Industry News

A real estate agent in Washington state filed a class-action case claiming she and her team were penalized after refusing to refer clients to Zillow Home Loans.

To conclude our series on 2025’s industry influencers, we’re highlighting the people and trends that nearly made the list — and are worth watching in 2026.

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.

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.

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?

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.

After a multiyear spending blitz aimed at marketing and growing Homes.com, CoStar is significantly downsizing its investment in 2026, with more cuts to follow.

Some real estate economists say the plan announced by the president on Jan. 7 won’t address the key issues at the heart of the housing affordability crisis.

The president announced a plan to prohibit “large institutional investors” from buying single-family homes, saying more housing proposals would be coming soon.

Last year, our readers focused their attention on the Federal Reserve, Zillow’s listing changes (and legal woes), and the direction of the housing market.

While affordability is expected to improve, litigation isn’t going away — and questions remain about what the government will do to bring about housing reform.

Plus, the president plans to announce his Fed chair nominee in January; HUD Secretary Scott Turner said “more research” on 50-year mortgages is needed.

Realtor.com CEO Damian Eales has a New Year's resolution for the industry: Stop bickering and put your energy into solving the housing supply problem.

The brokerage and Washington state-based MLS have conflicting views over how the discovery phase is proceeding as the case advances toward a trial.

The Federal Reserve and Chair Jerome Powell were frequent targets of the Trump administration in 2026, raising concerns about the agency’s future independence.