Housing Wire

OCTOBER 6, 2023

million settlement with plaintiffs in two bombshell buyer commission lawsuits have been made public, and they stipulate that the brokerage conglomerate make significant changes to its practices. The terms of Anywhere Real Estate ‘s $83.5

Buyers 424

Buyers Brokerage Agents Sellers 424

Housing Wire

OCTOBER 16, 2023

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.

Buyers 449

Buyers Brokerage Agents Realtors 449

Housing Wire

NOVEMBER 1, 2023

Three researchers believe a first-of-its-kind dataset has enabled them to definitively answer a long-debated question: why have buyer agent commission rates been so stable historically? So how is the uniformity and permanence of buyer agents’ 2-3% rate possible in a free market? One of the researchers, Will Fried, had a hunch.

Clients 422

Clients Agents Buyers Sellers 422

Housing Wire

MAY 3, 2024

17, 2024, according to a letter sent to members on Friday by NAR chief legal officer Katie Johnson. The changes also prohibit the use of MLS data or data feeds to directly or indirectly establish or maintain a platform of compensation offers from multiple brokers or other buyer representatives.

Sellers 444

Sellers Legal Buyers Realtors 444

Housing Wire

SEPTEMBER 7, 2023

But three multibillion-dollar class action antitrust lawsuits looming over the real estate industry may soon reshape how buyers interact with agents. You’ve got current economic conditions that are not opportunistic for a homebuyer right now, inflation is still out there and it’s all constraining buyers’ ability to spend. “You’ve

Buyers 385

Buyers Agents Loan Officers Real Estate 385

Housing Wire

MARCH 14, 2024

Legal experts told HousingWire that it is rare to see the Fed offer an opinion about an ongoing legal debate, as it typically does not want viewed as an influence on court decisions. Because of this, the authors believe buyer agents are then able to “command commission above cost.” housing market. needs to change.

Agents 377

Agents Legal Real Estate Agent Buyers 377

Inman

NOVEMBER 8, 2023

A majority of potential buyers say they're open to paying their agents in the wake of legal threats to commissions, according to results from a joint survey conducted by Inman with Dig Insights.

Buyers 187

Buyers Agents Legal Brokerage 187

Housing Wire

OCTOBER 4, 2023

District Court in Boston granted the Department of Justice’s request to extend all settlement related deadlines in the Nosalek buyer broker compensation class action lawsuit on Tuesday. Unlike the two other buyer-broker commission lawsuits, Moehrl and Sitzer/Burnett , NAR is not a defendant in the Nosalek lawsuit.

Buyers 394

Buyers Realtors Sellers Legal 394

Housing Wire

SEPTEMBER 20, 2023

Defendants in the Sitzer/Burnett class action lawsuit, which deals with buyer brokers’ commissions, are facing two fewer claims. The past few weeks have been eventful for the Sitzer/Burnett lawsuit, as well as the larger Moehrl lawsuit in Illinois, which also deals with buyer-broker commissions. Bough, a U.S.

Buyers 392

Buyers Law Realtors Agents 392

Housing Wire

OCTOBER 2, 2023

MLS Property Information Network’s (MLS PIN) settlement agreement in the Nosalek class action antitrust buyer-broker compensation lawsuit has hit yet another snag. ” It continues: “Buyer-broker commission rules are the subject of several pending antitrust suits and a pending appeal in which the United States is an appellant.”

Buyers 374

Buyers Realtors Real Estate Sellers 374

Housing Wire

MARCH 13, 2024

In their motion, the parties wrote that they “dispute the factual and legal arguments made in the DOJ’s Statement of Interest.” Preventing sellers and listing agents from setting buyer-broker commissions would promote greater price competition and innovation in the market for brokers’ services,” the DOJ argued.

Legal 409

Legal Contracts Sellers Buyers 409

Housing Wire

NOVEMBER 3, 2023

I actually started out as a buyer’s agent myself… and I see buyer’s agency as being a very valuable tool for buyers,” Sanford said during the Q&A session. I’m concerned, quite frankly, about what this might mean to buyers who may not be able to afford representation if things change up too much.”

Buyers 363

Buyers Realty Real Estate Realtors 363

Housing Wire

FEBRUARY 29, 2024

In the filing, the parties wrote that they “dispute the factual and legal arguments made in the DOJ’s Statement of Interest.” Preventing sellers and listing agents from setting buyer-broker commissions would promote greater price competition and innovation in the market for brokers’ services,” the DOJ argued.

Legal 374

Legal Contracts Sellers Buyers 374

Housing Wire

AUGUST 10, 2023

A little over a month after filing an agreement in one of the ongoing buyer broker commission lawsuits, New England’s largest multiple listing service (MLS), MLS Property Information Network (MLS PIN)’s attempt to settle the Nosalek case, has hit a snag. However, unlike Moehrl and Burnett , NAR is not named as a defendant.

Buyers 305

Buyers Realtors Legal Finance 305

Housing Wire

NOVEMBER 9, 2023

The heightened consumer protection focus from government agencies, combined with the Department of Justice’s ongoing legal feud with the National Association of Realtors and its recent involvement in the Nosalek commission lawsuit , has many in the industry expecting that the DOJ will get involved in the Sitzer/Burnett suit, and potentially others.

Legal 361

Legal Real Estate Real Estate Agent Law 361

Housing Wire

APRIL 15, 2024

When asked about the language they use to discuss how buyer and seller agent commissions are paid, some of the most common responses included stressing that commissions are and always have been negotiable, and that if the National Association of Realtors’ settlement is approved, some practices may change, but many things are currently unknown.

Inventory 386

Inventory Agents Real Estate Sellers 386

Housing Wire

FEBRUARY 28, 2024

The trade group’s legal woes have brought it back to California, where is already facing other commission lawsuits. 2021 to a buyer represented by a Redfin agent. The National Association of Realtors is facing yet another copycat commission lawsuit. Filed on Tuesday in U.S. Freedlund sold her Laguna Nigel home in late Sept.

Realtors 380

Realtors Legal Agents Brokerage 380

Inman

MAY 8, 2023

It's time to question unfounded legal warnings and negative scenarios that don't make sense so that we can put this tool to use for buyers, the CEO of Darryl Davis Seminars writes.

Buyers 120

Buyers Legal Tools Agents 120

Housing Wire

NOVEMBER 8, 2023

Data from the Legal Research Center concluded that all 50 states and Washington, D.C., The proposed FEMA form would not be useful to buyers and duplicative for sellers, virtually having them check the same box on a different form.”

Legal 338

Legal Law Insurance Real Estate 338

Housing Wire

SEPTEMBER 27, 2023

As an organization dedicated to protecting property rights, the American Land Title Association (ALTA) wants to help ensure laws do not discriminate against or prevent people from legally purchasing real estate. First, any law restricting ownership must clearly state that the obligation to follow the law rests with the buyer.

Law 356

Law Real Estate Legal Insurance 356

Housing Wire

MARCH 25, 2024

Cooperative compensation is still legal,” Papasan stressed. They noted that NAR’s settlement prohibits disclosing offers of cooperative compensation, broker compensation or total broker compensation, but it does not address including remarks noting that buyer agent compensation will not be offered.

Agents 401

Agents Advertising Real Estate Buyers 401

Housing Wire

APRIL 26, 2024

“This resolution allows us to concentrate on our primary goal: delivering unparalleled value in the real estate market and serving home buyers and sellers with the highest standards of service.” The DOJ may also file charges separately to prevent any display of buyer agent commissions on any platform. billion in damages.

Brokerage 443

Brokerage Agents Real Estate Buyers 443

Housing Wire

APRIL 10, 2024

This development arises amidst heightened scrutiny and legal challenges facing NAR , including a landmark antitrust settlement that, if approved, would mandate a payment of $418 million and the implementation of rule changes. to allow buyer agent compensation to be rolled into the loan. million members.

Real Estate Agent 436

Real Estate Agent Real Estate Agents Legal 436

Housing Wire

NOVEMBER 9, 2023

The verdict runs contrary to what we all know about the value we bring not only to our clients but to the functioning of a buyer-seller real estate market more generally,” Kasper said. As she has stated previously, NAR plans to appeal the verdict and that Sitzer/Burnett saga is far from over.

Agents 411

Agents Legal Sellers Clients 411

Housing Wire

JANUARY 2, 2024

Umpa sold his Ohio home with Redfin and his Maryland home with Compass , and the suit states that he “paid a substantial buyer-broker compensation,” in both transactions. Because this blanket offer must be made available to every buyer-broker using the MLS (i.e.,

Sellers 394

Sellers Brokerage Real Estate Realtors 394

Housing Wire

FEBRUARY 22, 2024

Worst-case scenario, the broker representing the buyer will have to negotiate their own fee with their client and the seller can no longer be compelled to make a blanket offer of compensation in order to list on the MLS,” Murray said. They have gone through all of this and it will end up being punitive to buyers.

Sellers 414

Sellers Buyers Real Estate Agents 414

Housing Wire

APRIL 11, 2023

Buyers, sellers and lenders all have a stake in the sale, and title and escrow ensure that everyone’s interests are protected. They also help to prevent fraud and ensure that the sale is conducted legally and ethically. In real estate, a title is a legal document that establishes ownership of a property or asset.

Real Estate 363

Real Estate Legal Sellers Buyers 363

Housing Wire

MARCH 29, 2024

In its proposed brief, CMLS writes that in its statement of interest, the DOJ is looking for “an injunction that prohibits offers of buyer broker compensation by MLS PIN participants.” Second, the trade group points out that the practice of sellers and listing brokers paying buyer brokers is lawful throughout MLS PIN’s service area.

Sellers 417

Sellers Real Estate Buyers Contracts 417

Housing Wire

OCTOBER 23, 2023

The first week of the much-anticipated Sitzer/Burn e tt class action buyer broker commission antitrust lawsuit concluded with the testimony of economic and legal experts. Roger Alford, a law professor from Notre Dame, was also called to testify on Friday.

Legal 360

Legal Training Real Estate Realtors 360

Housing Wire

JULY 19, 2023

A typical commission dispute arises when, after signing a listing agreement or buyer-broker agreement: A seller-client “cancels” a valid purchase contract. Similarly, commission disputes can arise when a buyer-client ultimately purchases a property shortly after the relationship with their real estate agent ends.

Real Estate 310

Real Estate Legal Brokerage Clients 310

Housing Wire

JANUARY 16, 2024

So, while I make no claim as to the specific deep legal issues, I have some familiarity of antitrust actions and more in the conduct of legal actions in a courtroom. They also testified to the importance and value of the MLS as a core service that agents provide to sellers and buyers. This court ignored all those precedents.

Agents 355

Agents Law Sellers Legal 355

Lamacchia Realty

APRIL 4, 2023

Legislation was signed into law last Wednesday , April 29, 2023 by Governor Maura Healey to legalize remote online notarization (RON). Connecticut lawmakers passed on the vote for RON in 2022 and will be the only state in New England who hasn’t legalized remote notarization.

Legal 41

Legal Law Real Estate Sellers 41

Housing Wire

NOVEMBER 8, 2023

District Court for the Northern District of Illinois Eastern Division, this lawsuit also takes issue with NAR’s Clear Cooperation rule, which requires listing brokers to make an offer of compensation to buyer brokers in order to submit a listing to a Realtor-affiliated MLS.

Real Estate 423

Real Estate Realtors Sellers Agents 423

Real Estate News

NOVEMBER 9, 2023

Tracey Kasper addressed Realtors in a video post, offering specific advice for working with buyers and sellers, and a look ahead to other legal actions.

Legal 187

Legal Realtors Sellers Buyers 187

Housing Wire

OCTOBER 27, 2023

One of the most important roles we play at ALTA is strongly encouraging buyers to shop around for their title insurance company. The Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA) ensures that homebuyers always have the legal right to consider alternative title insurance providers and can never be forced into using a particular provider.

Insurance 493

Insurance Real Estate Buyers Real Estate Agent 493

Housing Wire

FEBRUARY 22, 2024

Presently, the demand for existing homes outpaces the available supply, raising potential concerns for both sellers and buyers. Legal and regulatory risk demands compliance with evolving laws and regulations, with VRM Mortgage Service’s legal and compliance departments ensuring current knowledge and implementing controls.

Business 361

Business Marketing Real Estate Legal 361

Housing Wire

OCTOBER 27, 2023

Class action attorneys allege real estate commission rates are too high and buyer brokers are being paid too much due to NAR rules. Listing brokers make offers of compensation to buyer brokers who bring a buyer to the table. And if those same consumers had to go it alone without buyer representation? population.

Real Estate Agent 457

Real Estate Agent Real Estate Realtors Buyers 457