The Ten

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

Lawsuits, criticism and new potential rivals cast a shadow over Zillow’s successes this year — but the search giant has not yet buckled under the pressure.

Pushback against the association came from all sides in 2025 as members asserted their independence. In response, NAR sought feedback and promised reforms.

Artificial intelligence is getting smarter, more powerful and more accessible to agents and executives. It’s no longer optional — but not without risks.

Following the company’s acquisition of Redfin, CEO Varun Krishna believes Rocket will integrate the homebuying process “at a scale the industry has never seen.”

Divisions over private listings deepened in 2025, with major industry players going head-to-head and others warning of the risks to a fair and open market.

To understand the forces that shaped this year, we’re looking back at 2025’s massive M&As, private listings drama, and yes — seemingly unending lawsuits.

2024 was supposed to be the year that home sales bounced back, but rates, inflation (and buyers) had other plans.

Leaders of the nation’s 16th-largest MLS envision a broker-centric future — and more privately owned multiple listing services. “We’ve now opened the door.”

Concerns about the policy aren’t new. But with NAR reeling and the DOJ looming, they’ve taken on a new, more contentious tone.

When law professor Tanya Monestier started looking into buyer agreements, she never expected to become a leading voice in NAR’s biggest battle.

The association made a deal to end commissions cases while facing leadership shifts, intense attention from the DOJ — and media — and "rumblings" of discontent.

As other brokerages stumbled in 2024, Real saw enviable growth in agent count, transactions and share price — with President Sharran Srivatsaa setting the tone.

The Justice Department was a constant presence in 2024 — weighing in on civil cases, questioning buyer agreements and fighting NAR in the Supreme Court.

For CoStar and Move, the battle for dominance escalated from civil competition to full-scale attacks. Zillow and other players, meanwhile, stayed out of it.

NAR’s settlement staved off “extinction-level litigation” but created snags by requiring buyer agreements and moving compensation off multiple listing services.

During a year of turmoil in the industry, Pareja — who just moved into the CEO role in April — has repeatedly jumped into the fray to tackle issues head-on.

Leaders stepped up as the NAR settlement changed the game, Clear Cooperation fueled division and the Department of Justice stoked fears in this surprising year.

The CoStar CEO, who has openly criticized his competitors, set an ambitious goal for the company’s Homes.com search portal in 2023 — and beat it.

The Sitzer/Burnett trial put a spotlight on compensation, but it’s far from “case closed” as questions — and lawsuits — about how agents get paid multiply.

As lawsuits bogged down many industry players, Anywhere’s CEO made the decision to settle, positioning his company to focus on profitability and the path ahead.

The massive trade organization showed cracks in the foundation as it confronted harassment allegations from the inside and legal threats from the outside.

On stages large and small, NAR President Tracy Kasper is making a compelling push to retake the Realtor narrative and highlight efforts to expand homeownership.

Art Carter and Brian Donnellan, CEOs of the nation’s largest MLSs, are pals as well as colleagues, walking the talk of collaboration in challenging times.

Hacks wreaked havoc in the second half of the year. But the industry pulled together, proving that professionalism and relationships are what drive real estate.

While high borrowing costs brought the market to a halt in 2023, there are signs that mortgage rate relief is coming in 2024.

After becoming CEO of the nation’s largest independent brokerage, Hoby Hanna limited access to some listings. Expanding that approach is the table for 2024.

Buyer’s agents in 2023 were at the center of questions about compensation — and their value. But those who have made it through are confident of their worth.

Real Estate News has selected the top newsmakers in a year shaped by trials — of all kinds — and resilience in the face of epic challenges and opportunities.