.png)
Individuals who purchased a home listed on a multiple listing service anywhere in the United States and paid a commission to any brokerage as part of their transaction during the relevant class period may qualify to submit a claim for a cash payment from a class action settlement.
The National Association of Realtors and several major real estate brokerages agreed to pay $120,334,500 to settle a class action lawsuit. The complaint alleged these companies engaged in anticompetitive conduct that kept broker commissions artificially high, which plaintiffs claim led to inflated home prices and reduced service quality for homebuyers.
Who can file a claim for a homebuyer settlement payout?
Class members must meet the following criteria:
- They purchased a home that listed on an MLS anywhere in the United States.
- They paid a commission in connection with the transaction.
- They purchased the home during a qualifying class period for the state and brokerage involved.
The class periods vary depending on the state and the defendant:
- The class periods for At World Properties LLC, Baird & Warner Inc., Real Estate One Inc., Silvercreek Realty Group LLC, Equity Realtors LLC (d/b/a Equity Real Estate), NextHome Inc., Realty Executives International Services LLC, Shorewest Realtors Inc., Side Inc., Engel & Volkers Americas Inc. and Engel & Volkers GmbH, The Keyes Co., Illustrated Properties LLC, The Real Brokerage Inc., Real Broker LLC, Vanguard Properties Inc., Fathom Realty LLC, HomeSmart International LLC, Realty ONE Group Inc., Kempa and Associates d/b/a Realty ONE Group Excel and Umro Realty Corp d/b/a The Agency are the following:
- Alabama, Georgia, Indiana, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Vermont, Wisconsin and Wyoming: Dec. 8, 2017, through June 25, 2026
- Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky and Missouri: Dec. 8, 2018, through June 25, 2026
- All other states: Dec. 8, 2019, through June 25, 2026
- The class periods for Anywhere Real Estate Inc., Compass Inc., eXp World Holdings Inc., HomeServices of America Inc., BHH Affiliates LLC, HSF Affiliates LLC, Hanna Holdings Inc., United Real Estate Holdings LLC d/b/a United Real Estate Group, Douglas Elliman Inc. and the National Association of Realtors are the following:
- Puerto Rico: Jan. 25, 2006, through June 25, 2026
- Rhode Island and Louisiana: Jan. 25, 2011, through June 25, 2026
- Wyoming: Jan. 25, 2013, through June 25, 2026
- Alabama, Connecticut, Hawaii, Indiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont and Wisconsin: Jan. 25, 2015, through June 25, 2026
- Arkansas, Kentucky, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Utah and West Virginia: Jan. 25, 2016, through June 25, 2026
- Arizona, California, Washington D.C., Delaware, Georgia, Idaho, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina and Virginia: Jan. 25, 2017, through June 25, 2026
- Alaska, Colorado, Kansas, Maryland, Mississippi, Montana, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Washington: Jan. 25, 2018, through June 25, 2026
- Texas and all other states: Jan. 25, 2019, through June 25, 2026
Who is excluded from the class?
Individuals who are class members in a settlement reached in one or more of the home seller lawsuits (Burnett, Gibson, Keel or Hooper) do not qualify to participate in the homebuyer settlement.
How much are settlement payments?
Pro rata cash payment: Class members can submit a claim to receive a pro rata cash payment. The settlement administrator will determine the final payment amount by the number of qualifying properties purchased, the amount of commissions paid and the total number of claims filed.
How to claim a class action rebate
To receive a settlement payment, class members can file a claim online or print the PDF claim form to complete and mail to the settlement administrator.
Settlement administrator's mailing address: Homebuyer Antitrust Litigation Settlement Administrator, P.O. Box 4258, Portland, OR 97208-4258
The claim deadline is Oct. 27, 2026.
Required proof and claim information
- Class members must provide the following information on the claim form:
- Address of qualifying home purchase
- Date of home purchase
- Purchase price of the home
- Total broker commissions paid
- Commissions paid to buyer broker
- All claims also require supporting documentation showing proof of the home purchase. This can include:
- Closing statement
- Settlement statement
- HUD statement
- Settlement letter
- Other transaction documents from the sale and closing of the home purchase
Payout options
- Paper check mailed to the address provided
- Digital payment using the email address provided
Settlement fund breakdown
The $120,334,500 settlement fund will include:
- Settlement administration costs: To be determined
- Attorneys' fees: Up to $40,111,500 plus litigation expenses
- Service awards to class representatives: Amount to be presented to the court for approval at a later date
- Payments to approved claimants: Remaining settlement funds
Important dates
- Deadline to opt out: Sept. 17, 2026
- Deadline to file a claim: Oct. 27, 2026
- Final approval hearing: Nov. 2, 2026
When is the homebuyer antitrust settlement payout date?
The settlement administrator will issue payments to approved claimants in multiple installments over several years after the court grants final approval of the settlement.
Why did this class action settlement happen?
The class action lawsuit alleged the National Association of Realtors and certain real estate brokerages created and enforced rules that kept broker commissions artificially high. The plaintiffs claimed this conduct violated federal and state antitrust laws, as well as consumer protection laws, and resulted in inflated home prices and reduced quality of buyer-broker services.
The National Association of Realtors and brokerage defendants deny the allegations but agreed to settle to avoid the expense and risk of continued litigation and a possible trial.
.webp)
.webp)
.webp)
.webp)
.webp)
.webp)
.webp)
.svg)