T
he long-standing debate over Clear Cooperation has finally reached a conclusion with the National Association of Realtors (NAR) announcing its decision to retain the policy, along with a new companion rule allowing sellers to temporarily keep their listings off the IDX feed. Industry leaders have been vocal about their opinions on the matter, with some hailing it as a victory for consumers and others warning of potential consequences.
Errol Samuelson, Zillow's chief industry development officer, stated that NAR's decision reinforces the importance of broad listing exposure in promoting competition and transparency. He emphasized that withholding listings from the MLS limits consumer choice and disadvantages buyers, sellers, and agents alike.
Glenn Sanford, eXp World Holdings' chairman and CEO, expressed concerns about the potential for lawsuits related to pocket listings, warning that an economist may be able to quantify the damage suffered by home sellers who were encouraged to sell off-market. Art Carter, CRMLS's CEO, welcomed NAR's decision, citing CCP as a crucial tool for ensuring transparency and cooperation among brokerages.
Robert Reffkin, Compass's CEO, saw the introduction of a new MLS policy as a step in the right direction, acknowledging that it still restricts homeowners' choice in marketing their properties. Leo Pareja, eXp Realty's CEO, emphasized the importance of maximum transparency, education, and disclosure, while also supporting sellers' rights to choose how their property is marketed.
Glenn Kelman, Redfin's CEO, proposed an alternative solution, suggesting that listings be shown to everyone from the day they debut, with options for sellers to suppress days-on-market or AI-driven price estimates. 1000WATT warned of the potential consequences of NAR's decision, predicting that it will lead to a decline in IDX usage and increased complexity in home marketing.
Jason Haber, American Real Estate Association's co-founder, viewed the new policy as an incremental change, acknowledging its alignment with their vision for Clear Collaboration. Brian Donnellan, Bright MLS's president and CEO, emphasized the need for flexibility in serving clients' diverse needs, while Anywhere spokesperson expressed concerns about the momentum behind private listings.
Damian Eales, Realtor.com's CEO, championed transparency and an open marketplace, arguing that broad listing exposure empowers sellers to attract more buyers and secure better prices. Emily Chenevert, Unlock MLS's CEO, welcomed NAR's introduction of "Multiple Listing Options for Sellers," which she believes enhances CCP while maintaining the cooperative framework.
Joe Schneider, Modern.tech's executive vice president, argued that the new amendments have effectively called the bluff of repealists, providing sellers with greater flexibility in marketing their properties while ensuring agents' fair access.
