I’m not sure of the particulars of how the feeds work, and I know that some Chicagoland brokerages have already worked out sending listings directly in to Zillow. But this listing (from Keller Williams) this morning appears to be new, “1 minute on Zillow” and source is MRED. There are several others as well.
Did MRED back off on its threat to shut down Zillow’s IDX feed?
Anybody have the scoop?
MRED Announces Potential Disruption to Listing Data Feeds to Zillow Group
“The rules of this MLS exist to protect every participating broker and every consumer who relies on a complete and accurate picture of the market,” said Rebecca Jensen, President and CEO of MRED. “Those rules apply equally to every participant, regardless of the size of their audience or the reach of their platform. MRED enforces its rules consistently and fairly, and hopes that Zillow returns to operating consistent with its longstanding agreements with MRED.”
Translation: Dracarys.
“In April 2026, MRED and Compass announced a formal partnership to expand MRED’s private listing network nationwide. It allowed Compass agents anywhere in the country to enter listings into MRED’s system — supposedly to “protect” those listings from pro-transparency platforms like Zillow. The explicit purpose was to extend MRED’s monopoly leverage far beyond the Chicago region and force competitors nationwide to abandon consumer protections.
MRED made good on the deal almost immediately. By early May 2026, MRED demanded that Zillow reinstate Compass private listings in states hundreds of miles outside MRED’s territory — listings from agents who had already been warned they were violating Zillow’s consumer standards.
The same day, the technology provider that distributes MRED’s listing feed threatened to terminate Zillow’s access entirely if it did not comply. MRED CEO Rebecca Jensen also serves as chair of that distributor’s board of managers, meaning the same person controlled both the threat and the mechanism for carrying it out.”
It’s a fight that had to happen. And it’s going to get really messy. In my estimation Compass has a lot more to lose than anyone else. Zillow has shown it can pivot. But Compass has gone all in on their 3-phased marketing strategy and that’s what’s at stake.
And at the end of the day, can anyone tell me what MRED is fighting for? What do the other members of MLS GRID think?
My main fear is that the biggest loser will be the organized real estate industry itself. Zillow in my estimation has the strongest voice to the consumer. And as the saying goes, “you don’t fight the man with the microphone.” If Zillow can successfully push the narrative that Compass is hiding listings from buyers and restricting competition, then the blow back will affect all of us.
Is anyone else afraid of checking their email nowadays? Can we all just pop a gummy and chill out for a while?
RPR® and Broker Public Portal Collaborate to Bring RVM® Valuations to Participating Cribio Markets
“The integration brings together two industry-aligned platforms with a shared commitment to accurate data, transparency and consumer trust. BPP, owned by brokers and MLSs, was created to deliver a national consumer home search experience powered by real-time MLS data and guided by Fair Display Guidelines. RPR, a wholly owned subsidiary of the National Association of REALTORS®, provides REALTORS® with parcel-centric property data, valuation tools, market insights and client-ready reports.
Through this collaboration, participating MLSs and associations that have partnered with BPP, may authorize the display of RVM® values within their local Cribio-powered consumer experience. RVM®permissions will be controlled by each MLS and enablement will require the appropriate authorization and permissions process between the MLS, BPP and RPR.”
I hadn’t checked out Cribio.com in a while. I have to say they’ve done a nice job with the site. Comparing their respective Listing Detail Pages (LDP) side to side with Zillow, it’s amazing to see how many pixels Zillow dedicates to their “Request a tour” button and ad for “Home Loans” product.
Without the ad space, Cribio is able to show a map of the area and a lot more information on the property.
Right now on Cribio you can search any off-market property and on the upper left of the right column you get a Zestimate button that goes to Zillow. The RVM, I’m told, will be displayed on the page (no clicking). I’ve also heard they might keep the Zestimate as is, and maybe add a third AVM — I believe Homes.com has four.
One other thing I appreciate about Cribio’s LDP is that the right column is scrollable, while the left column of property photos is static. It’s a subjective design choice, but I like it.
Will this RVM integration move the needle on consumer adoption? Probably not. But I do like to see the industry collaboration and some of the cool stuff Dan’s team is working on.
NAR Midyear (RLM?) is starting a little late this year but tradition is tradition! I can’t believe we are at year four of doing this quasi-event that seems to get bigger every year we do it.
I’m inviting everyone to meet up at the Omni Hotel’s Marquee Lounge, Sunday night (6/14/26). Anywhere from 9 PM on, just get there before last call (midnight), and let’s all raise a glass together in a place we have enjoyed each other’s company for so long!
This year Zillow has stepped up and will pick up a few rounds of drinks, so get there early.
Zillow economist calls out Redfin for ‘mischaracterizing’ research
Zillow Chief Economist Mischa Fisher wrote that the analysis is modeled around assumptions, not hard data: “The estimate works roughly like this: take a share of sellers assumed to be uncertain about pricing, multiply by an assumed share who would benefit from early feedback, then apply an assumed relationship between listing confidence and eventual inventory. Stack those fractions, add a ‘multiplier’ for sell-then-buy chains, and you get 6-12%.”
So let me get the timeline straight. In February, Compass signs a three-year deal with Redfin to syndicate its Coming Soon and Private Exclusive listings. Two weeks later (two weeks?) Redfin publishes a study claiming pre-marketing could boost inventory by 6-12%. And some of the data Redfin cited to support this claim? Pulled from Zillow’s own surveys… which Zillow says Redfin “mischaracterized.”
I don’t think Fisher is wrong. The methodology is basically: assume a bunch of things, multiply the assumptions together, tack on a 1.6x multiplier for sell-then-buy chains, and Boom! You get a headline that just happens to validate the business deal your parent company signed last month.
Look, I get it. Every company funds research that makes their strategy look smart. That’s not new. But most companies have the good sense not to borrow their competitor’s homework and then get the answers wrong.
Redfin’s response? “We appreciate the engagement with our research and welcome discussion about the model and its parameters.” Which is corporate speak for “we’re not changing anything, but thanks for reading.”
This whole pre-marketing war has been fascinating (and frustrating) to watch. You’ve got Compass trying to build a parallel listing universe, Redfin handing them a storefront, Rocket greasing the mortgage side, and now they’re publishing research to justify the whole thing while Zillow’s economist is out here doing peer review on LinkedIn! Meanwhile the MLSs are watching their relevance get chipped away one “Coming Soon” at a time.
Fisher also pointed out what should be obvious: pre-marketing creates “information asymmetry” — meaning the buyers who aren’t plugged into Compass’s network don’t get to see these listings. That’s not boosting inventory. That’s just moving it behind a velvet rope, but also what I would expect the incumbent to say.
But who can tell?
Zillow launches Zillow Preview to bring pre-market home listings into the open
“Revenue participation: If a qualified Zillow Preview connection results in a closed transaction through Zillow’s Preferred agent network, the listing agent may receive a share of the revenue Zillow earns from that transaction, paid through their brokerage. This fee is paid by Zillow and does not increase consumers’ or agents’ costs. As always, commissions remain negotiable between consumers and the agents representing them.”
I’m at the Clareity26 conference in Tucson and have been heads down preparing for a big announcement, so I haven’t had time to fully process the Zillow Preview news—or the other news that broke today regarding eXp. But I will.
One thing that immediately jumped out at me: Zillow is now willing to share a portion of its revenue on these coming-soon listings.
That raises a bigger question… is this a preview of a new business model for Zillow across all listings?
🤔
Zillow Launches a Home Search Site for World of Warcraft
“Zillow exists at the center of how people think and talk about home, and gaming has become another powerful expression of that.”
File this under: #nowIveseeneverything
Looks like Zillow has partnered with Blizzard Entertainment to launch Zillow for Warcraft, a microsite where players can browse in-game homes from Azeroth as World of Warcraft finally introduces player housing after nearly two decades of fan demand. From Beverly W. Jackson, Zillow’s VP of Brand and Product Marketing.
The microsite features 3D Home tours and SkyTour-style visuals of curated player-built and Blizzard-designed homes — Stormwind townhouses, Horde bungalows, the whole fantasy real estate portfolio. No Zestimates, no transactions. Just vibes.
And I don’t think this is just for the virtual eXp crowd.
This is a brand play, not a product play, and it’s a smart one. The tie-in is part of Zillow’s new “Someday Starts Today” campaign that debuted during the Grammys earlier this month. But the real genius is the audience match: WoW players have been begging for housing since the mid-2000s (I can’t believe I just wrote that sentence.) Zillow showing up the moment that dream finally ships is the kind of cultural timing that earns attention you can’t buy with a media plan.
It’s also a reminder of something I keep reminding the industry: Zillow isn’t just a portal. It’s a consumer brand with cultural gravity — the kind that can partner with Blizzard and have it make sense. Love them or hate them, nobody else in real estate is playing this game.
Your move Homes.com.
Rob and Greg go live to break down major news shaking real estate tech: a judge rules decisively in Zillow’s favor against Compass’s injunction, reshaping the conversation around exclusive listings and distribution. They also recap Inman, including leadership perspectives, vendor pitches, and the ongoing debate around AI’s role in real estate—optimism mixed with caution.
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Zillow Home Loans pay more, study suggests
“The 40-page report, titled “Empirical Analysis of Zillow Home Loans Pricing,” was published Dec. 21 by Georgetown University Professor of Economics and Law Emeritus Steven C. Salop. It received funding from CoStar, the parent company of Zillow home search rival Homes.com.
The study, which a Zillow spokesperson said draws “inaccurate and misleading conclusions,” pointed to two class-action lawsuits filed this fall — Taylor v. Zillow and Armstrong v. Zillow — which accuse Zillow of boosting ZHL through illegal kickbacks.”
CoStar hired a consultancy firm to investigate Zillow Home Loans. The consultancy firm hired a professor. The professor publishes a study saying consumers may end up paying more for a Zillow Home Loans over time. The consultancy firm that hired the professor come out saying it disagrees with the professor.
If you’re confused, so am I.
