Minneapolis Realtors apologize for racial discrimination in real estate

“Minneapolis Area Realtors apologizes to all members of the community who have been burdened, denied service, or ignored by our actions.” The trade group also releases policy changes designed to close the racial homeownership gap. Continue reading

Anywhere and Compass settle agent recruiting suit, capping 3-year feud

The companies submitted a joint filing to the New York Supreme Court on Oct. 4 asserting they had agreed to end the litigation permanently and that each side would pay their own costs. Continue reading

Referral fees from so-called ‘paper brokerages’ including Zillow inflate commissions by $15B a year: CEO

Calling it a “kickback scheme,” HomeOpenly CEO Dmitry Shkipin told the FHFA to ban referral fees charged by online brokerages — including Zillow — that don’t actually buy and sell property. Continue reading

Seeking clout, MLS trade group taps ex-DOJ and FTC antitrust lawyers

The Council of Multiple Listing Services has hired Alicia Batts and Dylan Carson to help the trade group exert influence over MLS-related decisions at the antitrust enforcement agencies. Continue reading

Court thwarts NAR, orders execs to turn over evidence in REX case

The brokerage argued that Bob Goldberg and Katie Johnson, among others, were responsible for NAR policies “limiting both how homes are listed online and the negotiation of commissions.” Continue reading

Court orders Anywhere to hand over NAR commission rule documents

Judge M. Page Kelley noted the real estate holding company formerly known as Realogy allegedly perpetuated NAR and MLS PIN’s “substantively identical” buyer broker commission rules. Continue reading

‘Don’t wait until the plane crashes’: Lawyers offer grim antitrust update

Chris Osborn, Mitch Skinner and Claude Szyfer offered an update on multiple industry antitrust lawsuits at the Council of Multiple Listing Services’ annual conference. Continue reading

Presale home renovation startup Revive wins NAR ‘Pitch Battle’

Revive takes home the $15,000 cash prize from a contest hosted by NAR’s for-profit investment subsidiary Second Century Ventures. It was one of 12 startups to compete in the contest. Continue reading

What haunts MLS leaders? Politics, commissions and their own demise

At the Council of Multiple Listing Services’ annual conference, CEOs discussed being ready for the possible death of the commission structure and why MLSs should be run as businesses. Continue reading

A world without commission sharing? MLS leaders weigh in

Denee Evans, Art Carter and Errol Samuelson lay out a vision of the MLS as the ultimate real estate data source at the Council of Multiple Listing Services’ annual conference. Continue reading