Compass, eXp and NAR Homebuyer Commission Class Action Settlement
What Is the Homebuyer Commission Settlement About?
The lawsuit alleges that NAR and residential brokerages enforced rules keeping commissions artificially high, harming homebuyers through inflated home prices and reduced buyer-broker service quality.
How Much Is the Homebuyer Settlement Payout?
No individual payment is fixed. Approved fees, expenses, administration costs and service awards are deducted from the combined $120,334,500 fund. The remaining money will be allocated proportionally under a court-approved plan, considering valid claims, qualifying purchases and commissions.
Defendants fund the settlement in installments, so eligible claimants should expect multiple distributions over several years after approval becomes final. The settlement also requires specified business-practice changes.
Am I Eligible to File a Claim?
You must have purchased an MLS-listed home with a commission paid to a brokerage during the applicable period. Eligibility is not limited to customers of Compass or eXp. All periods end June 25, 2026.
For claims against NAR, Compass, eXp, Anywhere, HomeServices and its listed affiliates, Hanna, United Real Estate and Douglas Elliman, the start dates are:
- January 25, 2006: Puerto Rico.
- January 25, 2011: Rhode Island and Louisiana.
- January 25, 2013: Wyoming.
- January 25, 2015: Alabama, Connecticut, Hawaii, Indiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont and Wisconsin.
- January 25, 2016: Arkansas, Kentucky, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Utah and West Virginia.
- January 25, 2017: Arizona, California, Washington, D.C., Delaware, Georgia, Idaho, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina and Virginia.
- January 25, 2018: Alaska, Colorado, Kansas, Maryland, Mississippi, Montana, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Washington.
- January 25, 2019: Texas and other U.S. locations not listed above.
For the other defendants in the first table of official FAQ 6, claims begin December 8, 2017 in Alabama, Georgia, Indiana, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Vermont, Wisconsin and Wyoming; December 8, 2018 in Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky and Missouri; and December 8, 2019 elsewhere. Check that table for the complete defendant list.
Is the Homebuyer Commission Settlement Legit?
Yes. Judge Lindsay C. Jenkins of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois oversees the litigation. Epiq administers the settlement. The final approval hearing is November 2, 2026.
When’s the Claim Deadline?
Submit online or mail a claim postmarked by October 27, 2026. The exclusion and objection deadlines were September 17, 2026. A timely claim is required for payment; remaining in the class without claiming does not produce an automatic award.
Who Qualifies for the Homebuyer Settlement?
Any covered MLS can qualify, including services not affiliated with NAR. People who only sold a home do not qualify on that basis. Someone who already released the same claims against a defendant through the Burnett, Gibson, Keel or Hooper home-seller settlements cannot recover again for those released claims. Other exclusions include valid opt-outs and specified court personnel and counsel.
How Do I File a Homebuyer Settlement Claim Form?
Use Start Your Claim on the official website. Provide the requested purchase information and readable transaction documents, such as a closing statement, settlement statement, HUD statement or settlement letter. Keep copies: claims may be audited and additional information requested.
Save your emailed confirmation code. Alternatively, mail a signed paper form and documentation to Epiq at the address above. Notify Epiq of contact changes.
