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“Collusion,” agent training are the focus on day three of the Sitzer/Burnett trial

Housing Wire

The third day of the highly consequential Sitzer/Burnett class action buyer broker commission lawsuit included a deep dive into the training materials used by various brokerages and the testimony of three of the named plaintiffs. Gorman was also questioned about the training materials used at Anywhere Brands.

Training 384
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DataDigest: 281 Realtors sound off on future of commissions in HousingWire survey

Housing Wire

Ask the average real estate agent or broker in America if they believe the National Association of Realtors (NAR) and brokerages are likely to win the bombshell Sitzer/Burnett commission lawsuit case on appeal. Such an outcome, many predict, could eventually force a disassociation between the Realtor-owned MLSs and the NAR mothership.

Realtors 386
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Chuck E. Cheese, MLS listing books and the correct pronunciation of ‘Realtor’ were on the table during HousingWire’s commission lawsuit debate

Housing Wire

“I was sitting on my couch and I saw Michael on CNBC calling us a cartel, saying that we take money that doesn’t belong to us, and I was infuriated at that rhetoric and I was infuriated at what that infers about Realtors,” Lamacchia said. “It It dehumanizes Realtors and turns us into money-making machines.”

Realtors 418
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Stakes are high as first buyer broker commission lawsuit goes to trial today

Housing Wire

At the crux of the case is the allegation that commission rates are too high, it’s unfair that the seller pays the buyer’s agent’s commission, and that the National Association of Realtors’ (NAR) Code of Conduct and MLS Handbook lead to set pricing. million, respectively.

Buyers 449
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Midwest housing markets good for first-time homebuyers: Zillow

Housing Wire

The number of first-time homebuyers made up 32% of all buyers in 2023, according to a report released by the National Association of Realtors. Millennials comprised 75% of this demographic, with older millennials and Generation X (ages 44 to 58) accounting for 44% and 24% of first-time buyers.

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Brokerage executives double down on their lead generation strategies

Housing Wire

He said his company is focused on buyer-side agents, whose activity is expected by some to be impacted by the National Association of Realtors’ (NAR) $418 million nationwide settlement of the commission lawsuits. The change would go into effect in mid-July 2024 if the settlement is approved by a judge.

Brokerage 347
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Buydowns become key for buyers to beat the market

Housing Wire

The seller, who struggled to find a buyer in a cooled down housing market, agreed to deposit a lump sum payment into an escrow account at closing – ultimately saving Davis $6,900 in monthly payments in the first two years. It gives the buyer and seller the feeling of beating the mutual enemy, ‘the market,’ and gaming the system.”.

Buyers 464