HomeServices Makes Bid to Join Buyer Commissions Case
HomeServices of America and its affiliates have filed to opt into the Tuccori settlement, ending their involvement in the buyer‑side antitrust lawsuit over real‑estate commissions. The filing, made on April 20 in the Southern District of Florida, follows a series of similar opt‑ins by major brokerages, including NAR’s disclosed $52.25 million payment. Settlement terms remain confidential, and the court will now consider preliminary approval. The move marks the last major defendant from the earlier Sitzer/Burnett case to join the buyer‑side resolution.
Real Estate Works Best in the Open — Here’s Why
Industry experts warn that the growing trend of “private” listings is mischaracterized; it is merely selective distribution rather than genuine privacy. Limiting a property's exposure reduces the pool of potential buyers, undermining price discovery and often leading to lower sale...
Pandemic ‘Permanently Transformed’ Land Market, New Study Says
Realtor.com’s new land‑market study finds U.S. buildable lot inventory has dropped 23.6% since early 2019, while median price per acre surged 76.6% to $62,365. The pandemic‑driven construction boom converted many parcels into homes, permanently shrinking the supply of developable land....
Buyers Have an Advantage This Spring — but Will They Show Up?
A new Redfin analysis shows that 78% of the nation’s 49 major metros are now buyer’s markets, a sharp rise from a year ago. Home prices are falling in 89 of the 300 largest markets, with Florida metros seeing declines...
Housing Shortage Number Raises Eyebrows; Fed Nominee Hearing Set
The White House’s 2026 Economic Report claims the United States faces a housing shortfall of at least 10 million single‑family homes, a figure that dwarfs estimates from Realtor.com, Freddie Mac and most economists. Economists generally place the deficit between 3 million and 4 million...
Homeownership Varies by Job Type — but Affordability Still a Factor
A new National Association of Realtors analysis shows that while managers and business professionals continue to top homeownership rates, service‑occupation owners have made the biggest gains over the past decade, rising from 42.7% in 2014 to 45.5% in 2024. Real‑estate...
Commission Changes Haven’t Killed Deals, but ‘Worrisome Trends’ Loom
A new Consumer Federation of America report, released April 16, finds that real‑estate commissions have barely changed since the National Association of Realtors settlement, with only 7% of housing counselors noting lower fees. First‑time and low‑income buyers still struggle with affordability,...
Zillow’s ‘Buzz’ Sheds Light on User Engagement; Side Enhances App
Zillow unveiled the Zillow Buzz Index, a data‑driven metric that quantifies how over 600 home features and architectural styles affect buyer engagement, with exposed beams generating a 20% lift in daily interactions. Side introduced four AI‑powered tools inside its transaction...
EXp Drawn Into Zillow RESPA Case
eXp Realty has been added as a defendant in a class‑action lawsuit accusing Zillow of inflating commissions and steering homebuyers to its mortgage arm in violation of RESPA. The amended complaint alleges eXp promoted Zillow’s Flex referral program through at...
‘Increasingly Worse Vibes’ Hampering Spring Housing Market
Mortgage rates edged lower this week, with the 30‑year fixed averaging 6.3%, the lowest level in about a month and down from 6.83% a year ago. Despite the modest decline, home‑buyer demand remains muted; purchase applications are still down year‑over‑year...
HAR Subscribers Gain Enhanced Access to Real-Time Data
Repliers has become the exclusive API gateway for HAR.com’s MLS and three subscriber‑only data sets, delivering real‑time listings and proprietary metrics via a single platform. The partnership adds HAR’s page‑view, lead, and ShowingSmart activity data to Repliers’ feed, enabling on‑demand...
Realty One, The Agency Settle in Homebuyer Commissions Case
Realty One Group and The Agency have elected to join the Tuccari homebuyer‑commission settlement, bringing all defendants in the related Cwynar case to preliminary agreements. The settlement, overseen by the Northern District of Illinois, does not disclose the amounts the...
SERHANT Goes Big in the Golden State; C21 Circle Enters Michigan
SERHANT announced a major California rollout, opening offices in Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, Orange County and Tahoe and onboarding 16 top‑producing agents who closed over $2 billion last year. The move expands the New York‑based brokerage to 16 states and follows its No. 26...
Share of First-Time Buyers Sinks to Record Low
The National Association of Realtors reports that first‑time homebuyers now represent just 21% of recent purchasers, the lowest share on record dating back to 1981. Younger millennials saw the steepest decline, with their first‑time share falling from 71% to 60%...
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...
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...
Tariffs ‘on Track to Exacerbate’ US Housing Shortage
A congressional report released in April 2026 finds that roughly 60,000 home‑construction jobs have vanished since December 2024, a decline linked to President Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs. Prices for key building materials such as copper and steel have surged more...
NAHREP Installs 2026 President; JPAR Promotes Industry Veteran
Edwin Acevedo, founder of Century 21 LOTUS, was sworn in as NAHREP’s 2026 national president, continuing a streak of Century 21 leadership within the Hispanic real‑estate association. His tenure emphasizes expanding homeownership access and mentoring agents across the United States. Meanwhile, Tony Delgado,...
Why HomeSmart Said ‘No’ to Exclusive Distribution
HomeSmart announced it will not join exclusive "Coming Soon" or preview distribution models like Zillow Preview, opting to keep listings on open MLS platforms. The brokerage argues that broad, transparent access drives competition, protects fair‑housing compliance, and benefits both buyers...
US Now Has over 10M Hispanic Homeowners — a New Record
The National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals reported that Hispanic homeownership reached a record 10.2 million owner‑households in 2025, adding 441,000 new owners—the largest single‑year gain for any demographic. Despite the surge, the homeownership rate slipped to 48.5% as 1.09 million...
NAR Urges Courts to Consider Recent Dismissal of Membership Suit
The National Association of Realtors (NAR) saw a Michigan judge dismiss the Hardy antitrust lawsuit, which challenged its mandatory‑membership rule for MLS access. NAR and regional realtor groups are now citing that dismissal in pending cases in Texas, California and...
Confronting Real Estate’s ‘Very Destructive’ Narrative
Brown Harris Stevens CEO Bess Freedman told the NAR Change Agents podcast that despite litigation, consolidation and a tough market, she remains optimistic about residential real estate. She defined professionalism as timeliness, communication and putting the client first, and warned...
Batton Plaintiffs File Appeal After Anywhere Opt-In Deal
The Batton plaintiffs have appealed to the Seventh Circuit after a district court denied their request for a preliminary injunction aimed at blocking Anywhere Real Estate’s opt‑in to the Tuccori settlement. Anywhere, along with The Keyes Company, Illustrated Properties and...
The MLS Will Evolve. Who Gets to Shape What Comes Next?
Industry leaders are questioning the future of the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) as major players like Compass, Redfin, Zillow and Realtor.com launch private or pre‑market listing platforms. These initiatives highlight the MLS's enduring role as the most reliable source of...
Pocket Listings Really Do Sell for More — at Least in Dallas
A University of Georgia study of roughly 700,000 Dallas‑Fort Worth home sales from 2002‑2022 found that pocket listings – homes sold off‑MLS and entered the MLS after closing – fetched an average 1.7% price premium over comparable MLS listings. The...
Real Estate Stock Prices Have Taken a Big Hit in the Past Year
Real‑estate equities have endured a steep decline over the past year, with CoStar and Zillow each losing roughly half their value as the housing market remains sluggish. Opendoor’s stock surged 375% while Offerpad tumbled 57%, illustrating divergent fortunes among iBuyers....
Judge OKs eXp, Weichert Deals After 18-Month Battle
A U.S. district judge in Georgia gave final approval to the settlement agreements that eXp Realty and Weichert Realtors reached in the Hooper buyer‑agent commission lawsuit. eXp will contribute $34 million to a broader settlement fund exceeding $1 billion, while Weichert will...
NAR Prevails in Another Mandatory Membership Case
A federal judge in Michigan dismissed the Hardy mandatory‑membership lawsuit against the National Association of Realtors, marking another legal win after a similar dismissal in Louisiana. The court found the plaintiffs’ claims unsupported, reinforcing NAR’s stance that its membership fees...
Industry Leaders Continue to Weigh in on Zillow Preview
Zillow launched Preview on March 17, a pre‑market listing platform that initially partnered with five major brokerages and added more than two dozen firms within two weeks. The service lets homes appear to buyers before MLS listing, mirroring similar "Coming Soon"...
1 in 2 Homes Spent at Least 60 Days on Market in February
Redfin data shows 52.2% of February home listings remained on the market for 60 days or more, the highest share for the month since 2019. Weak buyer demand and persistent price growth are prompting sellers to list above market levels,...
Compass Promotes a ‘Trusted Leader’; KW Elevates 25-Year Veteran
Compass International Holdings promoted longtime executive Rory Golod to president of growth, a role designed to accelerate agent adoption of its AI‑driven platform, oversee recruitment, M&A and corporate communications, and unify its brand portfolio. Golod’s decade‑long tenure includes leading brokerage...
Compass, eXp, Real Add Teams; 2 BHGRE Firms Join Forces
Several major U.S. real‑estate brokerages announced strategic team acquisitions and geographic expansions this week. eXp Realty welcomed the high‑performing Maximum Tampa group, which generated nearly $52 million in 2024 sales, while Compass added the billion‑dollar Avenue Realty Group in Virginia. Real...
How RealPage Is Turning the Page After DOJ Settlement
RealPage settled a DOJ antitrust case in November, allowing it to keep selling its rental‑pricing software but barring the use of competitors' non‑public data. The settlement involved no admission of guilt or financial penalties and affected only about 7% of...
CoStar Claims Zillow Is Still Using over 50K Copyrighted Photos
CoStar has amended its copyright infringement lawsuit, alleging Zillow continues to display about 53,000 of CoStar‑owned photos, up from roughly 47,000 last year. The dispute centers on multifamily rental listings syndicated across Zillow, Trulia and HotPads, with CoStar demanding permanent...
Louisiana Judge Dismisses NAR 3-Way Agreement Lawsuit
A Louisiana federal judge dismissed the antitrust claims against the National Association of Realtors (NAR) and local Realtor groups alleging a forced three‑way membership scheme, while allowing plaintiffs to amend claims against GBRAR executive Kenneth Damann. The federal claims were...
ARMLS Adopts New Independent Board Model
Arizona Regional MLS (ARMLS) will halve its board size, cutting from about 18 directors to five independent members who cannot hold an Arizona real‑estate license. The new governance model adds a non‑voting advisory council of agents and brokers to provide...
REMAX Settles in Batton Commissions Case
RE/MAX announced a settlement in the Batton antitrust lawsuit, agreeing to contribute $8.5 million to the settlement fund. The agreement releases the company, its affiliates, franchisees and agents from all claims, while explicitly denying liability. The settlement amount is substantially lower...