Zillow and Redfin have agreed to a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission and five U.S. states, closing an antitrust dispute tied to a 2025 rental-listing partnership. The agreement was announced as the case was approaching trial.
At the center of the matter was a deal in which Redfin agreed to feature Zillow's rental inventory on its platforms instead of competing directly for rental advertisers. Regulators said the arrangement could have kept Redfin out of the rental advertising market for years, even though the company owns major listing sites such as Rent.com and ApartmentGuide.com.
According to the FTC and state attorneys general from Arizona, Connecticut, New York, Virginia and Washington, Zillow paid Redfin $100 million under the arrangement. Regulators argued the deal reduced competition in a market that helps shape pricing, listing quality and access for property managers and renters.
Under the settlement terms, Redfin must return to the rental advertising business and regain the ability to compete independently for property-management clients. The order also lifts limits that had restricted Redfin's commercial flexibility.
The partnership is not ending entirely: Redfin may still display Zillow listings, but it can once again market its own inventory, sell advertising and pursue new customers without sharing sensitive business information with Zillow.
The case reflects a broader regulatory focus on digital marketplaces and how platform partnerships can influence competition. As online housing tools continue to evolve, this outcome may help shape a more open and dynamic rental ecosystem in the years ahead.
