Celebrity Realtor and Real Housewives Star’s Husband Files Antitrust Suit Over Real Estate Listing Practices

Mauricio Umansky, Celebrity Realtor and Real Housewives Star, Files Anti-Trust Lawsuit Against National Association of Realtors

Mauricio Umansky, known for his role on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and as a celebrity realtor, has reignited legal action against the National Association of Realtors (NAR), accusing the influential trade group of anti-competitive practices that, he argues, stifled innovation and consumer choice in the real estate industry.

Background of the Lawsuit

The lawsuit was initially filed in 2020 by Umansky’s startup, The Pocket Listing Service (ThePLS.com), and centers on the controversial "Clear Cooperation Policy" (CCP) enacted by NAR in 2019. According to Umansky, this policy was a direct response to the competitive threat posed by his private listing platform, which aimed to serve clients—particularly celebrities and high-net-worth individuals—seeking greater privacy and discretion during real estate transactions. At its peak, The Pocket Listing Service connected nearly 20,000 licensed real estate professionals seeking off-market deals.

The CCP requires real estate agents to submit any listing to a multiple listing service (MLS) within 24 hours of being publicly marketed. Critics, including Umansky, describe this as a move by NAR to reinforce their control over real estate data and shut out competing platforms that enable private or so-called “pocket listings”—off-market homes marketed discreetly to a select clientele. Such listings are especially favored in the celebrity marketplace, where privacy is paramount.

As reported by The New York Times and industry news outlet HousingWire, Umansky’s lawsuit states:

“This lawsuit is about defending innovation and consumer choice in a market long dominated by entrenched gatekeepers. We responded to growing demand for privacy, flexibility, and discretion—particularly in highly competitive and high-profile markets—and were met with coordinated resistance from an organization with a vested interest in preserving the status quo.”

Industry Impact and Recent Developments

The legal dispute comes amid broader calls for reform in how real estate listings are managed in the digital age. The NAR’s policy move followed a wave of alternative platforms and marketing strategies, such as Compass’s “Private Exclusives,” which similarly threatened the dominance of public MLS systems. Other industry players, including regional MLS groups like the California Regional Multiple Listing Service and Bright MLS, are named in the renewed legal claim as alleged co-conspirators for their part in enforcing the CCP.

The policy’s critics contend that requiring universal listing submission removes consumer options, discourages innovation, and upholds NAR’s near-monopoly on the real estate market. Umansky has been especially vocal about the need for diverse platforms, stating at a recent event:

“There should be flavors for everybody, and everybody should have the choice as to what they want to pick. Restricting what we can and cannot do stops creativity, and it stops innovation.”

In March, NAR did slightly relax its policy, allowing publicly marketed properties a short window before mandatory MLS inclusion; however, many argue this concession does not go far enough in supporting less conventional listing practices.

Why Pocket Listings Matter

“Pocket listings”—sometimes called “whisper listings”—offer property sellers, particularly celebrities and luxury homeowners, privacy, flexibility, and personalized marketing strategies that are not always possible through traditional public channels. While these features appeal to private sellers, critics argue they may limit market competition and reduce transparency for buyers.

The debate reflects a larger struggle within the real estate industry between long-standing institutions seeking to maintain established practices and a wave of proptech startups aiming to disrupt the industry by leveraging exclusivity and newer technologies.

What’s Next

Umansky’s anti-trust challenge not only spotlights the internal power struggles shaping the future of real estate marketing but also follows other high-profile legal settlements, such as NAR’s recent $418 million agreement in a separate antitrust suit related to commission structure and listing access.

With the lawsuit freshly refiled and the conversation growing around real estate innovation, industry stakeholders and consumers will be closely watching the outcome—and its implications for how properties are bought and sold in the U.S.
You can find more details about the ongoing legal battle at The Real Deal and HousingWire, as well as background on NAR’s Clear Cooperation policy at Real Estate News.

For a deeper look at Mauricio Umansky’s real estate career and his previous statements regarding these issues, visit The Real Deal, HousingWire, and Real Estate News.

Note: Mauricio Umansky’s recent activities continue to be discussed across social media and industry forums, including recent events where he called for broader listing options and for fostering a more diverse and competitive real estate marketplace.