Billings Realtor Association says $418M settlement creates opportunity lolita, 09/08/2024 Many questions regarding the real estate business loom following a recent massive, $418 million settlement, which will make it easier to negotiate commissions for real-estate agents and brokers. The settlement was reached between the National Association of Realtors and a group of home sellers frustrated with the association’s pricing rules, and it could cause significant changes in the business when it went into effect this summer. Even with those concerns, Amber Parish, the CEO of the Billings Realtors Association, an affiliate of the national association, said the changes will create opportunities for both real estate agents and their customers. “I think it’s just going to be different,” Parish said Tuesday morning. “The negotiation portion is what is changing, but we just really don’t know at this point what this is going to mean for the industry.” The settlement will change the protocol that has been in place for decades. For years, Americans have paid a standard commission of around 5 to 6 percent when selling a home, which is split between agents. Those commissions can be quite costly. A person selling a $500,000 home would expect to pay at least $25,000 toward commissions. The Justice Department said multiple listings have … Continue Reading