Author: Bess Freedman
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Bess Freedman: Private Listing Networks are the Dark Pools of Real Estate
In a sharply argued piece for Inman News, CEO Bess Freedman draws a direct parallel between private listing networks and Wall Street’s “dark pools,” warning that the growing trend is fundamentally at odds with how real estate is supposed to function. Her core argument is simple: real estate works best when it’s transparent—and private networks…
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The Real Estate Industry’s Reckoning on Private Listings Has Finally Arrived
There has been a growing disconnect in residential real estate between what is being marketed as innovation and what actually serves the best interests of buyers and sellers. In a recent guest post on Jonathan Miller’s Housing Notes, I explore the destructive nature of Private Listing Networks, and why the tide is beginning to turn…
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Dear Buyers, Days On Market Are Facts!
In my newest Inman opinion piece, I argue that days on market and price changes are not optional narratives — they are facts! Buyers rely on these signals to make informed decisions, and the broader market depends on transparency to operate fairly and efficiently. Hiding metrics or pretending a property is somehow “not really on…
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Opinion: Free Market Principles Win an Early Ruling in the Battle Over Private Listing Networks
In a closely watched saga shaping the future of how homes are marketed online, a federal judge last week denied a request for a preliminary injunction that would have stopped Zillow’s policy restricting private listing networks (PLNs). The ruling allows Zillow’s Listing Access Standards to remain in effect while the broader antitrust lawsuit proceeds —…
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Bess Freedman: The Big Bamboozle of Private Listing Networks
This article first appeared on Inman News, December 5, 2025. By now, many of you already know my stance on private listing networks. I have been incredibly vocal about their dubious nature, penned numerous opinion pieces, been threatened with lawsuits, and warned against them on television and in print. I’ve cited studies showing why PLNs hurt…
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Op-Ed: Manhattan is Doing Just Fine
Have you heard that people are fleeing Manhattan? The headlines say it over and over, but the reality tells a very different story. In my latest commentary for RISMedia, I look at what the data and our daily experience in the market actually show: no mass exodus, no panic selling, and an underlying strength that…
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SOS: A Call for Homeowners to Take Control
When you buy or sell a home, you’re going into one of the largest financial transactions of your life. In my recent opinion piece for RISMedia, I wanted to sound the alarm: don’t assume everything and everyone involved is working in your best interest. Transparency, exposure, and honest representation matter now more than ever. “If…