A tempest in a teapot or the start of an uprising? Redfin, the publicly owned Seattle-based real estate company with 50 offices nationwide, announced on Monday it is walking away from the National Association of Realtors (NAR). The company, in a letter published on its website, said it was moving to end its association with NAR. The letter, signed by CEO Glenn Kelman and seven other members of Redfin’s leadership team, said it was making the change because of NAR policies requiring a commission be paid to the buyer’s agent on every listing and “a pattern of alleged sexual harassment.” In August, the New York Times reported that a number of NAR employees had come forward with claims of sexual harassment, discrimination and retribution at the association’s Chicago headquarters and local offices. Many of the complaints involved former NAR president Kenny Parcell. Both NAR and Parcell denied the allegations. Parcell quit shortly after the article was published. Redfin said it had resigned its national board seat in June, before the alleged sexual harassment came to light, because of NAR’s policies on commissions and its prohibition on websites like Redfin.com from showing for-sale-by-owner homes. “Removing these blocks would be easy, and it would make our industry more consumer-friendly and competitive,” the letter said. Redfin said it will now require its brokers and agents to leave NAR wherever possible but because of the independent agent nature of most brokerages “they don’t want to impose a policy that could alienate any of the people who generate its revenue.” However, NAR rules require that Redfin also leave local and state associations even though its beef is only with the national group. In about half of Redfin’s markets, losing membership will mean loss of access to listing databases, lockboxes, and industry-standard contracts. “It’s impossible to be an agent if you can’t see which homes are for sale, or unlock the door to those homes, or even write an offer.”
Related Articles
Industry reacts to Redfin-NAR split: ‘It’s a crack in the wall’
October 4, 2023
Mariel Alumit
Housing Wire
Comments Off on Industry reacts to Redfin-NAR split: ‘It’s a crack in the wall’
Redfin put the real estate industry on notice Monday morning, announcing that it will require agents to cancel their National Association of Realtors membership where possible. While Redfin’s news certainly surprised the industry and seemingly drew a line […]
All-cash transactions gain traction amid high mortgage rates: Redfin
November 10, 2023
Mariel Alumit
Housing Wire, Mortage News, Top News, U.S Real Estate News
Comments Off on All-cash transactions gain traction amid high mortgage rates: Redfin
In September, all-cash purchases represented one-third of the U.S. home purchases, compared to 29.5% a year ago, according to a Redfin report. It’s the highest share of all-cash transactions recorded since 2014. Cleveland posted the […]
Lawyer letter details NAR’s internal harassment investigation
September 11, 2023
Mariel Alumit
Housing Wire
Comments Off on Lawyer letter details NAR’s internal harassment investigation
As Tracey Kasper, the National Association of Realtor’s newly appointed president, put it, the trade group is “grappling with a very difficult situation.” Kasper made the comment during a five-minute-long video message to members and […]