The new platform allows consumers—including those with visual impairments, mobility limitations, and other accessibility needs—to search for real estate listings using simple, conversational speech.

Finding Homes, developed by Lundy Inc., is a voice-enabled home search tool that works in both English and Spanish.  It lets users search for property listings from the multiple listing service marketplace through any Alexa-enabled device or app.

“The introduction of Finding Homes is about meeting buyers and sellers where they are—whether they’re visually impaired, have accessibility needs, or simply prefer voice interaction,” said Justin Haag, President and CEO of Northwest MLS. “This partnership reflects our ongoing commitment to inclusivity, accessibility, and innovation in real estate.”

In addition, Northwest MLS stands apart as the only multiple listing service in the nation that prohibits exclusionary listing practices, where member firms commit to share all listings with the entire brokerage community and the public. “We are committed to ensuring full market visibility, giving all buyers and sellers—regardless of background or ability—equal opportunities to access data and find homes that meet their needs,” Haag said.

Unlike traditional listing sites that rely on dropdown filters and keyword inputs, Finding Homes understands natural speech and delivers listings tailored to buyers’ real-life needs. A few examples of hypothetical voice prompts might include:

• “I want a house with a big yard and a quiet office in Bellingham.”
• “We need something near a park for our kids in Tacoma or Seattle.”
• “What does the house look like? Does the kitchen have granite countertops?”
• “Find houses with two bedrooms that are eligible for the Down Payment Resources program.”

“Finding Homes turns the home search into a natural, conversational experience. You ask, it listens—and returns homes that match your life, not just your filters,” said Justin Lundy, CEO of Lundy, Inc. “Northwest MLS is at the forefront of making home search inclusive and intelligent.”

Advancing Accessibility in Real Estate

The new offering builds on Northwest MLS’s longstanding leadership in real estate accessibility. In 2018, Northwest MLS received Northwest Access Fund’s “Best Practices Award” for pioneering a system of more than 100 accessibility features in its listings, including:

• Accessible entrances and exteriors
• Wide doorways and hallways
• Accessible kitchen, bedroom, and bathroom features
• Smart home technology

These enhancements were developed in collaboration with Able Environments, the creators of the ARES (Accessibility Real Estate Specialist) training designation. The ARES curriculum offers best-in-class training through an accredited course that equips agents to better serve clients with accessibility needs.

“We’re thrilled about Northwest MLS’s new collaboration with Finding Homes and the integration of our accessibility work into the amazing listing search tool they’re offering,” said Barry Long, co-founder of Able Environments, LLC. “The Finding Homes platform is making a real impact—and like so many great accessibility innovations, it’s not just helping those who need it most, it’s improving the real estate listing search experience for everyone.”

Start Searching Today

If you have an Amazon Echo device or the Alexa app, just say: “Alexa, start Finding Homes.” Whether you’re a first-time buyer, a family on the go, or someone seeking an accessible space to call home, your next home is just a conversation away.

The post Northwest MLS to Launch Inclusive Voice-Activated Home Search appeared first on Northwest Multiple Listing Service.

Northwest MLS is a private, not-for-profit, member-owned multiple listing service providing a variety of services for its members in Washington and parts of Oregon.  Compass is the largest brokerage firm in the United States and joined Northwest MLS as a member-owner in March 2018. 

Northwest MLS Rules

For more than 40 years, Northwest MLS member-brokerage firms (including Compass) have agreed to cooperate and share all listings of all properties with the entire brokerage community and the public.  Northwest MLS believes that an open, fair, transparent, and comprehensive marketplace benefits all market participants, including sellers, buyers, brokers, and appraisers.

Northwest MLS’ rules and policies promote fair competition and facilitate listing choices for sellers, without restricting the visibility of available homes to a limited, “exclusive” group of buyers and brokers.

Compass’ Exclusionary Program

Compass’ exclusionary program hides property listings from other brokers and consumers for the benefit of Compass and its brokers – under the guise of “seller choice”. 

Compass voluntarily agreed to follow Northwest MLS’s Rules.  When Compass decided on a new business strategy, it demanded that Northwest MLS alter its longstanding rules to conform to Compass’ new strategy.  Compass dislikes that it was unable to persuade its co-members to amend the rules to allow Compass to cherry-pick the listings that it shares.

In March and April of this year, Compass began to withhold listings from submission to Northwest MLS, in violation of the rules, to instead market those listings internally, solely within Compass, and to steer those listings to a Compass-represented buyer.  As a result of the rule violations, Northwest MLS temporarily suspended the license to Compass for its IDX data feed that enabled Compass to publish other members’ listings on its public websites.

Compass Cannot Have It Both Ways

Despite its chosen strategy of hiding listings from other brokers and consumers, Compass demands—indeed, claims legal entitlement to—unfettered access to the listings of all other brokers participating in Northwest MLS.  Access which Compass concedes is essential for any broker to “successfully compete.” 

Compass, however, cannot have it both ways.  By demanding access to others’ listings while claiming a right to deprive other member brokerages of its own listings, Compass’ complaint confirms the pro-competitive nature of Northwest MLS’s rules. 

Northwest MLS has no legal obligation to promote Compass’ exclusionary, free-rider strategy.  Northwest MLS’ rules were designed to prohibit conduct like Compass’, which inhibits competition in the real estate market, harms consumers, and contravenes Northwest MLS’s founding purpose. 

Accordingly, Northwest MLS’s motion asks the court to dismiss Compass’ unfounded claims.

The post Northwest MLS Asks Court to Dismiss Compass’ Lawsuit appeared first on Northwest Multiple Listing Service.

Northwest MLS’s real estate forms are used throughout Washington state to facilitate listings, buyer brokerage services, and the purchase and sale (and lease) of residential property.  These latest forms additions are consistent with Northwest MLS’s ongoing commitment to support an open, fair, transparent, and comprehensive real estate marketplace.

Referrals and Referral Fees

Referrals between brokers allow brokers to connect buyers and sellers with a business partner who has special expertise in a geographic area or market segment not serviced by the referring broker.  Referrals can help buyers and sellers efficiently connect with a trusted real estate professional with the necessary skills and experience to assist the consumer. 

Upon successfully helping a consumer close a transaction, some real estate firms commit to pay a portion of their compensation – as a referral fee – to the firm that referred the consumer.  Referral fees are included in the compensation a buyer or seller pays to a firm, but are often unknown to the consumer.  “Buyers and sellers should have complete transparency regarding all fees paid to a real estate brokerage firm, including referral fees paid to another firm,” said Justin Haag, President and CEO of Northwest MLS. 

Disclosure of Referral Fees

Northwest MLS is publishing a new form (Referral Disclosure) to enable the disclosure of a referral fee, by the referring broker, at the time the referral is made.  The new form notifies the buyer or seller that:

• The brokerage firm is referring the consumer to a different real estate broker and firm.
• The identity of the new broker and firm.
• The amount of the referral fee that the referring firm will receive upon a successful closing.

The Referral Disclosure provides transparency regarding the referral fee at the time the buyer or seller is introduced to a new broker – empowering the consumer to make a fully informed choice when deciding whether to engage the broker the consumer is being referred to.

“Disclosure of referral fees at the outset of the broker’s engagement with a buyer or seller, rather than at closing or sometimes not at all, is essential,” said Haag.  “Buyers and sellers should have complete information when hiring a broker regarding any fees paid to the firm, including any referral obligation of the firm.  Some referral fees can be as much as 50% and may impact a buyer’s or seller’s decision about which broker to engage.”

In addition, Northwest MLS’s brokerage services agreements will all include a new section titled “Referral Fee Disclosure” to disclose to buyers and sellers, before signing the agreement, information about any referral fee, including the amount of the fee and the referring brokerage receiving the fee.

Together, these forms provide buyers and sellers with information about the referral fee at the time the referral is made and again, when a buyer or seller negotiates the terms of a brokerage services agreement.  Even if the referring firm fails to make the disclosure at the time the referral is made, the fee will be disclosed to the buyer or seller in the brokerage services agreement.

A Complete and Transparent Marketplace

Disclosure of referral fees is the latest advancement by Northwest MLS to enhance transparency empowering consumers to make fully informed decisions.  Years ago, when sellers criticized the real estate industry’s policies related to broker compensation, Northwest MLS led the industry by making consumer friendly changes, providing transparency, meaningful choice, and clear opportunities for consumers to negotiate broker compensation. 

More recently, when a large brokerage firm sought to hide property listings from consumers, Northwest MLS maintained its pro-consumer, pro-competitive system, providing buyers with equal access to all property listings, while giving seller’s a myriad of choices about how their home is marketed.

Northwest MLS is committed to providing buyers and sellers with a complete and transparent real estate marketplace, including information regarding all brokerage fees and access to all property listings.

The post NWMLS to Further Enhance Transparency for Consumers by Facilitating the Disclosure of Referral Fees appeared first on Northwest Multiple Listing Service.

Recently, some brokerage firms have advocated for MLS rules that facilitate hiding property listings from consumers and lobbied the real estate industry to accommodate those exclusionary practices.  Those efforts are not for the benefit of sellers or buyers, but are instead designed to benefit those brokerage firms by entrenching them as the gatekeepers of property listings.  Northwest MLS has declined to adopt those misguided, exclusionary rules. 

Northwest MLS strongly believes that consumers should have access to all property listings and that sellers are entitled to the benefit of exposure of their property to the full marketplace.  An open, fair, transparent, and comprehensive marketplace benefits all market participants, including sellers, buyers, brokers, and appraisers.

Proponents of hiding listings masquerade their self-dealing as offering “seller choice”.  They argue that sellers somehow benefit from not making their listing available to all potential buyers.  They don’t.  Here are the facts about Northwest MLS’s open and transparent marketplace:

• Buyers and brokers have equal access to all property listings
• Sellers’ listings are available to all potential buyers to maximize the sale price and terms
• Buyers can work with the broker of their choice rather than being unfairly compelled to work with a listing firm which represents the seller
• Brokers compete on price and service – rather than “insider” information about available properties
• Complete and accurate listing and sales data is available to all to make informed, fact-based decisions about listing, buying, and selling property
• Open access greatly supports fair housing

Restricting the visibility of available homes to a select, exclusive group of buyers and brokers is fundamentally unfair and perpetuates inequities that have long plagued the housing system.  Policies that further enable the proliferation of exclusionary practices, such as restricting access to listings, will lead to the dismantling of the real estate marketplace for the exclusive benefit of those brokerage firms that choose to exploit them.  The discriminatory effect and disparate impact that results from restricting access to listings to an exclusive group of buyers and brokers is just that – discrimination. 

Northwest MLS is committed to doing the right thing and continuing to promote and support the open, fair, transparent, and comprehensive marketplace that its members have advanced over the past four decades.  There is no place for exclusionary practices in our marketplace.

The post Northwest MLS – An Open, Fair, Transparent, and Comprehensive Marketplace for All appeared first on Northwest Multiple Listing Service.

Northwest Multiple Listing Service (NWMLS) is expanding listing exposure for home sellers and enhancing network opportunities for its member brokers with the launch of the Data Partners program. This initiative allows NWMLS brokers to access property listings in markets across the country, strengthening their ability to serve clients and expand their business reach.

Through the program, NWMLS listings are now available to real estate brokers from participating multiple listing services (MLSs), giving home sellers greater exposure across the country while providing buyers with expanded property options.

“The launch of the Data Partners program with MLS partners in California, Colorado, the Midwest, the East Coast, and many other markets across the country is an exciting advancement that further empowers our member brokers in the Pacific Northwest,” said Justin Haag, president and CEO of NWMLS. “This initiative provides access to listings, market data and professional networks, creating new opportunities for collaboration and growth.”

Some of the key benefits of the Data Partners program include:

• Expanded Market Access – Brokers can search listings in participating markets, giving clients more options.
• Enhanced Market Insights – Gain valuable statistics, reports, and public property data to support decision-making.
• Increased Listing Exposure – Sellers benefit from greater visibility as their properties are showcased to a wider audience.
• Professional Networking – Opportunities to collaborate with real estate professionals across different regions.
• Referral Opportunities – Potential for referrals by connecting with brokers across markets.

“It’s not just about increasing listing exposure,” continued Haag. “It’s about equipping our brokers with the tools to build connections, gain insights into new markets and better serve their clients.”

Currently, NWMLS brokers can access Data Partners using the CoreLogic Matrix Platform, connecting with California Regional MLS and MLS Listings (Calif.), REColorado (Colo.), First MLS (Ga.), Heartland MLS (Kan. and Mo.), Realcomp (Mich.), Williamsburg MLS (Va.), Bright MLS (Del., Md., N.J., Pa., Va., W. Va. and D.C.), and Wardex MLS (Ariz.).

Additional plans for expanded partnerships with more MLS organizations nationwide to provide opportunities for increased access and business growth for its members are in the works.

The post NWMLS Expands Listing Reach with Data Partners Program appeared first on Northwest Multiple Listing Service.

Northwest Multiple Listing Service (NWMLS) announced the officers for its 2025 board of directors.

David Maider, designated broker of Windermere Real Estate M2 LLC in Everett, was elected as the 2025 chairperson of the board. He served as vice chairperson of the NWMLS board in 2024.

Other members who were elected to officer positions on the board of directors include:

• Jill Himlie as vice chairperson – Windermere Real Estate/Himlie – Shelton
• JoAnna Harrison as treasurer – Coldwell Banker Cascade – Wenatchee
• Rachelle Willhite as secretary – Best Choice Realty – Seattle
• Frank Leach as immediate past chairperson – RE/MAX Platinum Services – Silverdale

The additional members of the board of directors include:

• Cory Brewer with Windermere Property Management/Lori Gill & Associates – Seattle
• Patrick Chinn with Windermere Real Estate Midtown – Seattle
• Martha Hunt with Century 21 Lund, Realtors – Chehalis
• Jon Hunter with John L. Scott, Inc. – Seattle
• Anne Jones with Windermere Abode – Tacoma
• Lena Maul with Windermere RE North, Inc. – Lynnwood
• Tabata Perron with COMPASS – Anacortes
• Jeff Pust with Van Dorm Realty, Inc. – Olympia
• Shelly Schmitz with Keller Williams/Premier Partners – Vancouver
• Todd Shively with Ensemble – Seattle
• Jason Wall with Lake & Company – Seattle

More about the elected officers

David Maider

Chairperson Maider is the owner and designated broker at Windermere Real Estate/M2, LLC, and has served for over 31 years in the real estate industry in King and Snohomish counties. Maider is actively involved in the Windermere Foundation as well as other Snohomish County-based charities and has served as past chairman of the Windermere Snohomish County Standards of Practice.

Jill Himlie

Vice chairperson Himlie is the designated broker/owner of Windermere Shelton, possessing ABR, SRES and CRB certifications and designations. She is a charter member and secretary of Salish Sea Rotary and a current board member of the Mason County Historical Society. Himlie has served as a board member for both the Shelton Mason County Chamber and the Mason County Association of Realtors (MCAR).

JoAnna Harrison

Treasurer Harrison is the managing broker of Coldwell Banker Cascade in Wenatchee. She currently serves as the vice president for the board of directors for the North Central Washington Association of Realtors (NCWAR). Harrison has been the recipient of NCWAR’s Realtor Achievement Award both in 2020 and 2022.

Rachelle Willhite

Secretary Willhite is the founder and owner of Best Choice Realty with 10 offices across all of Washington, Idaho and Oregon. She values the relationships built within the community by actively participating with the NWMLS Finance Committee, various NWMLS Task Forces, builder associations, chambers of commerce for several cities, and independent broker associations statewide. She is a certified instructor and actively teaches real estate continuing education with her clock hour school.

Frank Leach

Immediate past chairperson Leach is a retired Navy diving and salvage officer and longtime resident of the Kitsap Peninsula. He has been involved in real estate brokerage, land use and development and construction management for over 40 years. Leach has been recognized as Businessperson of the Year, Realtor of the Year, Broker Owner of the Year, Realtor RPAC Hall of Fame, RE/MAX Hall of Fame, Realtor Emeritus, emeritus director for Kitsap Community Foundation, chairman of the board for Land Title Company of Kitsap County and received numerous leadership and achievement awards throughout his career.

The post NWMLS Announces Officers for its Board of Directors appeared first on Northwest Multiple Listing Service.

Northwest MLS, the source for the most current, accurate market listing data in Washington state, today released its Annual Report on sales and listing activity for 2024. The activity in the report reflects the work of its more than 32,000 brokers in over 2,400 member offices across 26 counties.

Sales Recap

Northwest MLS members reported 67,788 sales of residential homes and condominiums during 2024. The total closings were valued at more than $54 billion, with residential homes accounting for nearly 87% of the total sales. Condominiums made up the approximate remaining 13%. Compared to 2023, there were 3,580 more sales in 2024, an increase of 5.58%. This was a slight uptick in comparison to 2023, with the total number of closings at 64,208 and the value of sales at just under $48 billion.

The median price for last year’s completed transactions was $640,000, an increase of 6.67% from 2023’s figure of $600,000. For comparison, the median price ten years ago in 2014 was $285,000. Both residential home and condominium median prices increased year-over-year, with residential homes increasing 5.60% from 2023, and condominiums increasing 7.52%.

The increase in sales volume in 2024 indicated that buyers and sellers were navigating the market as interest rates – though consistently high – dipped periodically throughout the year. “Northwestern markets are finally showing signs of thawing,” said Selma Hepp, chief economist for CoreLogic, back in April 2024. “With new listings picking up the pace from 2023 lows, potential home buyers have more options to choose from.”

Brokers also reported that single family home sales during 2024 had closing prices at 100.2% of the list price. The sale-to-list price ratio is the final sale price divided by the last list price, with the resulting value expressed as a percentage; if the ratio is above 100%, the home sold for more than its list price. This indicates that sellers still maintain confidence in the value of their homes in the face of the high mortgage rates confronting buyers – high mortgage rates which may be here to stay. The relatively low supply of homes on the market was also a factor.

“The 30-year mortgage interest rate was actually higher at the end of 2024 (6.85%) than at the end of 2023 (6.61%),” said Steven Bourassa, director of the Washington Center for Real Estate Research (WCRER) at the University of Washington, in December 2024. “We may well be experiencing the pains of adjusting to a new normal, with persistent interest rates of 6% or higher.”

Listing Activity

Brokers added 93,077 new listings during 2024, up from the previous year’s volume of 81,612. This represented an increase of 14.05% (compared to 2023’s decrease of 26.01%). Activity for new listings, including single family homes and condominiums, peaked in May with 11,572 listings added. When reviewing the overall inventory of all active listings, on average there were 11,910 active listings in the NWMLS database each month in 2024, a 24.33% increase from 2023’s average of 9,579.

Inventory as measured by months of supply averaged 2.11 months overall for 2024, improving on 2023’s average of 1.79, but still well below the balanced market range of 4 to 6 months. At year-end, there was about 2 months of available supply. 2024 inventory started off with approximately 2.11 months of supply but dropped in March to about six weeks’ worth of supply (1.57 months). Inventory made big strides moving into spring and summer and peaked in September at 2.70 months of supply.

Snapshot of Prices

Prices remained high in 2024 as interest rates made periodic dips. The residential median home price of $660,000 was $35,000 more than the 2023 median price of $625,000, a 5.60% increase; condominium median prices increased by 7.52% from $465,000 in 2023 to $499,950 in 2024.

23 of 26 counties in the NWMLS service area reported year-over-year price increases in 2024. San Juan County experienced a decrease of 4.76% in median price from 2023’s $892,500 to 2024’s $850,000. Douglas County recorded the largest increase in median price of $505,000, up 12.22% from 2023’s $450,000.

Price range statistics revealed a bell curve with 16.46% of buyers paying between $450,000 and $550,000 for their homes. In total, 31.51% of buyers paid less than $500,000 for their home in 2024, down from 35.69% in 2023. Homes selling for $1 million or more increased in 2024, registering 22.87% of sales compared to 18.3% in 2023. 15,508 properties were sold at $1 million or higher, including 1,714 that sold for over $2.5 million, a 29.2% increase from 2023’s 1,709. The highest-priced residential home sale was recorded in Mercer Island at $28.5 million.

When reviewing the highest home prices by school district, about half of the 14 most expensive districts were in King County. Mercer Island school district in King County showed the highest median sales price of $2,436,500, followed by Bellevue, Lake Washington, Issaquah, Northshore and Snoqualmie Valley school districts recording median sales prices over $1.1 million. Outside of King County, Bainbridge Island School District in Kitsap County showed the highest median sales price of $1.35 million, followed by Orcas Island ($1.055 million) in San Juan County and Conway in Skagit County ($1.02 million).

Prices for 3-bedroom homes varied widely across the MLS market area, topped by San Juan County where the median sales price was $1,050,000. At the other end of the spectrum, the typical 3-bedroom home in Ferry County had a median price of $269,000. King County recorded the highest number of 3-bedroom home sales in 2024, with 7,501 units sold.

Snapshot of Condominiums

Condominiums accounted for 13.3% of all sales during 2024 (9,037 units), with 59% of them in King County. 18.55% of condominiums sold were in Snohomish County.

The median price for 2024’s condominium sales area-wide was $499,950, a 7.52% increase from 2023’s sales. Condominiums in King County had the highest median sales price of $549,950, up 8.05% from the previous 2023’s median of $509,000. Grant County contained the lowest median sales price of $249,000, up 4.18% from its previous median of $239,000.

NWMLS members recorded sales of 4,685 condominiums priced at $500,000 and higher, with 1,031 condominiums selling for over $1 million. The highest-priced condominium sale was recorded in Bellevue at $8,796,000.

Snapshot of New Construction

There were 9,600 newly constructed units sold by NWMLS members in 2024, both residential homes and condominiums, accounting for about 14.2% of sales during 2024. The median price for all new construction was $739,950, up 5.71% from 2023’s figure of $700,000. The median price of new construction residential homes was $724,990; for new construction condominiums it was $837,995.

2024 Statistical Review & Highlight Report

View the comprehensive 2024 Statistical Review & Highlights Report for more information.

2024 County Statistical Reports

Download the individual PDF county reports

Market Trends & Statistics

View Historical Real Estate Statistics.

Get granular on real estate statistics with interactive charts encompassing the length of active, new, and additional metrics.

Historical Stats

Monthly Stats

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Tom Hurdelbrink, retired President & CEO of Northwest MLS (NWMLS) was inducted into the Council of Multiple Listing Services (CMLS) Hall of Fame during the CMLS conference (CMLS2024) on September 25th. The honor is a means of recognizing and acknowledging a lifetime of leadership, energy, and intellect that improves and elevates the multiple listing services industry.

“Tom’s fearless leadership, paired with his steady demeanor, has been an example for the industry during times of massive change. He has an unwavering focus on what is right for his members and their clients, and found the balanced approach that serves everyone well,” said Denée Evans, CEO of CMLS.

Tom has had a long and distinguished career in the MLS/real estate industry that spans several states and 34 years. His dedication and passion for the MLS industry shows in his daily work and his participation with many different organizations throughout the country. His involvement with the industry began in 1989 where he served as President and CEO of the Northern Ohio Regional Multiple Listing Service for 11 years. He then spent two years at Realtor.com (Homestore.com/Move) as the VP of MLS relations. He was a Staff VP at the California Association of REALTORS and Real Estate Business Services for five years where he was responsible for product management for real estate forms, real estate education, and various transaction related products. He was hired as the President and CEO of Northwest Multiple Listing Service in July of 2007.

“As CEO Tom paid close attention to every detail of our organization. He was committed to excellence in all we do. He cares deeply about his staff and members and promotes creative thinking at all levels. He believes great ideas are made in teams and promotes collaboration. Tom ensured that NWMLS maintained a standard for providing the highest possible caliber of customer service and products to our members. His leadership qualities include integrity, credibility, vision, influence, inspiration and progressiveness,” says Monica Beck, COO of NWMLS.

Hurdelbrink and his team were instrumental in the adoption of significant rules and forms changes that led to greater transparency, flexibility and options for NWMLS brokers and their clients. He has also served and participated in various real estate boards and groups including the CMLS Board of Directors, MRED Board of Directors, COVE MLS Group, Real Estate Standards Organization, Washington Society of Association Executives and the American Society of Association Executives.

Hurdelbrink’s induction into the CMLS Hall of Fame was preceded by Lauren Hansen in 2023, John Mosey in 2022, Kathy Condon in 2021, David Charron in 2020, Cathy Holefelder in 2019, Jack Johnson in 2017, Ann Bailey in 2016, Brian Larson in 2015, Pat Bybee in 2013, Jeannette Biddle in 2012, and Peter Shuttleworth in 2011. The honor recognizes the contributions of the inductee to CMLS and the MLS industry at the close or culmination of the inductee’s career in the MLS industry. Although inductees are recognized at the annual CMLS conference, the award is not necessarily given on an annual basis.

About CMLS
CMLS is an association of over 235 Multiple Listing Services, serving over 1.88 million subscribers, whose mission is to set the standard for Multiple Listing Service excellence and support all who seek it. CMLS is committed to a thriving Multiple Listing Service industry that strengthens and enriches the efficiency, transparency, and competitive vibrancy of the North American real estate marketplace. For more information, please visit CMLS at www.cmls.org.

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On March 15, 2024, NAR announced a proposed agreement to settle all home sellers’ claims. NAR agreed to pay $418 million to the plaintiffs over four years. NAR also agreed to require Realtor brokers to make several practice changes and MLSs that opt-in to the settlement to put in place certain rule revisions for a period of seven years, in return for a release of claims. 

NWMLS will not opt-in to NAR’s proposed settlement agreement. NWMLS is owned by its member real estate firms and not affiliated with NAR.

NWMLS has led the industry with initiatives that afford sellers and buyers transparency, meaningful choice and clear opportunities to negotiate their broker’s compensation. In 2019, NWMLS eliminated the requirement that a seller offer compensation to the buyer’s broker. At the same time, NWMLS made public any amount of compensation offered to the buyer’s broker to inform buyers of any such offer.

In 2022, NWMLS again led the industry by providing even more transparency and flexibility for buyers, sellers and brokers. The most notable changes included:

• “De-coupling” broker compensation, meaning that any compensation the seller chooses to offer the buyer broker is set and paid by the seller — not the listing broker
• Any compensation offered by the seller to the buyer broker is prominently stated on the first page of the purchase and sale agreement, with an opportunity for that compensation to be negotiated by the buyer and the buyer’s broker.

NWMLS’ most recent consumer initiative was revising Washington’s “Agency Law” effective January 1, 2024. The new law requires brokers to enter into a written services agreement to represent either a buyer or a seller (previously only required for sellers). All services agreements must be entered into at the outset of the parties’ relationship and comprehensively address broker compensation and the details of representation.

NWMLS’ rules and forms, together with the revised Agency Law, provide for consumer-friendly brokerage relationships. Sellers negotiate how much to compensate the listing firm and decide whether to offer to contribute toward the buyer’s broker compensation and the amount of any such offer. Buyers agree how much to pay their own brokers at the outset of their relationship and can then negotiate for the seller to help cover that cost as part of the purchase. 

NAR’s proposed settlement agreement largely duplicates the rules and practices in place in NWMLS’ service area for several years – with one notable exception: The settlement agreement eliminates compensation transparency for buyers and restrains sellers’ choice by prohibiting sellers from making offers of compensation through the MLS. Instead, the settlement agreement allows for offers of compensation “off MLS,” where that information is hard to find and not available to all buyers and brokers. That change is a step in the wrong direction and is detrimental to consumers and brokers alike.

NWMLS strives to provide consumers with all the relevant information about a listed property to promote efficiency, competition, and an open and free market. NWMLS’ rules and forms broaden, not limit, consumer choice and do not favor any brokerage service model or compensation structure. NWMLS allows the market to operate unimpeded by MLS rules.

NAR’s removal of compensation transparency from the MLS pushes consumers and brokers to make secret deals off MLS, inviting deceptive practices, discrimination and unfair housing. Depriving buyers of information about the transaction risks harming buyers, especially those buyers who are already disadvantaged, including first-time home buyers and members of protected classes. Prohibiting offers of compensation in the MLS also unnecessarily restrains the seller’s choice and absolute right to offer compensation to a brokerage firm representing the buyer. 

Instead of restricting consumer choice, NWMLS has seized every opportunity to enhance the quality of real estate brokerage services in the Northwest and will continue to do so. Accordingly, NWMLS plans to revise its forms and listing process in mid-August to ensure that sellers are aware of an option that currently exists when listing a property for sale. In some instances, a seller may be prepared to pay compensation to a buyer broker, but may not be willing to offer a specific amount of compensation when listing the seller’s property for sale. A seller may instead ask that the buyer include any requested amount of compensation payable to the buyer broker in the buyer’s offer. The seller can agree to that amount or negotiate, just like any other term of the agreement.

NWMLS’ procedures are facilitated by progressive rules and forms and give consumers more choices, not fewer, and more information, not less. A seller may choose to offer no compensation, offer a specific amount of compensation, or ask that the buyer request compensation for the buyer broker in the buyer’s offer. These options all exist in NWMLS’ system – an open, fair, and transparent marketplace for consumers and brokers.

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Other members who were elected to officer positions on the board of directors include:

• David Maider as vice chairperson – Windermere Real Estate M2 LLC – Everett
• Nicole Bascomb as treasurer – Bascomb Real Estate Group – Kent
• Jill Himlie as secretary – Windermere Real Estate/Himlie – Shelton
• Jeff Pust as immediate past chairperson – Van Dorm Realty, Inc. – Olympia

The additional members of the board of directors includes:

• Cory Brewer with Windermere Property Management/Lori Gill & Associates – Seattle
• Patrick Chinn with Windermere Real Estate Midtown – Seattle
• JoAnna Harrison with CB Cascade – Wenatchee
• Martha Hunt with Adolphsen Real Estate – Chehalis
• Anne Jones with Windermere Abode – Tacoma
• Angie Mykel with Keller Williams Greater Seattle
• Jon Rockwood with eXp Realty – Ferndale
• Todd Shively with Ensemble – Seattle
• Jason Wall with Lake & Company – Seattle
• Keith Wells with Windermere RE Southeast – Monroe
• Rachelle Willhite with Best Choice Realty – Seattle

Chairperson Leach is a retired Navy Diving and Salvage officer and longtime resident of the Kitsap Peninsula. He previously served on the Real Estate Advisory Committee for Seafirst & Bank of America, served as a director at the Kitsap Community Foundation and is chairman of the board for Land Title Company of Kitsap. He has been involved in real estate brokerage, land use and development and construction management for over 40 years. Leach has been recognized as Businessperson of the Year, Realtor of the Year and Broker Owner of the Year; most recently he was awarded the Blaine Highfield Professional Integrity Award by the Kitsap County Association of Realtors (KCAR) in recognition of integrity, service and ethics in the Realtor community. Leach is in the 2023 NAR (RPAC) Hall of Fame, holds an NAR Emeritus Award and recently received the Emeritus Award from the Kitsap Community Foundation.

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Vice chairperson Maider begins his fourth term on the NWMLS board. He is the owner and designated broker at Windermere Real Estate/M2, LLC, and has served for 31 years in the real estate industry in King and Snohomish counties. Maider is actively involved in the Windermere Foundation as well as other Snohomish County-based charities and has served as past chairman of the Windermere Snohomish County Standards of Practice.

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Treasurer Bascomb is the owner and designated broker for Bascomb Real Estate Group in Kent and previously served on the NWMLS board as secretary. She has worked in the banking and finance industry for over 30 years. Bascomb has served as a commissioner of the Washington State Housing Finance Commission since 2021 and was appointed its chairperson in August 2023.

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Secretary Himlie is the designated broker/owner of Windermere Shelton, possessing ABR, SRES and CRB certifications and designations. She is a charter member and secretary of Salish Sea Rotary and has served as a board member for both the Shelton Mason County Chamber and the Mason County Association of Realtors (MCAR).

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Immediate past chairperson Pust has worked in the real estate industry for over 35 years and is the designated broker/owner of Van Dorm Realty in Olympia. His industry service includes chairing the Olympic Multiple Listing Service in Thurston County prior to its joining NWMLS in 2007. He was also an alternate member on the Thurston County Board of Equalization.

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