Zillow has secured an “uninterrupted” data feed from the Tennessee-based Multiple Listing Service Realtracs after more than two months of negotiations, according to the company’s Aug. 5 announcement. The deal ends a dispute over data access standards that threatened to sever the home search giant’s connection to the region’s listings.
New licensing terms agreed upon
The agreement details four “important improvements” outlined by Realtracs in a blog post, which the MLS claims will benefit brokers and agents. Key changes include boosted data reporting, the retention of access to Zillow-powered technology, the establishment of AI guardrails, and clearly defined rules for how Realtracs data can be used.
Realtracs President and CEO Stuart White said the MLS is “pleased that Zillow has signed our modernized license agreement.” The executive added that the deal furthers the organization’s guiding principles by establishing clearly defined use rights, responsible use standards, and stronger protections for broker-created data while preserving sellers’ ability to reach a broad audience.
Realtracs stated in a separate blog post that the new agreement creates standards “that better reflect how listing data is created, protected, and used in today’s real estate industry.” Zillow echoed this sentiment, noting that the agreement “is rooted in a shared commitment to listing transparency and broad market access” and that “buyers, sellers and agents win” with the deal.
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Background on the conflict
The conflict began in late May when Realtracs claimed Zillow’s Listing Access Standards violated its updated IDX display rules. These standards ban listings that are publicly marketed but not widely available to consumers. The MLS had announced these rules shortly before expanding its services nationwide in April.
Realtracs initially set a deadline of May 31 for Zillow to comply, but extended the date citing “productive and progressive talks.” The portal was given additional time as negotiations continued. This tension mirrors a similar dispute with Midwest Real Estate Data in Chicagoland, where that MLS threatened to cut Zillow’s feed on May 19 and later temporarily followed through with the suspension until a court ordered reinstatement.
The Chicago MLS and Compass are currently litigating a complaint filed by Zillow over listing policies. Zillow’s own Listing Access Standards remain in full effect across the Nashville region and were not modified as part of this agreement. Realtracs further clarified that the portal will inform the MLS simultaneously when an agent receives a warning that they are in violation of these standards. This provides greater transparency into those situations and gives the MLS the information needed to work directly with brokers and agents to ensure healthy cooperation.