Why REX pays buyer agents and uses MLSs — sometimes

REX’s general counsel Michael Toth says the discount brokerage pays buyer agents in at least 40 percent of its list-side transactions. Continue reading

NAR vs. DOJ: A timeline of the battle as it stretches into 4th year

An analysis of the association’s petition offers a step-by-step timeline of the events leading up to the DOJ’s launch of a new probe into NAR rules. Continue reading

NAR-DOJ rule changes won’t come for months

Rules regarding public display of buyer broker commissions and lockbox access for non-Realtors were originally slated to take effect by the end of March. Continue reading

New report slams agents for lack of transparency around commissions

The Consumer Federation of America has released another scathing report about the real estate industry, this time focusing on an alleged lack of transparency regarding agent commissions and commission splits. Continue reading

T3 Sixty ‘Danger’ report emerges as latest hitch in NAR lawsuit

NAR commissioned the report for the trade group’s Strategic Thinking Advisory Committee. Among the top 10 dangers noted were “Commissions spiral downward.” Continue reading

Northwest MLS breaks the mold to allow public display of agent commissions

The move represents a sharp break from 600 or so other MLSs nationwide, some of whom have threatened to cut off brokerages who have tried to publicly display commissions. Continue reading

Bombshell suit against real estate firms could get even bigger

Three additional plaintiffs have been added to a lawsuit involving the sharing of commissions between listing and buyer brokers. Continue reading

Gary Keller, KW training scripts called out in commission lawsuit

The lawsuit alleges that the National Association of Realtors (NAR), Realogy Holdings Corp., Keller Williams Realty, RE/MAX LLC, HomeServices of America Inc. and HomeServices subsidiaries BHH Affiliates LLC, HSF Affiliates LLC, and The Long & Fost… Continue reading

Bombshell lawsuit takes a new turn

The bombshell lawsuit that could upend the U.S. real estate industry has been amended, adding more plaintiffs and defendants and emphasizing the role commissions play in steering buyers and raising costs for sellers. Continue reading

NAR fights back as buyer broker commission lawsuits pile up

An ever-increasing number of law firms are lining up to attack the real estate industry practice of sharing sales commissions between listing agents and buyer’s agents, but the National Association of Realtors is fighting back. Continue reading