Real estate in the courtroom

The portal, MLS and brokerage are anticipating a ruling on whether Zillow will retain access to MRED’s data feeds. The judge could decide as soon as next week.

The court ruled that disputes over key facts remained unresolved and should not be decided ahead of the trial, which is set for August 24.

At the Zillow vs. MRED/Compass preliminary injunction hearing, a judge listened to three irreconcilable theories. His ruling could have lasting consequences.

Execs from Zillow, Compass and MRED testified in Chicago on Wednesday in a hearing that could have implications for how listing rules can be enforced.

The Chicagoland MLS appears to be seeking alternative solutions to a preliminary injunction hearing, which is scheduled to begin this week.

Homebuyers in Florida are alleging that the modification of their purchase contract to include a $475 brokerage fee was both “illegal” and “unreasonable.”

A day after Real’s motion to compel arbitration was granted, the plaintiffs moved to dismiss the firm from the antitrust case against Zillow.

The ruling also granted Real’s request to compel arbitration. Plus, CoStar filing rejected in MRED case; Compass settles telemarketing complaint.

ARA Co-founder Jason Haber expressed skepticism about the subpoena's relevance to the case: “What does this have to do with a lawsuit about private listings?”

The settlements appear close to final approval. Plus, CoStar says Zillow’s trying to “avoid accountability” in copyright case; VU asks court to toss RESPA suit.

CoStar, which operates competing portal Homes.com, filed a brief on Wednesday saying the court shouldn’t reward Zillow’s “own anticompetitive conduct.”

11 settlements in the homebuyer commissions case were preliminarily approved Tuesday, including deals with NAR, HomeServices, Hanna Holdings, Compass and eXp.

While a partial win for Zillow, the MLS and Compass also praised the decision, which bars the portal from excluding MRED listings that don’t meet its standards.

After the MLS cut Zillow’s feeds — a “dramatic and unprecedented decision,” per a court filing — the portal requested an emergency order to reinstate access.

Now that its motion to dismiss the case has been denied, the home search giant has issued a response to the federal agency’s antitrust allegations.

In a May 18 motion, the portal says the MLS — in coordination with Compass — has threatened to cut Zillow’s feed and “kneecap” its ability to compete.

The mortgage giant claims that UWM tried to win back thousands of loans purchased in 2024 by Mr. Cooper, costing the company millions.

The portal alleges it was coerced into abandoning its listing standards in Chicagoland due to a partnership-driven “monopoly” and “group boycott” in the region.

The deal can proceed, at least for now, though a similar request is with an appeals court. Plus, three Batton defendants respond to an amended complaint.

NAR’s $52 million settlement in a related case is “a prototypical reverse auction,” according to an April 28 preliminary injunction request.