Zillow Accuses Compass of Concealing Chicago Listings, Cutting Inventory by Two‑Thirds

On Wednesday Zillow lost access to thousands of Chicago-area property listings after it filed a lawsuit accusing Midwest Real Estate Data (MRED), the local multiple listing service, of conspiring with Compass, the nation’s largest brokerage. The lawsuit claims the two companies created a private listing network that shields homes from platforms that do not work with Compass agents.

Before the access loss, Zillow displayed nearly 5,000 listings in the Chicago metro area. After the block, that number fell to roughly 1,700—a drop of about two‑thirds. Zillow’s complaint alleges that Compass anticompetitively hides listings from anyone not affiliated with its agents, using the private network to funnel buyers toward its own brokerage and increase the chance of dual‑agency deals. The Chicago Sun‑Times noted that alternative sites such as Redfin and Realtor.com still showed between 5,000 and 8,000 listings. The decline represents roughly a 66 percent reduction in available listings on Zillow’s platform.

If the court finds merit in Zillow’s claims, it could force MRED and Compass to open their listings to all platforms, potentially restoring the lost inventory and increasing competition. Zillow is seeking an injunction to halt the alleged blocking and to recover damages for lost traffic. Real‑estate analysts will watch for any preliminary rulings or settlement talks in the coming weeks. A broader antitrust review of private listing networks could follow, affecting how brokers share data nationwide.