Zillow Responds to Real Estate Startup’s Antitrust Suit

REX’s lawsuit in opposition to Zillow alleges that separating MLS listings from other listings gives the MLS listings an unfair edge. Zillow claims MLS policies go away it no decision.

NEW YORK – In April 30 court docket filings, Zillow claimed an antitrust lawsuit it faces in excess of how it shows genuine estate listings could debilitate its system.

REX, a actual estate startup, questioned a federal court to compel Zillow and its subsidiary, Trulia, to quit separating households for sale into individuals stated by Countrywide Association of Realtors® (NAR) members and people stated by some others. The NAR listings appear from area Multiple Listing Services (MLSs).

In January, Zillow altered how it displays listings immediately after it obtained obtain to the MLS Online Facts Trade (IDX) feeds, which it takes advantage of underneath policies recognized by NAR. Those rules prevent sites that use its information feeds from merging NAR listings with those people offered by non-NAR agents.

Zillow explained it believes the guidelines are out of date, but it had to concur to IDX show licenses to get accessibility to the IDX info. Zillow also claimed that accessibility to MLS listings expanded its choices. In Seattle where by Zillow is headquartered for example, the business stated it was capable to incorporate 3,000 far more house listings soon after changing to the IDX feeds.

REX sued Zillow in federal court docket due to the fact it alleges that Zillow’s latest arrangement favors listings by brokers who belong to NAR. REX says Zillow’s January alter locations non-NAR listings in a “hidden tab,” earning it much more hard for shoppers to come across people homes for sale.

In an April 15 filing, REX stated listings that moved from the “hidden tab” to Zillow’s primary listings tab experienced as much as a 500% increase in views. As a final result, REX requested the courtroom for an injunction that would prohibit Zillow from separating the listings.

Source: Politico (05/01/21) Nylen, Leah