8 Important Agent Takeaways From the NAR Lawsuit Settlement.
1. The MLS can no longer display commission offers
2. MLSs can’t create or support other sites to get around these policy changes
3. Buyers have to sign a written agreement before touring with you
4. Your compensation has to be clearly defined
5. You have to communicate that commissions are negotiable
6. You can’t filter listings based on buyer agent commissions
7. NAR is required to develop new educational content
8. Consumer awareness about commissions may have changed.

The top 10 search terms on Zillow
While some people may have their sights set on trendy home features like sensory gardens or pickleball courts, the most popular searches of 2023 largely consisted of classic amenities:

Garage
Backyard
Fireplace
Walk-in closet
Patio
Open floor plan
Pool
Family room
Basement
Granite counters
The list is a useful reminder that many buyers and renters are focused on the basics. They’re trying to answer questions like: Where will I park my car? Will I have ample storage? Will my kids have enough space to play?

What First-Time Home Buyers Need Most From Their Real Estate Agents
First-time home buyers worry a lot about financing, and who can blame them? Nearly 1 in 3 first-timers (29%) who eventually obtain a mortgage fail to get approval at least once while applying for financing.

Newbie buyers generally have a tougher go of it than repeat buyers, who are typically older and able to tap resources that may include proceeds from the sale of a home.
Still, what first-timers lack in experience and resources, they make up for in determination and a willingness to compromise, according to the Zillow Group Consumer Housing Trends Repor

Home prices will keep going up in 2025.
At the end of 2024, 67% of agents said they expected home prices to increase for the next 12 months, including 20% who predicted a large increase. This represents a big change from the middle of last year, when only 44% of agents expected prices to keep increasing. Zillow Home Value Index data backs up what agents are feeling. In January 2025, the median home sale price increased 6.65% year over year.

How many agents do sellers contact?
Nearly all sellers (93%) work with an agent at some point during their journey.
Sellers who worked with an agent were more likely to hire the first person they contacted (59%) compared to buyers (47%). The difference is even more drastic among first-time sellers (64%) compared to first-time buyers (40%). Urgency could play a big role here, especially among sellers influenced by disruptive life events like a job transfer.
Another factor could be first impressions. While buyer’s agents may have a harder time differentiating themselves early on, listing agents may be able to seal the deal

How do buyers prefer to communicate?
Start stretching out those fingers. When it comes to communicating, 53% of buyers who worked with an agent preferred to text or use a messenger app, while only 33% wanted to speak on the phone. When you add in buyers who liked sending email (13%), two-thirds preferred written communication with their agent over a traditional phone call.
Given that agents spend a lot of time traveling outside of an office, this preference could be a positive trend that helps them manage clients throughout the day without needing to interrupt showings to pick

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