A U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit reaffirmed a lower court’s ruling, dismissing Homie Technology’s claims against the National Association of REALTORS®, a local multiple listing service and other prominent brokerages on Tuesday.
In August 2024, Homie Technology, a discount brokerage in Utah, sued NAR, Wasatch Front Regional MLS and other brokerages in the market, alleging the organizations conspired to steer real estate clients away from Homie Technology affiliated buyers or listed properties.
Less than a year later, a U.S. District Court for the District of Utah dismissed the claims writing that Homie Technology had not “plausibly pleaded an antitrust injury based on some sort of market foreclosure, exclusion, or barriers to entry; and it fails to allege specific facts that establish that it sustained an antitrust injury from the alleged boycotts because it fails to allege that Defendants participated in these boycotts in any way.”
Defendants also argued, and the judge agreed, that Homie Technology’s claims exceeded the statute of limitations and therefore, could not go forward.
The plaintiff appealed the decision less than a month later, and the appellate court’s affirmation yesterday of the dismissal reaffirms NAR’s victory and brings the nearly two-year-old case to a close.
The association is satisfied with the ruling.
“We are pleased that the Court has affirmed the dismissal of the case, bringing this matter to a close,” an NAR spokesperson said. “NAR facilitates local real estate marketplaces that provide fair and equal access to property information, foster competition, and empower NAR members to serve clients on their homebuying and selling journeys.”
Last month, NAR highlighted its recent legal momentum—including the preliminarily approved Tuccori settlement approval—in its second quarter strategic plan update. NAR General Counsel Jon Waclawski also spoke with Inman last month, where he transparently discussed NAR’s progress on its litigation docket and expressed optimism about the Homie case.
