article thumbnail

Virginia Realtors: Zillow’s touring agreement may not be legal

Housing Wire

Earlier this week, Zillow launched a new “touring agreement,” a nonexclusive contract for buyers and agents to use for home tours. This agreement must be signed prior to an agent taking a buyer to tour a home. This agreement must be signed prior to an agent taking a buyer to tour a home. According to Laura M.

Legal 230
article thumbnail

Amid legal uncertainty, MLSs explore cooperative compensation workarounds

Housing Wire

Though these policies have been put in place to avoid future antitrust lawsuits, legal experts who spoke to HousingWire said they might not be enough. The National Association of Realtors also began allowing this under its Clear Cooperation policy in early October 2023.) Let’s break down the changes and the implications.

Legal 396
Insiders

Sign Up for our Newsletter

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

article thumbnail

Consumer advocacy group: Buyer agency agreements often contain “unfair” terms

Housing Wire

As brokerages across the country have begun implementing buyer agency contracts into their business practices in the wake of the Sitzer/Burnett commission lawsuit verdict, the Consumer Federation of America is warning consumers that they may be filled with “unfair provisions” that primarily protect agents and brokers.

Buyers 382
article thumbnail

Opinion: Are we facing the end of the Realtor marketplace?

Housing Wire

I have spoken numerous times over the past 35 years about the fairness and efficiency of what I refer to as the Realtor marketplace , which is a combination of a multiple listing service with Realtor association oversight, supported by a majority of brokerage firms and sales agents. Buyers may begin to go directly to listing agents.

Realtors 427
article thumbnail

Anywhere Real Estate settles buyer broker commission lawsuits

Housing Wire

According to court documents filed on Tuesday, Anywhere Real Estate and the home sellers suing the firm in both the Moehrl and Sitzer/Burnett cases, which both deal with buyer brokers’ commissions, have reached a preliminary settlement agreement, settling all claims in both suits.

article thumbnail

Washington state could provide guidance for others on buyer broker agreements

Housing Wire

There is no doubt that the cooperative compensation structure changes outlined in the National Association of Realtors’ commission lawsuits settlement agreement will generate massive changes in the real estate industry, but those are not the only changes mandated by the terms of the agreement. As of Jan.

Buyers 477
article thumbnail

NAR settlement terms slated to go into effect in mid-August

Housing Wire

The business practice changes outlined in the National Association of Realtors’ (NAR) commission lawsuit settlement agreement ,will go into effect on Aug. 17, 2024, according to a letter sent to members on Friday by NAR chief legal officer Katie Johnson.

Sellers 415