By Elizabeth Ann Kline, REALTOR® | LIST WITH ELIZABETH

In a legal win that many in the real estate industry were watching closely, a federal judge has officially dismissed an antitrust lawsuit that accused the National Association of Realtors (NAR) and several large brokerages of conspiring to block out a flat-fee competitor.

As a full-time REALTOR®, I always pay close attention to these industry-shaping cases — not just for what they mean legally, but for what they tell us about where real estate is headed and how it’s being disrupted.

So here’s what happened, what the lawsuit claimed, and what the court’s decision means for all of us — agents and consumers alike.

 

The Lawsuit at a Glance

Back in August 2024, Homie Technology, a flat-fee brokerage based in Utah, filed a lawsuit in federal court against:

• The National Association of Realtors 
• Anywhere Real Estate 
• Keller Williams 
• RE/MAX 
• HomeServices of America 

The claim? That these organizations were working together to boycott Homie by discouraging agents from showing their listings, primarily because Homie doesn’t follow traditional commission models.

Homie alleged that emails and text messages from agents affiliated with NAR-supported brokerages showed an intent to avoid Homie listings due to their lower commission offerings. The lawsuit also suggested this was part of a broader effort to preserve control over the Multiple Listing Services (MLS) through NAR’s Clear Cooperation Policy (CCP), which was proposed in 2019 and officially adopted in 2020.

Homie said this structure stifled competition and maintained a power imbalance in the industry.

 

The Court’s Decision — And Why It Was Thrown Out

On July 15, 2025, U.S. District Judge Dale Kimball ruled to dismiss the case with prejudice meaning Homie cannot refile the same claims in future court proceedings.

Judge Kimball’s decision focused on several key issues, the biggest being timing. The court found that Homie’s claims were filed too late. Antitrust lawsuits of this nature fall under a four-year statute of limitations, and Homie’s lawsuit  filed in 2024 came well after the Clear Cooperation Policy was introduced and adopted between 2019 and early 2020.

In fact, Kimball noted that Homie clearly knew about the rules earlier, especially considering that other class action suits, like Moehrl and Sitzer/Burnett, were filed back in 2019 challenging the same policies.

Beyond timing, Kimball also found that Homie failed to prove that any of the named defendants actively participated in a coordinated boycott. While there was some communication from individual agents about not showing Homie listings, the court said that this was not enough to suggest a company-wide or organizational agreement a crucial element in proving an antitrust conspiracy.

 

What About the MLS?

Another named defendant, the Wasatch Front Regional Multiple Listing Service (linked to UtahRealEstate.com), was actually dismissed from the case months earlier, back in October 2024.

That part of the case didn’t make headlines the way the NAR allegations did but it highlights how difficult it can be to legally pin down broad claims of steering or systemic exclusion without hard proof of intent or coordination.

 

The Industry Reacts

In response to the ruling, a spokesperson from NAR shared this statement:

“NAR will continue to facilitate local real estate marketplaces that provide fair and equal access to property information, foster competition, and empower NAR members to serve clients on their homebuying and selling journeys.”

As of now, Homie has not issued an official comment, though Real Estate News has confirmed that they’ve reached out to the company.

For context, Homie was founded in 2015 in Utah and has since expanded to several other states including Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, and Nevada. The company has consistently marketed itself as a disruptor to traditional real estate, using flat-fee pricing models and digital platforms to appeal to price-conscious sellers.

 

What This Means for Buyers, Sellers, and Agents

From where I sit as a working agent, this case serves as a reminder of how important clarity, transparency, and ethics are in our industry.

There’s a lot of noise out there  lawsuits, disruptors, big-name platforms but here’s what matters: the real estate process still depends on trust, relationships, and experience. As tech continues to reshape how people search for homes and choose representation, I believe those values will only become more important, not less.

And as always, I’m here to help my clients navigate all of it  the market, the options, and the headlines.

 

Have questions about commissions, policies, or your selling options? Let’s chat. I’ll give you the facts — no pressure, just guidance.

Contact me directly:
Elizabeth Ann Kline – LIST WITH ELIZABETH
703‑829‑5478

Your trusted advocate in real estate, every step of the way.