Court Sides with National Association of Realtors in Antitrust Dispute

According to Reuters, U.S. District Judge Dale Kimball ruled on Tuesday that Homie failed to provide sufficient evidence demonstrating that rules created by NAR had caused direct harm to its business. The judge also found that the claims were filed too late, falling outside the four-year statute of limitations under U.S. antitrust law.

Homie, which launched in 2015 with a mission to disrupt traditional real estate practices through technology and lower fees, filed the lawsuit earlier in 2024. The complaint alleged that NAR and several major brokerages had conspired to exclude Homie from the market in an effort to stifle competition. However, Judge Kimball wrote that “antitrust laws are intended to protect competition, not individual competitors,” per Reuters.

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The now-dismissed lawsuit was part of a broader legal campaign that has challenged long-standing practices in the real estate sector. In its complaint, Homie argued that NAR’s policies created “substantial barriers” that hindered affordable, tech-driven brokerages from gaining traction, both in Utah and nationally.

In a statement reported by Reuters, NAR welcomed the dismissal, reiterating its commitment to supporting competitive practices within the industry. The association also maintained that its policies did not disadvantage Homie, which, it noted, had previously been one of Utah’s largest real estate firms.

The case adds to the ongoing scrutiny NAR has faced over its control of industry norms, particularly those related to commission structures. Last year, the Chicago-based group agreed to a $418 million settlement in a separate, high-profile lawsuit that accused it of conspiring with brokerages to keep commissions artificially high—another sign of growing legal pressure on the traditional brokerage model.

Source: Reuters