Texas home sellers have sued the Texas Association of Realtors

Texas home sellers have sued the Texas Association of Realtors, and several regional associations including in Austin and Houston, over inflated broker commissions, per Reuters.

A lawsuit resembling the Sitzer/Burnett case has been filed against several Texas Realtor groups, echoing accusations of conspiring to inflate costs for home sellers. Homebuilder QJ Team LLC and holding company Five Points Holdings have brought the suit against over two dozen local realtor associations and teams, including the Texas Association of Realtors, Austin Board of Realtors, and Keller Williams.

The lawsuit challenges the practice of sellers' agents offering compensation to buyers' agents, alleging it violates antitrust laws and involves a "concealed conspiracy" with the National Association of Realtors, Anywhere franchisees, and RE/MAX.

The plaintiffs seek class-action status for Texas home sellers affected from November 13, 2019, onward, claiming that the defendants stifle competition, inflate costs, and shift expenses onto sellers.