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A year ago, the Pennsylvania Association of Realtors announced it had installed its first black president, W. Preston Moore. Months later, Moore was suspended and joined the ever-increasing ranks of agents and brokers who have sued the National Association of Realtors over the requirement that they become Realtors in order to access the multiple listing service.
On Nov. 25, Moore, a veteran real estate agent at Howard Hanna, filed a lawsuit against NAR; the state Realtor associations for Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey; the Pennsylvania Real Estate Commission; and the Black Caucus of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives “for discriminatory practices, antitrust violations, forced membership, and violations of civil rights, particularly regarding minority demographics and inequitable enforcement of rules.”
The suit targets NAR’s three-way agreement, which requires agents and brokers to join a local, state and national Realtor association in order to qualify for membership in any of those NAR affiliates. It also targets a common rule enforced by many Realtor-affiliated MLSs that they join NAR in order to access the MLS. NAR itself does not require Realtor membership for MLS access.
W. Preston Moore
“NAR’s Multiple Listing Service (MLS) systems effectively force real estate professionals into NAR membership to access MLS listings, essential for conducting transactions,” the complaint says.
“These practices stifle competition and limit market access, forcing professionals to comply with NAR’s rules and dues without viable alternatives.
“Forced membership disproportionately…