Court Rules DOJ Can Reopen Probe into Realtor Commission Policies

The decision overturns a lower court's ruling, allowing the investigation into potentially anticompetitive practices to continue.

A federal appeals court ruled that the DOJ can reopen an antitrust investigation into the National Association of Realtors (NAR), reversing a lower court's decision.
The investigation focuses on NAR's commission policies and their impact on home prices, with critics arguing they contribute to unaffordable housing.
NAR had previously settled with the DOJ during the Trump administration, but the Biden administration opted to continue the probe.
The NAR recently agreed to pay $418 million in a settlement over commission rates, but the DOJ's ability to investigate further was contested.
The ruling could affect ongoing legal battles, including a Missouri lawsuit where NAR was found to have conspired to artificially increase commissions.