Compass Accused of Providing ‘False’ Info to Agents as Executives Testify on Zillow Rules Impact

With Compass and Zillow locked into a high-stakes fight over listing restrictions and market power, company executives testified in federal court for the third day yesterday as Compass leadership addressed the specifics of its private listing-focused strategy, from alleged harm to its business from the Zillow rules, to how it communicated with agents. The trial—officially… …more

Mortgage Mix: Trump Admin Walks Back Fannie/Freddie Privatization

Editor’s Note: The Mortgage Mix is RISMedia’s biweekly highlight reel of need-to-know mortgage-industry happenings. Watch for it every other Friday afternoon. As of Nov. 20, the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate sat at 6.26%, slightly up from the previous week’s reading of 6.24%. Tracking with higher rates, mortgage applications—tracked by the Mortgage Bankers Association—found that… …more

Consumer Sentiment: Americans Remain ‘Frustrated’ Even With Shutdown Over

While the uncertainty of the government shutdown is now more than a week behind us, consumer outlook on the economy has shown little improvement, per the latest index of Consumer Sentiment from the University of Michigan. In the latest index, consumer sentiment was reported at a near record low of 51; for reference, 100 is… …more

Michael Saunders & Company Brings on New Luxury Specialist in St. Petersburg

Michael Saunders & Company, a member of Leading Real Estate Companies of the World (LeadingRE) announces that Carol Fasick, a luxury real estate specialist, has joined its expanding South Florida team as the team lead and brokerage associate of The Dynasty Group.  “Carol comes to us at a time when St. Petersburg’s luxury market continues… …more

Corcoran Atlantic Announces New Office to Open in Lisbon, Portugal and Appoints CEO

The Corcoran Group announced a major milestone in its international expansion with the opening of Corcoran Atlantic’s first physical office in Lisbon, Portugal, marking a significant step in the brand’s European presence.  “With Corcoran Atlantic’s visionary leadership and industry expertise, paired with Corcoran’s branded legacy of excellence, Corcoran Atlantic is set to redefine luxury real… …more

HomeServices of America Hosts Third-Annual ‘Stronger Together’ Conference

Above, Chris Kelly at the Stronger Together conference. HomeServices of America recently held its Stronger Together conference at the iconic Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas. The annual event, now in its third year, is aimed at leading in support and development for top-performing agents across its independently branded, owned brokerage companies.   The conference was a… …more

Gearing Up to End the Year on a High Note

As we approach the end of the year, there’s a powerful temptation to stop running so fast to reach it. While it can feel like your peaks and valleys for the year are locked in by the middle of the fourth quarter, doubling down in order to keep the momentum going is the best thing… …more

Building the Modern Brokerage: Leading Your Firm Into the Next Generation

In the latest RISMedia webinar, “The Brokerage of the Future: Hybrid Models, Partnerships and What’s Next in Real Estate,” panelists focused on the future of real estate brokerage, emphasizing hybrid models, partnerships and the constant changes in the industry. Top agents and brokerages are adapting to daily and monthly changes in mortgage rates, inventory and… …more

Preparing to Work (or Not) on Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving week is here, and while many call this holiday “turkey day,” it’s better understood as a day for reflection and making sure you’re practicing gratitude. Striving and hustling are essential for an agent, but if you don’t also feel thankful for what you have, you’ll never feel satisfied. While it may go against every… …more

Zillow Announces Craig Tann as Winner of National Community Impact Champion Award

Zillow announced that Craig Tann, founder and broker of huntington & ellis, A Real Estate Agency, was named the Community Impact Champion, a national recognition honoring real estate leaders whose compassion and service extend far beyond the closing table during the Zillow Flex Unlock 2025 Conference.  The Community Impact Champion Award recognizes team leads or… …more

Innovating on a Foundation of Trust: How Stellar MLS Equips Real Estate Leaders

Real estate is navigating an era defined by unprecedented technological opportunities and the urgent need to build consumer trust. At Stellar MLS, we believe these themes are intertwined, and it is our responsibility to ensure that agents and brokers have the tools, access and expertise to guide their clients with confidence.   Leading the real estate… …more

Lower Mortgage Rates Boost Existing-Home Sales Slightly Despite Shutdown

Despite a prolonged government shutdown that lasted throughout the month, October still saw a slight increase in existing-home sales, according to the latest data from the National Association of Realtors® (NAR).  NAR’s October Existing-Home Sales report found that sales grew 1.2% to a rate of 4.10 million, slightly down from the 1.5% growth seen in… …more

Zillow Study Alleges Private Listings in Chicago Disproportionately Show Up in White Neighborhoods

New analysis by Zillow claims major disparities in how homes are marketed through Chicago’s private listing network, with homes in majority-white neighborhoods over twice as likely to be listed privately compared to those in majority-non-white areas. Released today, the research examined over 40,000 residential listings from Midwest Real Estate Data (MRED), the multiple listing service… …more

Brokers Suing NAR Say MLS Policy Changes Are ‘Admission’ of Illegality

After the National Association of Realtors® (NAR) made comprehensive updates to MLS policies—saying that most are meant to “modernize” and remove “outdated practices”—brokers who are currently suing NAR are citing the changes as an acknowledgment that these policies ran afoul of the law. In a court filing yesterday, lawyers representing three real estate professionals in… …more

Upbeat Jobs Report for September; Unemployment Edges Higher

 In a delayed report on job growth from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) on Nov. 20, U.S. employers added 119,000 jobs in September, with the unemployment rate rising slightly to  4.4%. Employment continued to trend up in healthcare, food services and drinking places, and social assistance. Job losses occurred in transportation and warehousing and… …more

Lawsuit Targeting Zillow Cites ‘Confidential Witnesses’ with New Allegations

In a class-action lawsuit focused on Zillow’s mortgage referral and fee structures, plaintiffs just added a bevy of new accusations, citing a handful of “confidential witnesses”—current and former loan officers and agents who worked with the company—who claim Zillow sought to hide the fact it was funneling customers to its mortgage business. Alleging violations of… …more

Fed Minutes Show Board Divided Over December Rate Cut

At a recent public appearance at Oxford University, Federal Reserve Board Governor Christopher Waller confirmed that he plans to vote for a 25-basis-point cut at the next Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting in December. However, during a subsequent Q&A, Waller foretold that observers may find there is currently less “groupthink” at the Fed. The… …more

Joining United Yields MORE® for Oregon Brokerage

Above, Denise and Paul Knighton  Paul and Denise Knighton Founders MORE® Realty Portland, Oregon https://www.MORErealty.com  Region served: Oregon, Washington, Nevada, New Mexico, Idaho Years in real estate (combined): 33 Number of offices: 12 Number of agents: 900 Since founding MORE® Realty 10 years ago, you’ve grown to 900 agents and are now the largest Oregon-based… …more

Mortgage Applications Take a Break as Rates Hit 4-Week High

After a period of relatively steady activity, home purchase applications fell back this week as mortgage rates reached recent multi-week highs.  The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) reports that the market composite index—the measure of mortgage loan activity volume—decreased 5.2% from one week earlier on a seasonally adjusted basis for the week ending Nov. 14,  following… …more

Report: Housing Affordability and Rising Costs Are Biggest Challenges for Real Estate Firms

Real estate firms are reporting housing affordability and rising as the biggest challenges they face, and expect to continue facing, according to a new report from the National Association of REALTORS®. NAR’s 2025 Profile of Real Estate Firms found that 56% of firms reported housing affordability as a major challenge they expect to continue facing… …more