On March 15, 2024, the National Association of Realtors and the Department of Justice agreed upon a proposed settlement. Below is the statement, directly quoted, as put out by the Northwest Multiple Listing Services.

Additionally, please note two crucial points.

1. Broker Nadir and BN Real Estate has never belonged to the National Association of Realtors.
2. BN Real Estate moved away from charging a commission as a percentage of the transaction amount. We adopted a fixed fee arrangement in 2018. Our fixed fees for sellers and buyers are displayed on our website.

We have a long-standing track record of and commitment to full disclosure and complete transparency.

Proposed Settlement in National Litigation 

Northwest Multiple Listing Service (“NWMLS”) has reviewed the National Association of REALTORS® (“NAR”) proposed agreement to settle the national litigation. NWMLS is owned by its member real estate firms and not affiliated with NAR.

Beginning in 2019, and continuing in 2022, NWMLS made changes to its rules, forms, and processes that address the issues raised by the national litigation and outlined in the proposed settlement agreement. NWMLS’s changes enhanced transparency, consumer choice, and negotiation opportunities related to broker compensation.

NWMLS’s most recent efforts, in cooperation with Washington REALTORS®, culminated in revisions to the Washington state “Agency Law” that were effective January 1, 2024. As a result, Washington law already requires brokers to enter into a services agreement to represent a buyer, which is one of the primary “practice changes” in the proposed settlement agreement.

While NWMLS’s system of rules and forms, together with the revised Agency Law, provide both buyers and sellers with complete transparency, choice, and control of broker compensation, NWMLS and its members will continue to take advantage of every opportunity to enhance the quality of real estate brokerage services in the Northwest.