing number of real estate brokerages are steering sellers toward private listing networks rather than listing homes on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS). According to a January 2025 Harris/Zillow poll, this shift is happening despite a lack of consumer awareness about what private listings mean—and how they can impact a home sale.

The survey of over 2,000 U.S. adults highlights an alarming trend: most sellers aren’t being given all the facts about listing options. Here’s what you need to know before deciding where to list your home.

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