Compass files ethics complaints against Zillow in 26 states

Compass has filed Code of Ethics complaints against Zillow across 26 states, alleging that the real estate portal engages in false advertising by misrepresenting the availability of certain listings. A Compass spokesperson stated that Zillow is withholding listings from buyers by not prioritizing them, and in some cases, displaying active listings as not for sale. Compass believes this practice misleads consumers and prevents sellers from marketing their homes as intended.

These complaints come shortly after the National Association of Realtors (NAR) issued guidance on Virtual Office Websites (VOWs), emphasizing the need for cooperation, fair housing, and transparency. The guidance, developed in consultation with the U.S. Department of Justice, mandates that all active MLS listings must be available through a VOW data feed. Zillow, which launched its own VOW feed last September, could be in violation of this guidance if it continues to exclude listings that do not meet its access standards.

This is not the first legal challenge between the two companies. Compass previously sued Zillow in June 2025 over its listing access standards policy, which bans listings publicly marketed for more than one business day before appearing on IDX or VOW feeds. Compass dismissed that lawsuit in March 2026. Zillow, in turn, is currently a defendant in an antitrust suit filed by Zillow against Compass and Midwest Real Estate Data (MRED), alleging a conspiracy to cut off Zillow's listing feed.