| CURATED for Agents | OneKey Joins the CRMLS Suit Against Compass, Zillow Adds FHA Down Payment Help & Mortgage Applications Rise 3.4% |
WEDNESDAY · OCTOBER 28, 2026 We read the real estate day so you don’t have to. Here are the six stories worth your attention—and the takes forming around them. |
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| 👋 Agents. New York’s OneKey MLS joined California Regional MLS as a plaintiff in its lawsuit against Compass.
Zillow Home Loans says it will now cover up to 3.5 percent of the purchase price for eligible FHA buyers. Mortgage applications rose 3.4 percent as the average 30-year contract rate fell to 7.37 percent. The Alexander brothers were each sentenced to 30 years in prison. And Compass is raising its production minimum for incoming agents by 30 percent. Let’s get into all of it.
Enjoy, — CURATED. |
| 1st TakeOneKey MLS Joins the CRMLS Lawsuit Against Compass, Citing a March Letter From CEO Robert ReffkinThe Quick TakeNew York’s OneKey MLS joined California Regional MLS as a plaintiff in its lawsuit against Compass, Real Estate News reports. The amended complaint was filed Oct. 27 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. OneKey, with about 40,200 subscribers, is the eighth MLS to ask the court to protect it from Compass’s litigation threats. It seeks to have the cooperation rules declared lawful and Compass barred from suing over them. Read more →The StakesCompass CEO Robert Reffkin wrote OneKey’s CEO on March 21 that litigation was likely the following month, the complaint says. The filing says OneKey fined Compass agents five times, and one 1,500-dollar fine was paid. A Compass International Holdings spokesperson said seven of the top 25 MLSs let agents publicly market office exclusives without fines. | 📊 The Takes
Many agents tie OneKey’s move to threats dating back to March, others wait for a judge, and a smaller group repeats Compass’s point about fine-free MLSs.
⚖️ Sees Why OneKey Sued — ‘Compass warned of litigation back in March, the complaint says. No wonder OneKey asked a court to step in.’
⏳ Waits for the Judge — ‘Nothing is decided yet. Until a judge rules, I follow my MLS rules on every listing.’
🗺️ Points to Other MLSs — ‘Compass says seven of the top 25 MLSs allow publicly marketed office exclusives without fines. I want to see how that works.’ |
| 2nd TakeZillow Home Loans Will Cover Up to 3.5% of the Price for Eligible FHA Buyers With a Second Loan Forgiven After Five YearsThe Quick TakeZillow Home Loans launched down payment assistance on Oct. 28 for eligible buyers using an FHA loan. Zillow says buyers in 43 states and Washington, D.C., can receive up to 3.5 percent of the purchase price as a second loan with no interest and no monthly payment. There is no income cap or first-time-buyer requirement. The loan is forgiven after five years of on-time mortgage payments and owner occupancy. FHA mortgage insurance still applies. Read more →What This MeansBuyers need a minimum 640 credit score, an FHA loan with Zillow Home Loans, and a primary residence purchase. The second loan comes due if the buyer moves out, sells, or refinances before year five. It is not offered in Arizona, Delaware, Florida, Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island, or Virginia. | 📊 The Takes
Covering the whole FHA minimum excites many agents with cash-short buyers, while some flag the Zillow-only loan requirement and others stress the five-year payback trigger.
🔑 Has Buyers Who Need It — ‘Plenty of renters can handle a payment but not the cash up front. This could get more of them to closing.’
🔎 Compares Every Lender — ‘The help only comes with an FHA loan from Zillow Home Loans. My buyers will still compare rates and fees.’
⏱️ Explains the Five Years — ‘Sell or refinance before year five and the whole second loan comes due. I make sure my buyers hear that first.’ |
| 3rd TakeMortgage Applications Rose 3.4% as the 30-Year Contract Rate Fell to 7.37% and the ARM Share Hit 11.3%The Quick TakeTotal mortgage application volume rose 3.4 percent last week, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s seasonally adjusted index, CNBC reports. Rates fell for the second straight week. The average contract rate on 30-year fixed conforming loans fell to 7.37 percent from 7.41 percent. Purchase applications rose 4 percent but were 18 percent lower than a year earlier. Refinance applications were 61 percent lower than a year earlier. Read more →Why You’ll Feel ItThe adjustable-rate share hit 11.3 percent, the highest in more than a year. MBA deputy chief economist Joel Kan said rates remain more than a percentage point above a year earlier. About half of borrowers have a rate below 4 percent. Some agents say buyers are waiting on the midterm elections. | 📊 The Takes
A small rebound has some agents calling paused buyers, while others point to demand still trailing last year and a third group watches the turn toward adjustable loans.
📞 Calling Buyers Back — ‘Purchase applications rose 4 percent in one week. I am calling the buyers who paused this fall.’
📉 Still Down 18 Percent — ‘One good week does not erase an 18 percent drop from last year. I am not changing my pace yet.’
🔄 Explains the ARM — ‘More buyers are choosing adjustable loans. I make sure they know the rate can change after the fixed term.’ |
| 4th TakeThe Alexander Brothers Are Each Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison After Their Federal Sex Trafficking ConvictionsThe Quick TakeTal, Oren, and Alon Alexander were each sentenced to 30 years in prison in their federal sex trafficking case, The Real Deal reports. U.S. Judge Valerie Caproni also ordered 10 years of supervised release. Tal and Oren were luxury brokers, and Alon is their brother, a private security executive. Prosecutors had asked for life sentences. Defense attorneys sought 15 years, the minimum for their charges. Read more →The Real StoryCaproni said a life sentence would be draconian, though she called the conduct described at trial monstrous. Twelve women gave victim impact statements. During the five-week trial that ended in March, 11 women testified. The brothers deny the allegations, plan to appeal, and still face dozens of civil lawsuits. | 📊 The Takes
Support for the 30-year sentences leads among agents, followed by those focused on the 12 women who gave statements and a group noting the appeal still ahead.
⚖️ Backs the Sentence — ‘Thirty years each sends a clear message. No amount of status or wealth puts anyone above the law.’
🗣️ Centers the Victims — ‘Twelve women gave victim impact statements. Their voices are what I take from this case.’
📄 Watches the Appeal — ‘They plan to appeal and still face dozens of civil suits. This case is not finished.’ |
| 5th TakeCompass Raises Its Minimum Production Requirement for Incoming Agents by 30% and Creates a Chief Marketing Officer RoleThe Quick TakeCompass President Neda Navab said the brokerage will raise minimum production requirements for incoming agents by 30 percent, HousingWire reports. She spoke to about 1,500 agents at Compass’s annual RETREAT in New Orleans. The standard applies only to Compass, not all brands under the Compass International Holdings umbrella. Felipe Hernandez was promoted to the newly created role of chief marketing officer. Read more →What’s ChangingThe move is meant to put agent quality ahead of headcount growth. Compass has held the top spot among U.S. residential brokerages by sales volume for five consecutive years. Rachel Hocevar, who previously led its Texas and Southwest regions, will oversee regional agent experience and operations teams. | 📊 The Takes
A tougher entry bar wins praise from many agents, recruiters elsewhere see an opening, and some want the actual minimum before judging it.
🏆 Likes the Higher Bar — ‘A higher bar means stronger agents in every office. I would rather work beside producers.’
🚪 Sees a Recruiting Opening — ‘Agents who miss the new Compass bar still need a brokerage. Mine is ready to talk to them.’
❓ Wants the Number — ‘Thirty percent higher than what? I want to see the actual minimum before I judge it.’ |
| 6th TakeRealScout Will Add eXp Realty’s Coming Soon Listings to Its Agent-Client Platform Later This YearThe Quick TakeeXp Realty and RealScout announced on Tuesday that eXp’s Coming Soon listings will come to RealScout later this year, Real Estate News reports. RealScout is a digital client relationship and lead follow-up platform. An exact launch date has yet to be announced. Leo Pareja, the CEO of eXp and parent company AGNT, said it puts the listings inside the conversation between agents and their clients. Read more →Why It MattersIn the spring, eXp began letting agents syndicate Coming Soon listings via Zenlist to Realtor.com, Homes.com, and ComeHome.com. RealScout also has a deal to bring Zillow Preview listings into its platform. Agents whose brokerages joined Zillow Preview will see those listings in RealScout for the whole pre-marketing period. | 📊 The Takes
Earlier exposure inside a buyer’s search tool appeals to many agents, while some check their MLS rules first and others hold off until a launch date appears.
👀 Wants More Eyes Early — ‘If my buyers already search in RealScout, seeing Coming Soon homes there gives them a head start.’
📋 Checks My MLS First — ‘Before I pre-market a listing anywhere, I check what my MLS allows for Coming Soon.’
📅 Waits for a Date — ‘There is no launch date yet. I will plan around it once it is live.’ |
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