R
eal estate listings are now being blocked from Zillow, and homebuyers need to know what this means for their search. For many house hunters, the internet is a crucial part of finding the perfect home, with about half of buyers discovering their winning property online. Zillow's vast database has been a go-to destination for millions of users each month.

    However, behind the scenes, Zillow is fighting to maintain control over its listings in the face of a growing trend known as "exclusive inventory" or "hidden homes." This refers to properties advertised only within certain networks, such as private listing groups or internal databases, rather than being shared with the broader real estate industry. The leader of this push is Compass, which maintains its own trove of thousands of homes that can only be seen by working with one of their agents.

    Zillow's new policy aims to stem the tide of exclusive inventory by banning listings that aren't shared in local databases within a day. This move has sparked a heated battle between Zillow and Compass, with the latter accusing the search portal of trying to protect its market dominance. Compass argues that sellers benefit from testing their home listings with a limited audience before sharing them more widely.

    The main thing consumers need to know is that they can be part of this conversation. Sellers should understand how their agent plans to market their home and why, while buyers should make sure they're getting their money's worth from their agents' services. A recent legal settlement requires buyers to sign an agreement outlining the terms of the agent's services before viewing a property.

    In reality, savvy consumers will likely notice little difference on Zillow or other search portals in the coming weeks. However, this fight is about control and profit, with everyone scrambling to protect their slice of the pie. Buyers and sellers alike lose if they keep it out of mind.