C
ompass, the nation’s largest real‑estate brokerage, is suing Zillow in a Manhattan federal court over the company’s “listing‑access policy.” The policy, announced in April, bars Zillow from displaying homes that were previously marketed exclusively on another platform. Zillow argues that every listing should be available to all buyers, but Compass claims the ban is monopolistic and unfairly restricts agents.

    CEO and cofounder Robert Reffkin testified on Tuesday, urging U.S. District Judge Jeanette Vargas to grant a temporary halt to the ban while the case proceeds. “I believe in choice versus control,” Reffkin said. “Consumers and sellers should decide how their homes are marketed, not be forced by a platform.” He described the ban as a form of intimidation, noting that agents who market a home off Zillow risk being banned. Reffkin also shared a personal anecdote: his mother, a Compass broker, fears losing her Zillow listing unless she quits her brokerage.

    During cross‑examination, Zillow attorney Bonnie Lau presented internal emails in which Reffkin had downplayed the ban’s impact. In one April email, Reffkin discussed with Compass Chief of Staff Will Hardy how to reassure brokers that Zillow is not essential to selling. A May phone call transcript showed Reffkin telling top brokers that Zillow accounts for only 3% of all home sales, according to Zillow’s own data. He also noted that banned listings can still appear on other sites such as Sotheby’s and eXp, and that some sites like Homes.com have boosted Compass listings affected by Zillow’s policy.

    Zillow’s CEO, Jeremy Wacksman, is scheduled to testify as the hearing continues. Closing arguments are set for Friday, though Judge Vargas has not yet announced a ruling date. The case centers on whether Zillow’s ban constitutes an unlawful monopoly that stifles competition and harms real‑estate agents and sellers.