If you sold a house in the U.S. between October 31, 2017, and July 23, 2024, and paid a commission to a real estate agent, you might get some of that money back. A major lawsuit has led to a $730 million settlement after several real estate companies were accused of charging unfairly high commission fees.
The lawsuit said these companies worked together to keep commission rates high, making it hard for sellers to negotiate lower fees. These actions were seen as breaking antitrust laws, which are rules meant to keep the market fair and competitive. Instead of letting market forces decide the prices, these companies allegedly created a fixed rate system that gave sellers fewer options.
This settlement is meant to give some of that money back to home sellers who were affected. If you paid commission during a home sale in that time period, you may qualify for a refund. This article explains everything—who is eligible, what you need, how much money you might get, and how to claim your share.
What the Lawsuit Was All About
This legal case, called Gibson vs. National Association of Realtors and Others, accused major real estate companies of making secret deals to keep commission rates high. It argued that:
- Real estate companies set fixed commission rates (usually 5–6%) that couldn’t be negotiated.
- Sellers had no real option to shop around for lower fees.
- This forced many to pay more than they should have for broker services.
The lawsuit said this kind of behavior went against fair competition and cost home sellers a lot of money over the years.
Real Estate Companies Involved and Settlement Amounts
Several major real estate companies agreed to pay millions to settle this case. These companies didn’t admit they were wrong but agreed to pay to end the case.
Who Can Get Money from the Settlement?
You may be eligible if you:
- Sold a home between October 31, 2017, and July 23, 2024.
- Used a Multiple Listing Service (MLS) to list your property.
- Paid a commission to a real estate brokerage.
Even if you’re not sure whether you qualify, it’s a good idea to check your home sale records just in case.
Sold More Than One Home? You Can File More Than One Claim
If you sold multiple homes and paid a commission each time, you can file a claim for each sale separately. That means more potential money back for you.
What You’ll Need to File a Claim
To make a successful claim, you must show:
- Closing documents for the home sale (to prove the sale happened within the allowed dates).
- Proof of commission fees paid to the broker or agency.
Keep in mind, without these documents, your claim could be denied or delayed.
How Much Money Can You Expect?
Your refund amount depends on:
- How many people file claims.
- How much commission you paid.
- How the total settlement fund is divided.
Estimates suggest that claimants might receive 10% to 20% of the commission fees they paid. For example, if you paid $20,000 in commission on a $400,000 home, you could get back around $2,000 to $4,000.
Steps to File a Claim
- Check If You’re Eligible
Visit RealEstateCommissionLitigation.com to see if your home sale qualifies. - Collect Required Documents
Get your closing statements and commission payment records ready. - Submit Your Claim
You can file your claim online or by mail. The deadline to submit is May 9, 2025. - Wait for Review
Your claim will be reviewed after the final court approval. Payments will begin once everything is verified.
What Happens After You File?
After you file your claim, the court will review all claims and decide if the settlement is fair. If approved on October 31, 2024, the payments will be processed and sent out in 2025.
If you already filed a claim earlier related to this case, you don’t need to file again. Your previous claim is still valid.
To keep updated, visit the official site at RealEstateCommissionLitigation.com.