Half the Listings Vanish: Zillow’s Bold Move to End ‘Secret Sales
Zillow just shook up the real estate game and if you’ve recently searched for a home and noticed fewer listings, you’re not imagining things. As of June 30, Zillow will begin enforcing a new rule that has already caused a dramatic drop in visible listings: agents must list publicly marketed homes on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) within one business day.
The MLS is a behind-the-scenes database where real estate professionals share property listings. Until now, some agents used a controversial practice called “office exclusives,” where homes were marketed privately to select colleagues before being added to the MLS giving their own clients a hidden head start.
That’s over.
Zillow’s new policy is a push for transparency. If a listing isn’t properly registered with the MLS, it will be blocked from appearing on the platform. That means buyers relying on Zillow won’t see homes being shopped around in secret circles.
Georgia realtor Tiffany Pinkney broke down the change on TikTok with a viral video. Standing next to a yard sign, she explains, “This is your sign (literally and figuratively) to make sure your home search or sale is in the hands of a licensed agent who knows how to navigate these changes.”
The reaction online has been largely positive especially from buyers who feel left out by hidden listings. “Sounds good to me… level the playing field,” one commenter wrote. Another added, “I didn’t expect Zillow to be the good guys when I saw the headline.”
In a market where every edge counts, Zillow’s shift might seem harsh to some agents, but for many buyers and sellers, it’s a step toward fairness and a future where the best home doesn’t go to the best-connected, but to the highest bidder.
