Robert Reffkin says he’s ‘pro-MLS’ — but doubles down on criticism 

Shortly after Compass International Holdings (CIH) and Rocket Companies released an open letter alleging that some multiple listing services are "actively working against" real estate agents' interests, CIH Chairman and CEO Robert Reffkin released a statement of his own that reinforced — and in some cases clarified — his company's goals.

A 'pro-MLS' stance?

In a March 20 post on LinkedIn, Reffkin echoed the letter's vow that CIH will support agents if an MLS penalizes them "for following their seller-directed marketing plan," and, he added, "our lawyers will defend them."

Reffkin then shifted from criticizing a handful of MLSs — the same ones mentioned in the open letter — to insisting that he supports the MLS system in general, with caveats.

"To be clear, I am pro-MLS," Reffkin said. "I am only advocating for MLSs to stop fining agents for following their seller-directed marketing plans." 

But he also wants to change the MLS coverage landscape: "I am actively trying to get MLSs that don't fine agents for following their seller-directed marketing plans to expand to cover geographies where MLSs do fine agents," he wrote.

A national MLS alternative

Reffkin, who once predicted that Zillow — eventually — "is going to be the MLS," clarified in the post that he is "not advocating for a single national MLS" but for "a national MLS to compete with local MLSs and for local MLS to compete with each other."

"Because if MLSs have to compete, who are they competing for? The agent," he said, adding that MLSs "don't have to earn their business with agents" because agents "are forced to use it without choice."

"I simply want a world where agents aren't fined by MLS as it will result in a world where portals and MLS will have to compete to provide better marketing options for agents and their clients," he concluded.

Pushing the 'choice' message

Reffkin shared his statement one day after the letter addressed to agents and MLS leaders surfaced. Its release came amid a flurry of policy shifts from major industry players regarding how they approach pre-market listings — some of which Reffkin has applauded.

The letter — signed by CIH, Rocket and Redfin, which Rocket acquired last year — said the companies "will not accept rules that dictate where a seller and their real estate professional can and cannot market their listings." It vowed to defend agents who are penalized and to "fight to change rules that punish (agents) for honoring seller choice."

CIH and Rocket — which announced a deal last month allowing Compass to display private listings on Redfin — have both declined to provide additional information on the letter's contents.

An evolving narrative?

Mapping Reffkin's view of MLSs is complicated given his (and Compass') public statements on the topic.

During a company retreat last June, Reffkin was openly critical of the MLS establishment, asserting that "these organizations are not the government," yet "their mandatory rules interfere with your client relationships."

"Organized real estate is trying to end the Compass 3-phased marketing strategy," he claimed.

However, this week's letter from CIH and Rocket took issue with only "a small number of MLSs" — not organized real estate as a whole — that have penalized agents or threatened to do so, according to the authors.

"These MLSs represent a clear minority in an industry that is rapidly moving toward seller choice," the letter said, later adding, "Filing with the MLS for cooperation is something we support and will continue to do."

Reffkin also told Compass agents last year that he is "not against clients putting their listings on the MLS or any portal" but wants consumers and their agents "to have the choice to do that and not be forced to do it."