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Are broker-to-broker referral fees next in the real estate hot seat?

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When the National Association of Realtors’ (NAR) agreed to implement mandatory buyer representation agreements as part of its commission lawsuit settlement agreement, the trade group said it was in the name of increased transparency.  It’s with this same goal in mind that Northwest MLS (NWMLS) said it chose to implement referral fee disclosures. “Northwest MLS […]

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Virginia appeals court backs ‘missing middle’ housing policy

Affordability, HWmember, Lawsuit, Legal, Multifamily, Real Estate, Single-Family Housing, Virginia /

An Arlington County, Virginia, “Missing Middle” housing initiative has been given new life following a Virginia Court of Appeals decision Tuesday — dismissing a lawsuit aiming to overturn the zoning overhaul. A report from WTOP News showed the court finding that a group of homeowners who filed suit failed to include real estate developers as

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Fannie Mae’s new AI-powered crime detection unit: The Pulte/Palantir project

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Fannie Mae has launched an AI-powered Crime Detection Unit in partnership with Palantir Technologies to achieve what FHFA/Fannie/Freddie chief Bill Pulte has called “something big on mortgage fraud.” Fannie Mae we all know is the grande dame of American Housing. Less known is Palantir Technologies. It describes itself as “bringing the right data to the

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eXp’s Glenn Sanford fires back at Compass over private listings

Brokerage, Clear Cooperation, Compass, eXp Realty, eXp World Holdings, Glenn Sanford, HWmember, Lawsuit, Legal, Real Estate, Zillow /

While his firm may not be named as a defendant in Compass’s lawsuit against Zillow, it doesn’t that mean Glenn Sanford, the CEO of eXp World Holdings, doesn’t have thoughts to share.  In its complaint, Compass (the nation’s largest brokerage by sales volume) named eXp Realty (the top brokerage by transaction sides), as a co-conspirator.

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Trump’s assault on DEI hasn’t ended federal efforts to stop appraisal bias

Appraisals, Appraisals and Valuations, Department of Justice, Discrimination, Fair Housing, HWmember, Legal, Mortgage, Regulatory, Rocket Mortgage, Trump administration /

The appraisal industry shed no tears when the Trump administration sought to undo the Property Appraisal and Valuation Equity (PAVE) Interagency Taskforce, the federal effort to investigate racial bias in appraisals implemented by former President Joe Biden. But that doesn’t mean appraisers have seen the end of federal regulation and litigation around appraisals, or the

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15 commission lawsuit settlements gain final approval

Commission Lawsuit, Howard Hanna, Howard Hanna Real Estate Services, HWmember, Legal, NAR Lawsuit Settlement, National Association of Realtors, Real Estate, Side Real Estate, Sitzer/Burnett /

In a move that’s unsurprising, U.S. District Court Judge Stephen Bough has granted final approval to 15 more commission lawsuit settlement agreements. Bough granted final approval to settlements negotiated in the Gibson and Keel suits during a joint hearing on Tuesday afternoon.  The settling defendants in the two suits, both of which are being overseen

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Does Zillow’s policy really restrict Compass’s business?

Clear Cooperation, Compass, Glenn Kelman, HWmember, Legal, National Association of Realtors, Real Estate, Redfin, Robert Reffkin, Zillow /

While the more attention-grabbing parts of Compass’s complaint in its suit against Zillow included late night calls between Robert Reffkin and “co-conspirator” Redfin CEO Glenn Kelman, and a tense meeting with Zillow executives, the complaint also detailed the business impacts Compass is feeling as a result of Zillow’s policy.  In the complaint, Compass claims that

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QC risks are shifting: Fraud, insurance, and compliance take center stage

ACES Quality Management, Legal, Mortgage, Mortgage Fraud, Sponsored /

Traditional QC risks are declining, but lenders now face mounting exposures in fraud, insurance gaps and compliance volatility. The mortgage industry’s quality control risk landscape is shifting dramatically. Traditional defect categories such as income and employment and credit are seeing historic declines, while once-marginal issues like insurance gaps and fraud are now taking center stage.

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The juiciest details in Compass’s lawsuit against Zillow

Clear Cooperation, Compass, eXp Realty, Glenn Kelman, HWmember, Legal, Real Estate, Redfin, Robert Reffkin, Zillow /

Given the animosity between Compass and Zillow over the portal giant’s listing standards policy, it came as little surprise when the Robert Reffkin-helmed firm filed a lawsuit against Zillow Monday morning.  While the complaint contains many of the anticipated claims, including that Zillow enacted the policy, which bans listings that are publicly marketed for more

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Compass sues Zillow over private listings policy

Clear Cooperation, Compass, HWmember, Legal, Real Estate, Zillow /

Compass, the largest real estate brokerage in the country by volume, has sued Zillow over its policy on private listings. Compass filed a lawsuit in New York on Monday, alleging that Zillow is breaking federal antitrust laws by permanently banning any listing that isn’t put on an MLS within a business day of being publicly

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