2 Texas Associations to Merge; MLS Alliance Expands in Florida
The San Antonio Board of Realtors and Four Rivers Association of Realtors announced a merger that would combine over 10,000 members across Central and South Texas, pending a member vote and National Association of Realtors (NAR) approval. The Southeast MLS Alliance added Jacksonville‑based realMLS as its fifth partner, pushing the alliance’s subscriber base above 118,000 agents in the Southeast. In a separate development, a federal judge dismissed the remaining Florida Realtor and MLS defendants from a steering‑commission lawsuit, leaving only the plaintiff to potentially amend the complaint. These moves reshape regional cooperation and legal exposure in the residential real‑estate market.
Nearly 1 in 10 Home Shoppers Open to Renting or Buying
Zillow’s latest research finds that roughly 8% of its users browse rental and for‑sale listings at the same time, a group the firm calls “dual shoppers.” These shoppers typically target three‑bedroom homes and compare properties with similar features, noting that...
StreetEasy Product Aims to Give Agents an ‘Edge’ in Tough Market
StreetEasy, Zillow’s New York City brand, unveiled Agent Advantage, a two‑tier membership that gives agents priority search placement, analytics and customizable comps reports, with the Signature tier adding premium listing pages and predictive tools. The program aims to help agents differentiate...
Across the US, the ‘New Compass’ Is Running Away with the Lead
Compass International Holdings has dramatically expanded its market share after acquiring Anywhere, now leading in five major U.S. metros. In Boston, Chicago, San Diego, Austin and Washington, D.C., the "New Compass" brand commands 30%‑40% of home‑sale transactions, outpacing rivals such as...
Spring Market ‘Fragile’ as Existing Home Sales Hit 9-Month Low
Existing home sales in March slipped to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 3.98 million, the lowest level for the month since 2009. The decline reflects a 3.6% month‑over‑month drop and a 1% year‑over‑year dip, driven by higher mortgage rates, economic...
Florida Franchise Claims E&V Tried to ‘Destroy’ Its Operations
Engel & Völkers Florida (EVFL), operating about 40 offices and 700 agents, sued its franchisor EVA in December 2025, alleging a bad‑faith campaign to devalue the franchise after EVA’s 2021 acquisition by private‑equity firm Permira. EVA terminated the master franchise agreement...
Zillow COO: ‘Preview’ Idea First Conceived 2 Years Ago
Zillow introduced Preview, a pre‑marketing tool that lets sellers showcase homes before they hit the MLS, a concept the product team began shaping two years ago during the Zillow Showcase era. COO Jun Choo emphasized that the service is built to...
‘Powerhouse’ REMAX Firms Unite; Real Expands in US, Canada
The Real Brokerage announced two new team acquisitions, adding a 65‑agent group in Arizona and an 18‑member Team Jordan in Ontario, expanding its U.S. and Canadian footprint. In Arizona, REMAX Fine Properties merged with REMAX Solutions, creating a single brokerage...
Housing Market in a ‘Psychological Freeze’ as Confidence Falls
U.S. inflation accelerated to 3.3% in March, driven by a 10.9% surge in energy prices, prompting the Federal Reserve to likely keep rates steady. Consumer confidence plunged to a 47.6 index, a 10.7% monthly drop, creating a "psychological freeze" in...
NAR, Elliman Opt Into Tuccori Homebuyer Settlement
The National Association of Realtors (NAR) has opted into the Illinois‑based Tuccori settlement, committing $52.25 million to a global fund that will be paid over several years. This payment follows NAR’s earlier $418 million settlement with home‑seller commission cases, expanding the organization’s...
Gibson Claims Against Berkshire Hathaway Energy Will Proceed
A federal judge in western Missouri denied Berkshire Hathaway Energy's (BHE) motion for summary judgment, allowing the Gibson lawsuit over alleged inflated real‑estate commissions to move toward trial. BHE was added to the case in March 2024 after its subsidiary...
Shilo, Rechat, Lofty Add AI Tools; Associations Bolster Agent Safety
Shilo, Lofty and Rechat each rolled out new AI‑powered tools that automate coaching, lead nurturing and conversation capture for real‑estate agents, all offered at no extra charge to existing customers. Shilo’s Signals builds DISC‑style profiles from over three million calls,...
EXp Loses Bid to Get Fraud Claims Tossed in Sexual Misconduct Case
A California federal court denied eXp Realty and its parent eXp World Holdings a motion to dismiss a fraudulent misrepresentation count in a sexual‑assault lawsuit. The plaintiffs, who added the fraud claim in October 2023, satisfied the legal standard by...
Iran Ceasefire May Not Quell Mortgage Rate Volatility
Mortgage rates slipped on April 8 after the United States and Iran announced a two‑week ceasefire, with the 30‑year fixed rate dropping from 6.44% to 6.38%. Analysts say the dip is likely temporary, as lingering uncertainty over energy prices and inflation...
Zillow Economist Calls Out Redfin for ‘Mischaracterizing’ Research
Redfin released a report, backed by a Compass partnership, that claims pre‑marketing "Coming Soon" listings could increase housing inventory by 6‑12% in certain markets. Zillow chief economist Mischa Fisher publicly challenged the findings, arguing the analysis relies on a chain...
