In this Open Floor episode, Shane Hall unpacks the biggest real estate stories shaping Maryland and the nation in April 2025 — from brokerage consolidation to MLS antitrust fights to global economic pressure.   Brokerage Wars  Shane breaks down Compass’s massive growth push: acquiring Washington Fine Properties and now rumored to acquire HomeServices of America — parent company of Long & Foster and Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices. If it happens, Compass could control nearly $20 billion in DC-area volume.   This isn’t just expansion — it’s a play for listing control, creating an Amazon-style real estate ecosystem where one giant dominates every tier of the market.  Zillow vs. Compass (and Every Broker)

• Zillow is furious about the rise of private exclusives — off-MLS listings promoted inside brokerage networks.

• Compass calls them a seller-first feature.

• Zillow calls them anti-consumer.

• Zillow is threatening to ban any listing marketed off-MLS without being added to the MLS within 24 hours.

• The fight is about one thing: Who owns the listing — the MLS, the broker, or the portal?

NAR Fallout & Commission Redesign  The $418 million NAR settlement has changed everything. MLSs can no longer display buyer-agent compensation, forcing agents to negotiate fees directly and explain their value like never before.  Buyer agency is becoming a communication, negotiation, and value-proposition game — and weaker agents are leaving the industry in droves (agent count down 27% since 2019).  DOJ Antitrust Pressure  The Department of Justice has its sights set on the MLS. The new #2 in DOJ antitrust — Roger Alford — has openly argued that MLSs function as coordinated monopolies that restrict innovation and competition.  If DOJ moves forward, it could mean:

• Lawsuits

• Forced rule changes

• New public portals

• Or even structural breakup of MLS power

This could become one of the biggest real estate stories of the decade.  Global Tariffs Will Hit Housing  President Trump’s proposed tariffs threaten to raise the cost of building materials, fixtures, and appliances — squeezing builders, slowing new construction, and pressuring already thin margins.  This could worsen affordability in an already supply-starved market.  Shane’s Closing Themes  The “big guys” are getting bigger. Agents must specialize or get squeezed out. Listing control is the new battlefield. The DOJ is only warming up. Tariffs are not abstract — they hit cost of living.  The floor is open — and keeping you ahead of the market.