🇺🇸 Laws & Regulations
Real Estate Laws & Regulations — United States
Licensing requirements, compliance obligations and commission rules for real estate agents in United States, sourced from NAR, State Real Estate Commissions and other official regulators.
The Zillow vs. Compass/MRED Listing Access Fight: What Agents Need to Know
Zillow, Compass and Chicago's MRED are in active litigation over private and delayed listings and data feed access. Here's what's actually happening, the current legal status, and what it means if you list privately or work with syndication platforms.
California AB 723: The New Disclosure Law for AI-Altered Listing Photos
California's AB 723, effective January 1, 2026, requires real estate agents to disclose digitally or AI-altered listing images and make the original unedited version available. Here's exactly what's covered, what isn't, and how to stay compliant.
FinCEN's Residential Real Estate Reporting Rule: Vacated, Appealed, and Currently Not in Effect (2026 Status)
FinCEN's rule requiring reports on non-financed, entity/trust residential real estate transfers briefly took effect March 1, 2026 — then a federal court vacated it. Here's the current status agents need to know when advising all-cash LLC or trust buyers.
Colorado's New Broker Rules Take Effect August 12, 2026 (HB26-1287 & HB26-1426)
Two separate Colorado bills — the Division of Real Estate sunset bill (HB26-1287) and a new written-agreement consumer protection bill (HB26-1426) — both took effect August 12, 2026, reshaping trust accounts, disclosures, broker supervision, and mandatory written listing agreements.
NAR's 2026 MLS Handbook Changes: Clear Cooperation, Listing Filters, and Membership Rules
NAR approved the biggest MLS Handbook update in 20 years in November 2025. Here's what changed for 2026 — the Clear Cooperation delayed-marketing option, new listing-filter guidance, and the end of the national MLS membership mandate.
Texas SB 1968: New Buyer Representation and Non-Representation Rules for 2026
Texas law changed on January 1, 2026 — written buyer representation agreements are now mandatory, subagency is gone, and a new non-representation agreement lets agents show property without representing a buyer. Here's what TRELA now requires.
The NAR Commission Settlement: What Changed for Agents and What It Means in 2026
A practical breakdown of the 2024 NAR antitrust settlement — the MLS compensation rule changes, buyer representation agreements, and what agents still need to do right in 2026.
NAR's 2026 MLS Policy Changes: Clear Cooperation Stays, New Seller Options Arrive
What's actually changing in NAR's 2026 MLS Handbook — the Clear Cooperation Policy is staying, but a new Multiple Listing Options for Sellers policy and 18 handbook updates are rolling out through local MLSs.
Real Estate Agent License Requirements in the US: A State-by-State Overview
How to become a licensed real estate agent in the United States — prelicensing education, exams, sponsoring brokerages and continuing education, with where to find your state's exact rules, plus Texas's 2026 broker license overhaul and California's first exam fee increase since 1997.