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federal antitrust lawsuit has been filed by Illinois homebuyers against three major real estate brokerages – Equity Real Estate, HomeSmart International, and Fathom Realty. The plaintiffs, Dawid Zawislak and Michael D'Acquisto, accuse these companies of colluding to restrict competition among real estate professionals through their commission practices.

    The lawsuit targets the National Association of Realtors (NAR) for promoting broker commission structures that allegedly stifle fair competition. Despite NAR's recent reforms following a prior settlement, the plaintiffs claim these changes have not addressed ongoing concerns about major residential brokerages' practices.

    This case is part of a growing trend of antitrust challenges in Illinois, with two other lawsuits targeting national brokerages since 2021. The plaintiffs argue that NAR's commission policies forced brokers into agreements that discouraged competitive pricing and incentivized buyer brokers to promote properties with higher commissions.

    The lawsuit seeks class-action status and a jury trial, raising questions about the future of real estate commission structures and their impact on homebuyers nationwide.