How Homeowners Are Losing Value

When a home sits on the market too long or goes through public price reductions, buyers often assume something is wrong. This damages a property’s perceived value, weakens the seller’s negotiating power, and often leads to lower sale prices. In some cases, public marketing also compromises homeowners’ privacy and security—exposing personal and financial information to the public.

Homeowners who are clients of Compass and sold homes in Washington State—representing nearly over $100 million in residential sales—believe they were damaged by the current rules and practices of NWMLS.

Across Washington, homeowners have faced these exact challenges—and many had no idea that the rules forcing their home into public view were not required by law, but by a private entity.

The Source of the Problem

At the center of the issue is the Northwest Multiple Listing Service (NWMLS)—a private, broker-owned listing platform that controls 100% of residential listings in Washington State. NWMLS is not a government agency. It is a trade association made up of real estate brokerages, and it enforces the most restrictive listing rules in the country to maintain a stranglehold on the market.

Specifically, NWMLS prohibits all forms of pre-marketing and off-MLS marketing—even when the seller and their agent want to take that approach to protect privacy or test pricing before going public. These rules mean sellers have no choice but to fully expose their listing immediately—leading to longer days on market and price reductions that may hurt their bottom line.

In every other state, homeowners have the freedom to explore alternative off-MLS marketing strategies that protect value, privacy, and flexibility. In Washington, that freedom doesn’t exist—and sellers are paying the price.

Join Others Taking Action

We are helping our clients coordinate across a group of injured homesellers and helping the group secure counsel to bring legal action against NWMLS and its Board and to pursue full recovery for lost home value.

If you sold a home in Washington and:

• Your listing experienced a public price drop

• Your home stayed on the market longer than expected

• You were unable to protect your privacy during the sale

You may be entitled to compensation.

Contact us at joinus@washingtonhomeownerrights.com to learn more or add your name to the list.

Because your home is your most valuable asset—and you should have the right to choose how it’s sold.

Add your name to the list

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