In-depth coverage of the MLS industry: lawsuits, policy, data and the fight over listings.
NAR's Clear Cooperation Policy requires publicly marketed listings to be submitted to the MLS within one business day. Coverage of the policy, office exclusives, delayed marketing, "coming soon" and "first look" statuses, and private listing networks. Official site ↗
New York's OneKey MLS signed on as a co-plaintiff in CRMLS's federal case against Compass, and the two MLSs filed an amended complaint in Manhattan federal court asking a judge to declare their clear cooperation rules lawful. OneKey points to months of emailed litigation threats from Compass leadership as the reason it joined.
Executives behind Open Real Estate said the venture has a capital commitment, a launch timeline and rules on private listings, and said they intend to complete the project.
RealScout will integrate eXp Realty's pre-market coming-soon listings into its agent-client platform later this year, extending exposure for listings before they hit the open market.
Highlights from RESO's Oct. 19–21 conference in Colorado Springs: hundreds of MLSs still lag on current data standards and certification, and speakers urged the industry to spell out coming-soon listing rules — display, syndication, showings, days on market — in explicit data fields rather than relying on inconsistent status names.
A panel of MLS and industry leaders, including Michael Wurzer, discusses how the MLS's role is shifting amid the multi-MLS lawsuit against Compass and the brokerage's wider campaign against cooperation rules. Topics include rule design, data control and what brokers now need from their MLS.
Keller Williams, HomeServices of America, eXp parent AGNT and Real REMAX Group launched Open Real Estate, a shared listing initiative. The founders position it as a response to the growth of private exclusives and say it is designed to work alongside the MLS rather than replace it.
Appraiser and columnist Jonathan Miller writes about Open Real Estate, the data-sharing initiative launched by major brokerages. The column argues it is the first serious competitor to brokerage-run private listing networks.
Arizona Regional MLS joined BridgeMLS, Canopy MLS, Doorify MLS, Hive MLS and REcolorado in a joint federal complaint filed Oct. 21 in the Southern District of New York. The six MLSs, representing more than 120,000 professionals, want a judge to declare their cooperation rules lawful under federal and state antitrust law and to bar Compass from suing over them, after Compass sent demand letters in September threatening litigation.
HousingWire's report on the joint suit by ARMLS, Bridge, Canopy, REcolorado, Hive and Doorify. Rather than wait to be sued, the MLSs are asking a court for an injunction and a ruling that their cooperation rules — and the limits they place on office exclusives — do not violate antitrust law.
OneKey MLS became the third MLS, after CRMLS in California and Unlock MLS in Texas, to publicly refuse to change its policies under pressure from Compass. CEO Richard Haggerty said the MLS believes the law supports its cooperation rules.
A breakdown of the federal antitrust case Compass filed against California Regional MLS on Oct. 16. Compass wants a judge to stop CRMLS from enforcing its mandatory submission policies, which the brokerage says violate antitrust law.
Robert Reffkin made his case for private exclusives, arguing MLS price and status histories can make homes appear damaged to buyers. He said 43% of listings had a price-drop history in September and 6% were taken off the market.
Chicago-based Midwest Real Estate Data and Iowa's NoCoast MLS agreed to share listings across state lines. Iowa members will also get MRED's technology and its private listing network when the deal goes live March 1, 2027.
Unlock MLS rejected Compass' demand to stop fining agents over office exclusives. Compass threatened a federal antitrust lawsuit if penalties continue. Fines include monetary penalties and suspension.
CRMLS's own announcement that it filed suit against Compass in the Southern District of New York on Oct. 5. After refusing Compass's demand to stop enforcing its cooperation policies, the MLS asked the court for a declaratory judgment that those policies are lawful.
California Regional MLS turned down Compass's demands over its cooperation rules. The MLS said it was preparing for possible litigation and launching an MLS Cooperation Legal Defense Fund.
Play video: Andrew Flachner on Zillow, Compass and Listing Transparency | Blueprint 202613:12Inman Blueprint 2026 session with Andrew Flachner on Zillow, Compass and listing transparency.
Play video: Anthony Lamacchia on the listings battle between Zillow, Compass and MRED18:06HousingWire interview with Anthony Lamacchia about the fight over listings involving Zillow, Compass and MRED, the Chicago-area MLS.
Play video: Inside the Portal Pre-marketing Boom42:38T3 Sixty discussion of the growth of pre-marketing on real estate portals.
Play video: Turning up the heat on the private listing cold war1:36The Real Deal video on the escalating industry dispute over private listings.