Defending the REALTOR® Brand, Strengthening the Industry

Over the past year, the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) has achieved a string of decisive legal victories. These wins not only protect the MLS system and membership structure but also affirm the association’s ability to defend the real estate profession against unfounded challenges.

Key Legal Wins

1. Homie Technology Antitrust Case – Dismissed (July 2025)

A Utah federal court dismissed Homie Technology’s claims against NAR and major brokerages, citing insufficient evidence and expired filing deadlines. The ruling underscores that antitrust law protects competition, not individual competitors.
📌 Impact: Preserves confidence in MLS participation rules.
(HousingWire, 2025a; Stempel, 2025)

2. REX “No-Commingling” Rule Case – Appeals Court Victory (March 2025)

The Ninth Circuit upheld dismissal of REX’s challenge to NAR’s optional “no-commingling” rule. The court found the policy lawful, optional, and non-restrictive to competition.
📌 Impact: Confirms broker and MLS flexibility in listing display.
(National Association of REALTORS®, 2025a)

3. Texas “Three-Way Agreement” Case – Dismissed (July 2025)

A Texas broker’s antitrust claims against NAR’s local-state-national membership requirement failed due to lack of evidence.
📌 Impact: Validates the “three-way agreement” that fosters cooperation and professional standards.
(Real Estate News, 2025)

4. Pennsylvania “Three-Way Agreement” Case – Dismissed (August 2025)

In Pennsylvania, similar allegations of coercion and discrimination were dismissed with prejudice, preventing refiling.
📌 Impact: Reinforces enforceability of membership policies nationwide.
(Inman, 2025; HousingWire, 2025b)

5. Muhammad Case – All Claims Tossed (August 2025)

A companion case to the Pennsylvania suit, this dismissal included antitrust and civil-rights claims deemed unfounded.
📌 Impact: Closes another legal challenge against NAR’s structure.
(National Association of REALTORS®, 2025b)

Why This Matters for Realtors

• Legal Stability: Multiple dismissals with prejudice reduce the risk of repetitive lawsuits.

• Operational Confidence: MLS and membership frameworks are upheld, allowing Realtors to focus on serving clients.

• Market Clarity: Clear boundaries for competition help both traditional and tech-driven brokerages operate effectively.

• Brand Integrity: Each win reinforces trust in the REALTOR® mark as a symbol of professionalism.

• Advocacy Strength: NAR continues to prove it has the resources and legal expertise to protect the industry.

Final Word

NAR’s recent legal record sends a powerful message: the association is committed to defending the structures and standards that make the real estate marketplace fair, transparent, and cooperative. For Realtors, these victories mean a more stable operating environment, less uncertainty, and a stronger voice in protecting the profession.

References

HousingWire. (2025a, July 17). NAR, brokerages dismissed from Homie commission lawsuit. HousingWire. https://www.housingwire.com/articles/nar-brokerages-dismissed-from-homie-commission-lawsuit/

HousingWire. (2025b, August 4). NAR notches another legal win with dismissal from Muhammad suit. HousingWire. https://www.housingwire.com/articles/nar-notches-another-legal-win-with-dismissal-from-muhammad-suit/

Inman. (2025, August 4). NAR clinches another 3-way agreement victory in Pennsylvania. Inman. https://www.inman.com/2025/08/04/nar-clinches-another-3-way-agreement-victory-in-pennsylvania/

National Association of REALTORS®. (2025a, March 26). Appeals court upholds NAR’s victory in REX antitrust lawsuit. REALTOR® Magazine. https://www.nar.realtor/magazine/real-estate-news/appeals-court-upholds-nars-victory-in-rex-antitrust-lawsuit

National Association of REALTORS®. (2025b, August 4). Another legal win: Judge sides with NAR, throws out Muhammad case. REALTOR® Magazine. https://www.nar.realtor/magazine/real-estate-news/law-and-ethics/another-legal-win-judge-sides-with-nar-throws-out-muhammad-case

Real Estate News. (2025, July 23). NAR prevails in Texas mandatory membership case. Real Estate News. https://www.realestatenews.com/2025/07/23/nar-prevails-in-texas-mandatory-membership-case

Stempel, J. (2025, July 16). National realtors group defeats Utah brokerage's antitrust lawsuit. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/national-realtors-group-defeats-utah-brokerages-antitrust-lawsuit-2025-07-16