Compass Sues Zillow Over 24-Hour Private Listing Ban, Seeks Injunction Amid Broader NAR and NWMLS Disputes

Compass Inc., the largest U.S. residential real estate brokerage by sales volume, has filed an antitrust lawsuit against Zillow Group Inc., the nation's largest online real estate portal, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. The lawsuit alleges that Zillow's policy to ban privately marketed home listings that do not appear on Zillow within 24 hours constitutes anticompetitive behavior designed to protect its market dominance and revenues.

Compass claims this “Zillow ban” restricts competition by effectively forcing listings to be publicly marketed on Zillow or be excluded from the platform, which the company argues violates federal antitrust laws. Zillow, which operates as both a real estate portal and a brokerage in all 50 states, defended its policy as necessary to maintain transparency and open access to listings, stating that Compass has not demonstrated irreparable harm from the ban. The ban took effect in late June 2025. Compass has also sought a temporary injunction to block enforcement of the ban, citing confusion and harm to its business, noting that nearly half of its listings earlier in the year began as privately marketed properties. This lawsuit is part of a broader conflict involving Compass, Zillow, the National Association of Realtors (NAR), and the Northwest Multiple Listing Service (NWMLS), with Compass challenging NAR’s Clear Cooperation Policy and announcing it will no longer adhere to certain NAR MLS rules. The NWMLS has responded by seeking dismissal of Compass's antitrust suit and accusing Compass of attempting a “free-rider strategy.” Zillow CEO Jeremy Wacksman has publicly addressed the dispute, emphasizing Zillow’s expanded national presence and defending the company’s approach to listing policies amid growing industry tensions.