STOCK TITAN

Zillow Resolves Federal Trade Commission Lawsuit, Reaffirming Partnership with Redfin and Expanding Access to Even More Housing Options for Renters

(Neutral)
(Very Positive)
Tags
partnership

Zillow (NASDAQ: Z) announced it has resolved a lawsuit with the Federal Trade Commission and five states related to its multifamily rental listings syndication agreement with Redfin, allowing the partnership to continue. Listings syndication will remain in place across Zillow, Trulia, HotPads, Rent.com, ApartmentGuide and Redfin.

In 2027, Zillow and Redfin plan to add standalone multifamily advertising products alongside the existing syndication. According to Zillow, since launch, multifamily properties on Redfin nearly quadrupled and those on Zillow grew about 40%, driving more leads, faster vacancy fills, and lower customer acquisition costs for housing providers.

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Positive

  • FTC and five-state lawsuit resolved while allowing the Redfin syndication partnership to continue
  • Multifamily listings on Redfin sites nearly quadrupled since partnership launch
  • Multifamily listings on Zillow sites grew by about 40% under the syndication agreement
  • Properties previously listed on only one platform now receive more leads and lower customer acquisition costs
  • Zillow and Redfin to introduce standalone multifamily advertising options in 2027 alongside existing partnership

Negative

  • None.

Market Context

Zillow's partnership-news history averaged -7.19% over 24 hours across two tagged events. That recor...
Analysis

Zillow's partnership-news history averaged -7.19% over 24 hours across two tagged events. That record provides a cautious comparator; continued syndication, standalone-product execution and regulatory compliance are the key watch items.

Key Figures

States involved: five states Standalone products launch: 2027 Redfin multifamily listings growth: nearly quadrupled +1 more
4 metrics
States involved five states FTC resolution
Standalone products launch 2027 Zillow and Redfin multifamily advertising products
Redfin multifamily listings growth nearly quadrupled Since the combined syndication partnership launched
Zillow multifamily listings growth almost 40% Since the combined syndication partnership launched

Previous Partnership Reports

2 past events · Latest: Apr 08 (Positive)
Same Type Pattern 2 events
Date Event Sentiment 24h Move Catalyst
Apr 08 Product partnership Positive -5.0% Product partnership with HomeServices expanded listing visibility and reported stronger Showcase engagement metrics.
Feb 11 Rental partnership Positive -9.4% Zillow and Redfin announced exclusive multifamily rental-listing syndication across additional platforms.

24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.

Pattern Detected

Both tag-specific partnership announcements were followed by negative 24-hour reactions, averaging -7.19%.

Key Terms

ftc, syndication, multifamily, customer acquisition costs
4 terms
ftc regulatory
"resolution with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and five states"
The FTC is the U.S. government agency that acts like a referee and watchdog for fair competition and consumer protection, enforcing rules against monopolies, deceptive advertising and unfair business practices. Investors watch the FTC because its investigations, fines, and decisions to block or condition mergers can change a company’s growth plans, legal costs and future profits—much like a rule change or penalty in a game that alters which players can win.
syndication technical
"multifamily rental listings syndication agreement with Redfin"
Syndication is a way for several financial firms to share a large loan, bond sale, or securities offering so no single institution bears all the risk or work. For investors, syndication matters because it affects how easily a deal gets funded, how quickly it can be sold or traded, and the fees and pricing you ultimately see—think of several people pooling money to buy a big item that would be risky or impossible for one person alone.
multifamily technical
"standalone multifamily advertising products"
Multifamily describes residential properties that contain multiple separate living units under one ownership, such as apartment buildings, duplexes, triplexes or condo complexes. Investors care because a single property can produce income from many tenants at once, smoothing cash flow much like a small rental fleet rather than one standalone house, and offering scale benefits, diversified tenant risk, and sensitivity to rental market trends that affect returns and asset value.
customer acquisition costs financial
"filling vacancies faster and at lower customer acquisition costs"
The total spending a company incurs to win a single new customer, typically calculated by dividing all customer acquisition-related costs (marketing, advertising, sales salaries and commissions, promotional offers, onboarding) over a set period by the number of new customers gained in that period. Investors track this metric because it shows how efficiently a business turns spending into customers—like measuring how much it costs to recruit one paying client—and it affects margins and the scalability of growth.

AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

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Syndication partnership with Redfin continues; both companies to also offer standalone options, improving choice, affordability and access

SEATTLE, Aug. 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Zillow Group today announced a resolution with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and five states regarding its multifamily rental listings syndication agreement with Redfin. Zillow has consistently maintained the partnership with Redfin is pro-consumer and procompetitive, and we're pleased to have found a resolution that enables its continuation.

Zillow Group logo, April 2019

The partnership will continue, and the listings syndication will remain intact across Zillow, Trulia, HotPads, Rent.com, ApartmentGuide and Redfin. In 2027, Zillow and Redfin will offer standalone multifamily advertising products in addition to the existing partnership — giving housing providers even more flexibility in how they work with Zillow.

"This resolution is a win for renters and multifamily housing providers," said Michael Sherman, general manager and SVP of Zillow Rentals. "Our syndication partnership with Redfin has already expanded access to multifamily listings across multiple platforms, bringing more leads and leases to property managers and more options to renters. Now, with the ability to offer more multifamily advertising solutions in addition to the existing partnership, we can do even more to support the marketplace. The data shows the pro-consumer and procompetitive benefits of this partnership. This positive resolution enables us to keep our energy on innovating for renters and property managers, and ultimately making renting easier, more affordable and better for everyone." 

Since the combined syndication partnership launched: 

  • Renters across the country have more options. Multifamily properties on Redfin's websites nearly quadrupled, and multifamily properties on Zillow's websites grew almost 40%.
  • Housing providers are getting more for their investment. Through this partnership, properties that were previously listed on only Zillow or Redfin have seen an increase in leads, reflecting the benefit of reaching new audiences. This means renters are getting access to more inventory in more places and housing providers in the category are filling vacancies faster and at lower customer acquisition costs. 

Zillow is building a simpler, more affordable rental marketplace — one where renters can find more homes with less hassle, and housing providers can list once and reach more people. Through syndication partnerships, universal rental applications, upfront cost and fee transparency, and credit-building tools for renters, Zillow continues to invest in reducing friction at every step of the rental journey.

About Zillow Group: 

Zillow Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: Z and ZG) is reimagining real estate to make home a reality for more and more people. 

As the most visited real estate app and website in the United States, Zillow connects hundreds of millions of consumers with innovative technology, trusted agents and loan officers, and seamless digital solutions. With industry-leading tools and resources, Zillow supercharges real estate professionals so they can grow their businesses and deliver exceptional client experiences. For renters and housing providers, Zillow offers not only a robust marketplace but a set of end-to-end products and services to streamline applications, leases, payments and more. 

Zillow's ecosystem spans the entire home journey — from dreaming and shopping to renting, buying, selling and financing.

Zillow Group's affiliates, subsidiaries and brands include Zillow®, Zillow Premier Agent®, Zillow Home Loans®, Zillow Rentals®, Zillow® New Construction, Trulia®, StreetEasy®, Out East®, HotPads®, Follow Up Boss®, ShowingTime®, dotloop® and Zillow® Closing.

All marks herein are owned by MFTB Holdco, Inc., a Zillow affiliate. Zillow Home Loans, LLC is an Equal Housing Lender, NMLS #10287 (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org). © 2026 MFTB Holdco, Inc., a Zillow affiliate.

Forward-Looking Statements:

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that involve risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, statements regarding our future targets and opportunities, the future performance and operation of our business, our business strategies and ability to translate such strategies into financial performance, and the health of, and our impact on, the residential real estate industry. Differences in Zillow Group's actual results from those described in these forward-looking statements may result from actions taken by Zillow Group as well as from risks and uncertainties beyond Zillow Group's control. For more information about potential factors that could affect Zillow Group's business and financial results, please review the "Risk Factors" described in Zillow Group's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

(ZFIN)

Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/zillow-resolves-federal-trade-commission-lawsuit-reaffirming-partnership-with-redfin-and-expanding-access-to-even-more-housing-options-for-renters-302858324.html

SOURCE Zillow Group, Inc.

FAQ

What did Zillow (Z) announce about the FTC lawsuit on August 24, 2026?

Zillow announced it resolved a lawsuit with the Federal Trade Commission and five states regarding its multifamily rental listings syndication with Redfin. According to Zillow, the resolution lets the partnership continue and keeps listings syndication active across Zillow, Trulia, HotPads, Rent.com, ApartmentGuide and Redfin.

How does the Zillow (Z) and Redfin partnership affect multifamily rental listings?

The partnership significantly expanded multifamily rental inventory across both companies’ platforms. According to Zillow, multifamily properties on Redfin’s websites nearly quadrupled, and multifamily properties on Zillow’s websites grew about 40%, giving renters more options and helping housing providers reach wider audiences with single listings.

Will Zillow (Z) and Redfin offer standalone multifamily advertising products after the FTC resolution?

Yes. According to Zillow, in 2027 both companies plan to introduce standalone multifamily advertising products in addition to the existing syndication partnership. This is intended to give housing providers more flexibility in how they work with Zillow and Redfin and tailor their marketing spend.

What does the Zillow (Z) and Redfin multifamily partnership mean for renters and housing providers?

According to Zillow, the partnership increases rental options for renters and improves lead generation for housing providers. Listings syndicated across Zillow, Trulia, HotPads, Rent.com, ApartmentGuide and Redfin can fill vacancies faster, at lower customer acquisition costs, while giving renters access to more inventory in more places.

How is Zillow (Z) expanding access and affordability in its rental marketplace after resolving the FTC case?

Zillow reports it is building a simpler, more affordable rental marketplace using syndication partnerships, universal rental applications, upfront cost and fee transparency, and credit-building tools. According to Zillow, the FTC resolution lets it keep focusing resources on innovating for renters and multifamily property managers.