real estate commissions

Private equity plays a major role in lots of sectors across the U.S. economy, and now it’s getting into the veterinary business. Today, Kimberly discusses the rise of these big outside investors in pet care and the financial and emotional decisions we make in caring for our beloved pets. Plus, we bid Jasper goodbye. But first, Amy breaks down a pair of cases involving the popular housing site Redfin and what they mean for how homes are bought and sold.

Here’s everything we talked about today:

• “Redfin to pay $9.25M to settle commission lawsuits” from Inman
• “Redfin settles commission lawsuits for $9.25 million” from HousingWire
• “When Buying a Home Is Treated as a National Security Threat” from The New York Times
• “Vets fret as private equity snaps up clinics, pet care companies” from Stateline
• “Why Your Vet Bill Is So High” from The Atlantic
• “Workday Has Become the Most-Hated Workplace, Business Software” from Business Insider

We love to hear from you. Send your questions and comments to makemesmart@marketplace.org or leave us a voicemail at 508-U-B-SMART.

In 2019, Mike Ketchmark got a call. Mike is a lawyer in Kansas City, Missouri, and his friend, Brandon Boulware, another lawyer, was calling about a case he wanted Mike to get involved with. Mike was an unusual choice - he's a personal injury lawyer, and this was going to be an antitrust case.

But Brandon knew Mike was great in front of a jury. And that he'd won huge settlements for his clients in the past.

So the lawyer friend drops by Mike's office, and pitches him the case. Rhonda and Scott Burnett had just sold their home for $250,000, and out of that amount, they had paid $15,000 in commission (plus a small fee), which was split between two real estate agents - even though they had hired only one. And the commission was high - 6%. Mike's friend said the whole thing seemed... suspicious. Maybe even illegal.

Mike agreed to take the case, a case that would soon become bigger than one about just what had happened to the Burnetts. It would become a fight about the way homes are bought and sold in the U.S. and challenge the way real estate agents have done business for more than 100 years.

This episode was hosted by Amanda Aronczyk and Keith Romer. It was produced by Willa Rubin, edited by Keith Romer, engineered by Valentina Rodríguez Sánchez, and fact-checked by Sierra Juarez. Alex Goldmark is Planet Money's executive producer.

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Scott gives his thoughts on the new rules for real estate commissions, set upon by a landmark legal settlement. He then discusses the importance of voting, specifically how he thinks our elections would be affected if more Americans living abroad sent in their ballots. He wraps up with a conversation on how to be a good son.  Music: https://www.davidcuttermusic.com / @dcuttermusic Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The National Association of Realtors settled a lawsuit that could dramatically change the way homes are sold. (00:21) Nick Sciple and Ricky Mulvey discuss: - How the settlement could impact realtors and traditional brokerages. - The potential effect on Redfin’s growth story. - Why CoStar may be a winner in the shake-up. Plus, (16:50) Robert Brokamp and Alison Southwick discuss a critical piece of financial planning that can help any family. Link to receive the “3 Dividend Stocks” report: www.fool.com/2024dividends Companies discussed: RDFN, Z, ZG, COMP, RMAX, CSGP Host: Ricky Mulvey Guests: Nick Sciple, Robert Brokamp, Alison Southwick Producer: Mary Long Engineers: Dan Boyd, Rick Engdahl Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The way we have bought homes for the last 100 years could change as soon as July. Who wins, who loses, and who gets a share of the $418 million class-action settlement?

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Episode 281: Neal and Toby break down the settlement that could lead to the end of 6% real estate commissions. Plus, why Uber and Lyft are leaving Minneapolis and a former UK tech mogul goes on trial for fraud. The guys share their winners of the weekend and why are people paying hundreds of dollars for a Trader Joe's tote bag? And finally what we are watching for this week. Use code MORNINGBREW50 to get 50% OFF your first Factor box at https://bit.ly/3UUZGG0 Listen to Morning Brew Daily Here: https://link.chtbl.com/MBD Watch Morning Brew Daily Here: https://www.youtube.com/@MorningBrewDailyShow Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

AI has been a boon for Oracle’s cloud business, but it’s also creating a lot of questions for Adobe. (00:21) Andy Cross and Matt Argersinger discuss: - The National Association of Realtors agreeing to over $400M in fines and to eliminate its commission rules. - Why AI is pushing Oracle up and Adobe down after earnings. - The numbers behind Williams-Sonoma’s 18% spike, Kevin Plank’s return to Under Armour, and Ulta’s wild shrink story,  (19:11) Motley Fool Money’s Ricky Mulvey catches up with Bloomberg entertainment reporter Lucas Shaw, for a look into the business of streaming, the power of incentives, and corporate infighting at Paramount.. (34:01) Andy and Matt break down two stocks on their radar: Equity Commonwealth and Landstar Systems. Stocks discussed: RDFN, Z, ADBE, ORCL, WSM, UA, UAA, ULTA, LSTR, EQC Host: Dylan Lewis Guests: Andy Cross, Matt Argersinger, Ricky Mulvey, Lucas Shaw Engineers: Dan Boyd Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Home buyers and sellers face the prospect of major changes to the ways they pay their real-estate agents, following a historic verdict against the National Association of Realtors and large residential brokerages. WSJ’s Laura Kusisto explains the stakes. Further Reading: -The Way You Pay to Buy or Sell a Home Is About to Change  -Jury Finds Realtors Conspired to Keep Commissions High  -Real-Estate Commissions Could Be the Next Fee on the Chopping Block  Further Listening: -Homeowners Don’t Want to Sell. So Builders Are Cashing In.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you have ever bought a home, or are thinking about buying one, you know it can be expensive. For most people a home is the most expensive purchase they will ever make.

But selling a home can be expensive too. In part, that's because of the commissions real estate agents collect when a home is sold.

Depending on the price of the home commissions can be tens of thousands of dollars.

A class action lawsuit brought by a group of Missouri home sellers against the National Association of Realtors argues that these fees hurt consumers by artificially inflating home prices.

This past week, a federal jury awarded the home sellers $1.8 billion dollars.

Adrian Ma and Wailin Wong, co-hosts of NPR's The Indicator, breakdown how that decision could change the entire real estate industry.

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Episode 172: Neal and Toby explain the significance of President Biden visiting Israel today and what the implications are of the House attempting to elect a speaker. Plus retail rates are up as Americans love to spend and why real estate brokers may be heading to trial for broker's fees. The guys also take a look at Marc Andreessen's "Techno Optimist Manifesto" and what is United's new boarding protocol? And finally, why one Citi banker was fired for expensing two sandwiches. Listen to Morning Brew Daily Here: https://link.chtbl.com/MBD Watch Morning Brew Daily Here: https://www.youtube.com/@MorningBrewDailyShow Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A class-action lawsuit is looking to end questionable practices by the National Association of Realtors. While antitrust concerns have surrounded Realtors’ operations in the past, the association’s heavy lobbying may have prevented further investigation. We’ll talk about why this lawsuit might be different. Plus, we’ll do the numbers on the federal government’s ballooning interest bill. And, a lesson on laughter during trying times.

Here’s everything we talked about:

• • “Realtors Face an Antitrust Reckoning” from The Wall Street Journal

• • “Explain How REALTORS®, Local Broker Marketplaces Work” from the National Association of Realtors

• • “National Association of Realtors” from the National Association of Realtors

• • “National Assn of Realtors Profile: Summary” from OpenSecrets

• • “What long-term bond yields mean for U.S. fiscal outlook” from Axios

• •  “Pete Davidson offered the right words about the Israel-Hamas war” from Poynter

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