📺 Stream EntrepreneurTV for Free 📺

Compass Agrees to Pay $57.5 Million to Settle Real Estate Commissions Lawsuits The class action lawsuits accused Compass of violating antitrust law and conspiring to overcharge U.S. home sellers.

By Sherin Shibu

Key Takeaways

  • Compass recently faced class action lawsuits from U.S. home sellers and proposed a $57.5 million settlement on Friday.
  • Compass is the fourth major brokerage to recently propose a settlement.
entrepreneur daily

Real estate brokerage Compass agreed to pay $57.5 million in class-action lawsuit settlements from U.S. home sellers on Friday. The antitrust lawsuits allege that the company conspired with other brokerages and trade groups to overcharge home sellers by billions of dollars.

According to the Associated Press, the plaintiffs claim that real estate brokers have been forcing home sellers to pay "artificially inflated" commissions to agents.

Homeowners had to include a compensation offer for buyer's agents when listing properties for sale on real estate industry databases, as per The Guardian. Not including the offer could allegedly lead to buyer's agents steering their clients away from the listing.

Related: Barbara Corcoran Sounds Off on NAR Settlement: 'It's a Scary Time for Real Estate Agents'

Compass did not admit to any wrongdoing and stated that the settlement would not affect its operation, per The Real Deal.

"The reason we have chosen to settle is so we can minimize distractions and focus on serving you and your clients," said CEO Robert Reffkin in an emailed statement obtained by the outlet.

Compass joins Anywhere Real Estate, Keller Williams, and RE/MAX in proposing a settlement. The other three major brokerages agreed to pay a combined $209 million, according to reporting from The Real Deal.

Related: 'Everybody's Scared': Barbara Corcoran Says Now Is the 'Very Best Time to Buy a House' — Here's Why

As per the same outlet, Compass's proposed settlement includes practice changes like creating training materials and refining communication with agents about commissions, which are similar to the other companies' agreements.

Last week, the National Association of Realtors finalized a $418 million class action settlement that removed sales commission rules for brokers and agents.

Sherin Shibu

Entrepreneur Staff

News Reporter

Sherin Shibu is a business news reporter at Entrepreneur.com. She previously worked for PCMag, Business Insider, The Messenger, and ZDNET as a reporter and copyeditor. Her areas of coverage encompass tech, business, strategy, finance, and even space. She is a Columbia University graduate.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Franchise

Franchising Is Not For Everyone. Explore These Lucrative Alternatives to Expand Your Business.

Not every business can be franchised, nor should it. While franchising can be the right growth vehicle for someone with an established brand and proven concept that's ripe for growth, there are other options available for business owners.

Business News

Passengers Are Now Entitled to a Full Cash Refund for Canceled Flights, 'Significant' Delays

The U.S. Department of Transportation announced new rules for commercial passengers on Wednesday.

Business News

Elon Musk Tells Investors Cheaper Tesla Electric Cars Should Arrive Ahead of Schedule

On an earnings call, Musk told shareholders that Tesla could start producing new, affordable electric cars earlier than expected.

Business Ideas

63 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.

Leadership

Why Companies Should Prioritize Emotional Intelligence Training Alongside AI Implementation

Emotional intelligence is just as important as artificial intelligence, and we need it now more than ever.