Real Estate News: The latest news for agents and other pros.

Arguments over damages and class standing led the Jan. 14 hearing. A ruling on whether to keep the landmark real estate settlements is expected by mid-2026.

IRES VP Julie Dahl moves up to the C-suite. Plus, longtime NWMLS COO to step down; Illinois Realtors hires 3 government affairs pros; MetroList adds partner.

Plus, 2 Minnesota firms merge; Portside Real Estate Group adds associate broker; Michael Saunders names Sanibel branch manager; eXp Romania lays out big goals.

A Jan. 13 motion argues that the FTC has provided no evidence of antitrust violations, and renters and property managers benefit from the listings partnership.

Consolidation, capital and control over listings fueled big changes in the annual SP 200. But one thing didn’t change: Robert Reffkin’s grip on the top spot.

Despite improving affordability and lower mortgage rates, economic anxiety is expected to mute a housing market rebound in 2026, a Bright MLS survey found.

The Fed is unlikely to cut interest rates in January, but it might in March. A bigger unknown? How a DOJ probe will affect monetary decisions going forward.

The brokerage and portal leader announced his departure on LinkedIn, noting that he hoped “to do something as good as Redfin, in a different field.”

A bill introduced this week in the Wash. State Legislature would require selectively marketed homes to also be publicly accessible “in some way, shape or form.”

The proposals Trump has announced thus far don’t involve boosting housing supply, which economists and industry leaders say must occur to improve affordability.

Tech veteran Greg Chan will drive SERHANT's in-house workflow automation platform. Plus, the MBA has a new CFO, and Realty.com adds a chief growth officer.

Fed Chair Jerome Powell said he will continue “standing firm in the face of threats” after the DOJ served the central bank with a round of grand jury subpoenas.

Zillow and Rocket have taken big steps toward creating an end-to-end homebuying experience that keeps users in their ecosystems. How will it impact brokerages?

Plus, Compass and Elliman welcome new agents; eXp names country leader for Italy; Christie’s enters Patagonia; Coldwell Banker team expands in Florida.

On his first day as CEO of Compass International Holdings, Robert Reffkin shared a vision of agent empowerment, seller choice and tech-enabled efficiencies.

Economists were skeptical of the president’s corporate buyer ban but praised his mortgage bond purchase proposal. Plus, a Fannie-Freddie IPO is still possible.

A senior DOJ antitrust official wanted a deeper review of the merger, but got shut down after Compass went over her head, according to the Wall Street Journal.

After three rate cuts in 2025, the Fed seemed ready to take a wait-and-see approach in 2026 — a strategy expected to hold amid a low-hire, low-fire job market.

Luxury Presence has secured funding to develop its new CRM, which will prompt agents on next actions; RentSpree product enables “integrated rental lifecycle.”

Robert Reffkin said the deal brings the “most respected brands and professionals together on a single, modern technology platform” to better serve clients.