MLS extending push for transparency to referral fees
New disclosure forms will help buyers and sellers understand who is getting paid — and how much — during home transactions, Northwest MLS says.
June 27, 2025
Dave Gallagher
Director, News Reporting
Dave's journalism career spans 24 years covering business, the economy and real estate in Northwest Washington. He's also a numbers nerd, examining data to spot emerging trends in industries. Having started his career as a sports writer, he's a lifelong baseball and soccer fan and recently discovered pickleball. He grew up in Yosemite National Park and earned his journalism degree at Humboldt State University in northern California.
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- Pending sales defy expectations, spark hope for a reboundMortgage rates continued to decline in another positive sign for the market. But new listings lost steam in June amid ongoing economic uncertainty.June 26, 2025
- New home sales tumbled in MayActivity was down 13.7% from April, pushing new home inventory to nearly 10 months of supply as builders face increasing competition from the resale market.June 25, 2025
- More sales this year? It’s possible, data indicatesATTOM’s midyear review suggested rising inventory could cause home prices to flatten or fall later this year — and that would be good news for sales.June 25, 2025
- Judge gives final OK to 15 commissions settlementsThe deals in Gibson and Keel total more than $20 million, closing another chapter in the years-long litigation over agent fees.June 24, 2025
- Federal job cuts starting to impact DC marketA rise in retirement-related home sales is creating more inventory and starting to put pressure on high prices in the D.C. area, a Bright MLS survey suggests.June 24, 2025
- High rates, prices keep existing home sales mutedThough there was an uptick in existing home sales as spring progressed, last month was still the slowest for the month of May since 2009.June 23, 2025
- Judge sets trial date for Compass vs NWMLS caseThe brokerage giant and a Washington state MLS have been butting heads over pre-marketing rules and private listings. Now a jury may get to decide who’s right.June 20, 2025
- Fed leaves rates unchanged with economy ‘in a solid position’The Federal Reserve’s current strategy is “the best thing we can do for the housing market,” Fed Chair Jerome Powell told reporters on June 18.June 18, 2025
- Home construction stalls as costs rise, demand softensHousing starts and permits fell in May in response to economic and market factors, while buyers continue to hold out despite easing mortgage rates.June 18, 2025
- Low-fee brokers: A viable option for home sellers?Home sellers can find much of the same value with low-cost brokers as they can with traditional agents, according to Consumer Policy Center researchers.June 18, 2025
- Builder sentiment sours heading into summerThe NAHB’s June confidence index was the third-lowest in the past 13 years as new home prices weaken and buyers remain on hold.June 17, 2025
- Down payments drop for the first time in nearly 2 yearsA new Redfin report suggests homebuyers may be seeking less expensive homes as ongoing economic concerns add pressure to large purchase decisions.June 16, 2025
- 4 rate-lowering strategies to share with buyer clientsFor some buyers, even a small mortgage rate reduction can make the math work on a home purchase. Here’s how agents can help them move forward.June 13, 2025
- MV Realty update: Listing agreements terminated in FloridaThe brokerage has faced multiple lawsuits over its controversial listing agreements, which sparked allegations of predatory and deceptive behavior.June 13, 2025
- Home equity dips $4K as prices slow, costs climbHome equity shifts varied widely by location, with some states experiencing gains over $30,000 while others had losses around or greater than that amount.June 13, 2025
- Clouds begin to part for buyers as mortgage rates hold steadyThough buyers continue to face high mortgage rates and general economic uncertainty, there are signs indicating the market is becoming more favorable for them.June 12, 2025
- NAR membership structure, fees under fire in new lawsuitA California broker is suing NAR and his local associations, alleging that fee rules are anticompetitive and have “a chilling effect on independent brokerages.”June 11, 2025
- MLS PIN deal approved after long-fought battle with DOJA Massachusetts judge granted preliminary approval on June 10, nearly two years after a proposed settlement drew intense scrutiny from the Justice Department.June 10, 2025
- Over 2.5 million claims filed in commissions lawsuitsBased on the number of claims filed by the May 9 deadline, each home seller could receive around $250 from the over $1 billion settlement fund.June 10, 2025
