MLSs must adapt to ‘structural shift’ in listing strategies
While some leaders see the pre-marketing movement as a threat, others believe the MLS will continue to thrive — as long as it’s “adding value to the ecosystem.”
May 20, 2026
Clear Cooperation and private listings
- The MLS dilemma: Resist — or join — the pre-marketing movementWhile the Council of Multiple Listing Services has decried private listings, some MLSs have adopted policies that look a lot like Compass’ 3-phased approach.May 15, 2026
- Survey: Most CRMLS users support Clear CooperationMore than two-thirds of agents took a supportive or neutral stance. Criticism was largely focused on the difficulty of meeting the one-day listing requirement.May 12, 2026
- Zillow, Realtor.com joining forces on ‘Preview’ listingsLess than two months after the portals launched competing pre-market listings programs, the search giants have now agreed to collaborate on listing display.May 5, 2026
More Clear Cooperation and private listings
- Majority of agents ‘would not recommend’ private listingsConsumer interest also appears low, with nearly 70% of agents saying no client has asked for their home to be marketed privately, a Real Brokerage survey found.April 20, 2026
- Commission changes haven’t killed deals, but ‘worrisome trends’ loomA new CFA report found that homebuyers haven’t been deterred by agent fees, but affordability remains a problem, and “pocket listings” are an emerging threat.April 17, 2026
- Zillow economist calls out Redfin for ‘mischaracterizing’ researchA study suggesting that pre-marketing could lead to an inventory boost has been criticized by Zillow Chief Economist Mischa Fisher: “The math doesn't hold up.”April 8, 2026
- Why HomeSmart said ‘no’ to exclusive distributionAs new distribution models emerge, the industry faces a fundamental question: Maintain an open marketplace or control access to listings?April 7, 2026
- Confronting real estate’s ‘very destructive’ narrativeBrown Harris Stevens CEO Bess Freedman draws a clear line between private listings and PLNs: “You have to be honest” about days on market, she says.April 4, 2026
- NWMLS counterclaim strikes back at Compass over ‘deceptive scheme’The Washington-based MLS, which was sued by the brokerage a year ago, said it’s fighting “a battle for the future of the American real estate market.”Updated April 3, 2026
- Pocket listings really do sell for more — at least in DallasNew research analyzing 20 years of metro-area transactions found that homes sold off-market earned a 1.7% premium — but the findings may not apply elsewhere.April 1, 2026
- Private listings aren’t about choice — they’re about powerThe debate focuses on consumers, marketing strategies, flexibility, privacy and even morality. But it’s really about who controls access to the housing market.March 28, 2026
- Compass, Rocket to MLS leaders: ‘We can no longer stand idly by’The real estate giants accused several MLSs of “actively working against” agents, adding, “we will not accept rules” dictating how listings can be marketed.Updated March 20, 2026
- Pre-marketing could boost housing supply by over 10%: RedfinSome markets could see inventory go up if sellers have "the option to gauge interest in their homes before listing," according to a Redfin analysis.March 17, 2026
- Howard Hanna takes a ‘middle ground’ approach to pre-marketingCEO Hoby Hanna believes the new HannaList initiative, which he says will abide by MLS rules, offers sellers a chance to build momentum prior to a public launch.March 12, 2026
- Washington private listings bill could soon be the lawLegislation prohibiting selective marketing of residential properties has cleared the state’s House and Senate and is expected to be signed by the governor.March 6, 2026
- Washington Realtors backs bill targeting private listingsA 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.”January 13, 2026
- The Ten: Private listings in the spotlight — and the courtroomDivisions 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.December 5, 2025
- Zillow equates MRED’s private listings to ‘digital redlining’The search portal — and PLN opponent — released an analysis of MLS listings in Chicagoland suggesting that private listings reinforce racial segregation.Updated November 22, 2025
- Off-MLS transactions cost sellers thousands, new report findsIn San Francisco, where the typical home costs over $1M, new data indicates the share of on-MLS listings is rising — and off-MLS sellers lose significant sums.November 6, 2025
- Douglas Elliman formally enters the private listings gameCEO says Elliman is embracing the “power of choice” by providing “private, public, coming-soon, and delayed listing options” with its new exclusive marketplace.September 25, 2025
- Will the Compass deal change how homes are bought and sold?If Compass’ acquisition of Anywhere goes through, it could trigger a private inventory race with major implications for the brokerage ecosystem — and consumers.September 25, 2025
- MLS’s new listing options obscure price history, days on marketCanopy MLS’s “Limited Exposure” setting, which also excludes listings from feeds, is designed to offer flexibility and “restore fairness for everyone involved.”September 12, 2025
- ‘Illogical’ or ‘awesome’? Private listings divide Compass agentsDo off-market listings “erode trust” with consumers — or are they “a great marketing tool” for sellers? Current and former Compass agents have mixed opinions.September 11, 2025
