Judge Denies FTC Early Ruling in Zillow-Redfin Rental Lawsuit

U.S. District Judge Anthony Trenga denied the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) request for a partial summary judgment on Wednesday, ruling that factual disputes in the antitrust challenge against Zillow Group’s partnership with Redfin necessitate a full trial. The judge stated that "too many disputes exist in the case to decide it before a trial," and declined to temporarily block the partnership. Bloomberg reported on the decision, noting that the trial is anticipated to commence on August 24. Zillow issued a statement on its website expressing satisfaction with the court's decision, asserting that "evidence will demonstrate the pro-competitive effects of this partnership for renters and housing providers" and indicating an eagerness to present the "full record at trial next month." Neither the FTC nor Redfin provided comments to HousingWire regarding the ruling.

This development follows Judge Trenga’s earlier denial of Zillow and Redfin’s motion to dismiss the antitrust lawsuit. The FTC and attorneys general from Virginia, Arizona, New York, Connecticut, and Washington initiated the lawsuit. The core of the legal challenge stems from a February 2025 agreement where Zillow paid $100 million to become the exclusive provider of multifamily rental listings across Redfin, Rent.com, and ApartmentGuide.com. This agreement includes two optional two-year extensions. Zillow also manages other rental listing platforms such as Zillow Rentals, HotPads, and Trulia.

The lawsuits, initially filed separately in September 2025 and later consolidated in November, allege that the agreement effectively compensated Redfin to withdraw from the multifamily rental listings market, thereby removing a competitor. The FTC’s complaint contends that Redfin also agreed to...