Clear Cooperation, Zillow, and What It Means for Your Home Sale in 2025

You may have seen some headlines lately—“Zillow vs. Realtors!” or “New Real Estate Rules Could Change Everything!” Let’s take a breath and talk about what’s actually going on with the so-called “clear cooperation” rule and how it might impact your home sale in the South Clackamas County area.

🧾 What Is “Clear Cooperation”?

This policy comes from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) and basically says:

If you publicly market a home, it must be entered into the MLS within one business day.

This means things like posting on social media or sending out flyers about your home before it’s officially listed could trigger the rule.

🧠 Why Does This Matter?

Zillow and Redfin have taken it a step further. They’re now saying they might refuse to show homes on their sites if they’re marketed publicly before being listed in the MLS.

Considering how many buyers rely on Zillow to find homes, that could seriously impact your listing’s visibility.

🤔 What Sellers Need to Know

Some sellers like to “test the waters” with a private network before going fully public. But under this policy, doing so could mean your home gets left out of the biggest online home platforms.

That means fewer eyeballs, fewer showings, and potentially fewer offers.

It’s more important than ever to work with an agent who knows how to strategically time and market your listing to give it the best exposure while following the rules.

👀 And What About Buyers?

This shift is also about fairness. It ensures that all buyers—whether they have a friend-of-a-friend realtor or not—can see the same listings at the same time. If you've ever felt like you're "just missing" the best homes, this change is intended to help.

So... What Now?

The takeaway? Have a plan. Sit down with your agent weeks in advance to make sure your strategy is strong. You don’t want to get caught off guard by a rule change or risk shrinking your audience.

And of course, if you’re in Clackamas County or anywhere in the North Willamette Valley—let’s talk. This is what I do, and I’d love to help you navigate it all.

Contact me here or DM me on Instagram @jenschurter.