"Real Estate Shake-Up: Implications for Buyers and Sellers"

The National Association of Realtors has agreed to pay $418 million to settle antitrust lawsuits alleging inflated real estate commissions, leading to changes in how homes are bought and sold. Under the settlement, home sellers would pay smaller commissions and buyers would decide how much buyer's agents are paid. The lawsuits challenge NAR's cooperative compensation rule, and if approved, the new rules would affect anyone using a multiple listing service. The settlement could lead to more complex negotiations and changes in how buyer's agents are compensated, potentially impacting buyers and sellers in the real estate market.