Could a Landmark Lawsuit and Commission Cuts Trigger a Real Estate Market Meltdown?
The American real estate market, once a beacon of stability and growth, now finds itself teetering on the brink of a potential collapse. A groundbreaking lawsuit filed by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) against the Department of Justice (DOJ) threatens to slash commission rates by a staggering 33%, shaking the very foundations of the industry. This seismic shift could lead to a mass exodus of real estate agents, leaving buyers and sellers in a state of disarray. At the heart of the lawsuit lies the DOJ's antitrust investigation into the NAR's "multiple listing service" (MLS). This online database, which connects real estate agents with properties for sale, is at the center of the DOJ's allegations that the NAR's rules unfairly restrict competition and artificially inflate commission rates. If the DOJ's claims are upheld, it could pave the way for a significant reduction in agent commissions. This would be a devastating blow to the real estate i...