Key facts
- Compass and Northwest Multiple Listing Service (NWMLS) have settled an antitrust lawsuit.
- A new 'First Look' listing status will be introduced, allowing sellers to market homes publicly for up to 21 days before they enter active status.
- During the 'First Look' period, properties will remain available to NWMLS members.
- The settlement also addresses rules for listing-agent attribution, photo watermarks, and access to transaction data.
- The agreement aims to modernize NWMLS rules while preserving universal access and cooperative marketplace principles.
Compass and the Northwest Multiple Listing Service (NWMLS) have reached a settlement resolving an antitrust lawsuit filed by Compass in April 2025. The lawsuit challenged NWMLS rules that restricted Compass's ability to use a phased listing strategy and argued that these policies hindered competition.
The agreement, set to be implemented in stages starting September 4, introduces a new 'First Look' status. This status will permit sellers to publicly market their homes for up to 21 days before the property officially enters active status. Crucially, during this 'First Look' period, the listings will remain accessible to NWMLS's more than 30,000 member brokers.
NWMLS characterizes the settlement as a modernization of its rules that preserves universal access and open competition, preventing off-MLS private listings. The organization stated that all 'First Look' listings must be submitted to the NWMLS database, ensuring transparency and cooperative marketplace integrity.
Beyond the 'coming soon' debate, the settlement also modifies rules concerning listing-agent attribution on portals, the use of watermarks on listing photos, and brokerages' access to transaction data through their technology platforms. NWMLS noted that the timing of the rule changes aligns with evolving practical realities of home preparation and marketing, as well as recent state legislation establishing guardrails against private listing networks.
Industry leaders like Craig Cheatham of The Realty Alliance and OB Jacobi of Windermere Real Estate view the settlement as a positive step reflecting a broader reassessment of the relationship between MLSs and brokerages. They emphasize that the 'First Look' status provides sellers with more marketing flexibility without compromising transparency or equal access within the cooperative system.