The Northwest Multiple Listing Service has filed counterclaims against Compass, citing the brokerage’s three-phase marketing strategy as a violation of state law.
NWMLS asserts that Compass practices artificially reset days on market statistics while limiting market visibility to specific groups, violating both the Consumer Protection Act and Senate Bill 6091, which will take effect in June.
“By withholding inventory from consumers and competing brokers, NWMLS argues Compass is creating a ‘two-tier’ real estate marketplace,” the organization stated in a press release. “One for the Compass-represented insider, and another, depleted one for the general public.”
NWMLS called the suit a “battle” for the future of the country’s real estate industry.
“This case is about more than just MLS rules; it’s about putting people over corporations,” said CEO Justin Haag. “We are standing up for the principle that every family has the right to see every home for sale, because housing data belongs in the sunlight, not in a private vault. It is time to make the housing market more equitable for everyone instead of simply making real estate CEOs richer.”
In response, a spokesperson for Compass provided the following statement:
Across the country, we are seeing a clear trend that consumers want more choice, transparency and flexibility, and are pushing back on industry-imposed mandates. We are confident NWMLS will fail to deter consumers and courts from its illegal acts.
Instead of focusing on solutions that benefit consumers and promote competition, NWMLS is retaliating against us, exposing its illegal scheme to deprive homeowners of their rights and block competition. This is how monopolists like NWMLS treat their customers.
NWMLS is not focused on serving consumers, or even the real estate professionals who rely on it. It is a for-profit company comprised of and controlled by our competitors. It wants to maintain tight control over the Seattle-area real estate market and protect its power and money.
Compass initially filed its antitrust lawsuit against NWMLS in April 2025. NWMLS subsequently asked the court to dismiss the suit in July, although a judge denied that request.
This new development in the legal dispute comes on the heels of a de facto conclusion for Compass’ antitrust lawsuit against Zillow. The brokerage withdrew its suit last month, citing a reversal of the listing giant’s private listing ban, although Zillow denied any change to its policies.
In an email to Seattle Agent, NWMLS disputed Compass characterization of the MLS as a “for-profit company,” noting that it is a not-for-profit organization owned by members. Compass is one of its member firms.
This article was last updated on April 6.