Real Estate in NJ, home sales often involves real estate agents and their commissions. Two prominent class-action lawsuits, Sitzer et al. v. NAR et al. and Moehrl et al. v. NAR et al., are spotlighting the commission structure. Agents typically receive a percentage of the sale price, with sellers covering both their agent’s and the buyer’s agent’s fees. Plaintiffs argue this arrangement results in inflated costs and limits negotiation.
The lawsuits target MLSs, online databases agents use to share property details, claiming they enforce this convoluted system. Plaintiffs seek to “decouple” commissions, with buyers directly compensating their agents, fostering transparency and negotiation. If successful, the suits could reshape real estate transactions, potentially saving consumers billions and increasing agent competition.
Defendants, led by the National Association of Realtors (NAR), maintain the current model benefits both buyers and sellers, ensuring efficient transactions. As these lawsuits unfold, the industry faces a pivotal moment, challenging the established commission structure and potentially transforming the real estate landscape.