FTC, Zillow, Redfin head to trial
The FTC, Zillow, and Redfin head to trial next week to resolve a $100 million rental listings dispute. Read how regulators are clashing with real estate tech gi
The Federal Trade Commission’s lawsuit against Zillow and Redfin over a $100 million rental listings deal will go to trial next week, marking the latest clash between regulators and real estate technology platforms.
The FTC filed its complaint in September 2025, months after the two companies announced a syndication agreement that made Zillow the exclusive provider of multifamily rental listings on Redfin’s platforms, including Rent.com and ApartmentGuide.com. The agency argues the deal eliminates competition in an already concentrated advertising market—one it calls critical for renters, property managers, and the broader housing market.
In a news release last fall, Daniel Guarnera, director of the FTC’s Bureau of Competition, said the partnership violates federal antitrust laws. The case was later merged with a separate lawsuit filed by attorneys general in five states: Arizona, Connecticut, New York, Virginia, and Washington.
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Zillow and Redfin have maintained that the agreement benefits renters and property managers by expanding access to multifamily listings across multiple platforms. In January, they filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit, arguing the FTC failed to demonstrate harm to consumers or define the relevant market properly.
“Plaintiffs have not alleged any harm to renters using the Zillow and Redfin listing services, have not pled markets that capture the full breadth of competition for rental advertising, and have not even tried to allege that Defendants have sufficient market power to harm competition,” their motion stated. The judge denied the request in May.
Earlier this month, the court also rejected the FTC’s bid for partial summary judgment, which would have declared the deal “presumptively unlawful.” That decision cleared the way for a full trial.
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The case arrives at a time when the federal government has sharpened its focus on real estate industry practices, particularly those involving agent commissions and digital marketplaces. For renters and property managers, the outcome could reshape how listings are distributed—and who controls access to them.
Trial details
The trial is scheduled to begin August 24 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Alexandria Division, before Judge Anthony J. Trenga. No jury has been seated; the case will be decided by the judge alone.
