Key facts
- About 90% of US home sellers are white, reflecting historical inequities like redlining and unequal credit access.
- In 2024, over 32,000 acts of housing discrimination were reported in the US.
- The median home seller is 24 years older than the median first-time homebuyer.
- First-time homebuyers are three times more likely to come from communities of color than property owners.
- Private listings can shift control of housing information from accessible marketplaces to individual companies.
- Households of color accounted for all of the nation's growth in homeownership and household formation over the past year.
Civil rights and housing advocacy groups are expressing concern that the increasing use of private real estate listings could worsen housing inequities in the United States. These organizations argue that withholding properties from the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) for any period of time limits crucial information access for potential buyers, particularly those from underserved communities.
These groups highlight a complex history of discriminatory housing practices, including redlining and unequal access to credit, which have prevented families of color from building generational wealth through homeownership. Despite progress, housing discrimination remains a significant issue, with over 32,000 reported acts in 2024. The current demographic realities show that sellers are significantly older and wealthier than first-time homebuyers, who are more likely to come from communities of color.
The recent antitrust case, Burnett v. National Association of Realtors, aimed to reduce commissions and improve affordability by changing how buyer agents are compensated. However, the groups contend that commissions have remained stable, affordability has worsened, and buyers are now facing increased financial burdens. A problematic consequence, they argue, has been the rise of private listings.
Private listings can shift control of important housing data, such as time on market and price changes, from a broadly accessible marketplace to individual companies. This can lead to a fragmented market where buyers outside specific networks may learn about properties later or not at all. The National Association of Realtors reported that sellers outnumber buyers by over 46% nationally, the largest gap since 2013, further emphasizing the imbalance.
The organizations stress that housing is not a typical commodity due to its profound impact on education, wealth building, and intergenerational opportunity. They advocate for a careful examination of new business practices to ensure they do not create additional barriers for less privileged communities. The potential impact on appraisal fairness is also a concern, as limited data access can make property valuation more difficult. The urgency for a federal public appraisal database is underscored by these developments.
Data from the U.S. Census indicates that households of color have driven recent growth in homeownership and household formation, while white families have seen a decline. This trend suggests that future homebuyers will increasingly come from communities that have historically faced barriers to homeownership and may have less access to established real estate networks. The groups call for an industry conversation that balances innovation and seller choice with transparency, competition, and equal opportunity to ensure the housing market remains accessible.