Constance Mason Real Estate

08/11/2026

With all that is happening our attention span is taxed. More pushback at private listing and mergers coming now from Senator Elizabeth Warren who is questioning the structure of these deals..

“Your partnership threatens to create a two-tiered housing market where insiders pay for exclusive access to housing inventory and market data, while everyone else is shut out,” Warren wrote in her letter, which was dated Aug. 6.

The letter was first reported on by Realtor.comon Friday.

In addition to creating gated access to housing information, Warren said that she feared the partnership “will increase industry consolidation and harm consumers by driving up housing costs and worsening inequalities in the housing market.”

She asked the companies to explain what they’ve done to mitigate potential harms of the partnership.

Warren’s letter specifically referenced the partnership announced in late April, when MRED said it would offer its private listing network to any agent that wanted to join the MLS, even those who were far outside the MLS’s typical Midwest footprint.

As part of the partnership, Compass said that it would subsidize the cost of joining for up to 100,000 agents, and that it would provide its listings inventory to MRED.

Around the same time, Compass brands were moving to sever its feed of listings to Zillow, creating a threat to the for-sale inventory that powers the nation’s largest search portal.

Several other MLSs followed suit, including Bright MLS, Realtracs and The MLS CLAW in southern California.

Warren’s office didn’t respond to a request for comment. Neither did Compass International Holdings.

In a statement provided to Inman, an MRED representative said that the MLS looked forward to working with Warren.

“It would be an honor to speak with Senator Warren and explain the important role of the MLS in the real estate marketplace,” the representative said. “Issues such as fair housing, data quality and rules are critical to any MLS. We look forward to discussing MRED’s value with her.”

This isn’t the first time Warren has poked around some of the largest forces in the real estate industry.

Last December, Warren sent a letter to the DOJ and Federal Trade Commission urging them to “closely scrutinize” what was then a proposed merger between Compass and Anywhere Real Estate.

She and Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., at the time said that the merger could threaten competition in the real estate industry.

The merger was approved and closed in January, creating the largest enterprise in the real estate industry by far.

Warren was the only senator to sign the letter sent last week.

*Inman News

03/19/2026

Today real estate is changing. Consumers want to save money, brokerages want to control agents, and industry organizations like NAR & MLS face backlash and criticism.

Now egos are really clashing as consolodations and mergers are everywhere.
Choices are confusing and manipulated.
This article gives another side to the argument of “private listings” What do you think?

Bess Freedman: Days-on-market metrics are facts. Sorry, not sorry
Our transparent real estate market is the envy of most of the world because of how efficient it is
As Warren Buffett famously said, “Price is what you pay, and value is what you get.”
But what happens when the metrics that instruct value are hidden?

We are all consumers of things, and when we decide to spend our hard-earned money on an item, we are entitled to know as much as possible before we pony up. If you have ever considered buying a home, some of the first things you consider is the price and the days the home has been on the market. These metrics reveal information that is important to you as the buyer.

A real estate leader told me that he believes that “ days on market” and “price changes” are a killer of value for the seller, and therefore, we are not required to offer that information.

Is that same seller able to reconcile that he or she may one day be a buyer and want this information? Or is this short-term, no thinking about the long-term impact, way of doing things now acceptable?

Market transparency matters

I strongly assert that this is a huge, ginormous mistake, as our market operates best when untethered and transparent, even if the metrics aren’t pretty. The days a home has been for sale tell a story that no one should have the power to cover up. The market feeds off of truth, and you can’t lie to it and think it will all work out.

Adam Smith coined the term the “invisible hand” of the market, implying that the market works best when good information is given to consumers and, therefore, they behave accordingly. Facts are funny little things that exist, even if some people say otherwise.

This is a wake-up call to regulators and industry leaders. We must be vigilant in being transparent about the life of a listing and, perhaps as important, making sure everyone has access to a property that is for sale.

Of course, there are situations where a home is sold quietly. Sometimes, a seller is going through a rough patch, or they are high-profile. These transactions are handled discreetly and exceptionally. But this narrative that the strategy used by some housing developers, emphasizing exclusivity and soft launches, should be applied to any existing inventory is just comparing apples to oranges.

When a new building announces it is going to have units for sale, perhaps you don’t know the timing of when they all will be available, but you have a rough idea of where to look and how to inquire. With private listing networks, unless you are operating within that network, you have no idea what’s on the market, how long it’s been for sale or where to even look.

We are in a national inventory crunch, so further fragmenting the market is the last thing we need.

Exclusion and opaque metrics are taking us back to the days when consumers get duped and discriminatory practices are permitted. Our transparent market, though not perfect, remains the envy of most foreign real estate markets because of how efficient it is.

You can hide days on market and inventoryall you want, or try to pretend it’s not “on the market,” but it’s still for sale. The truth is non-negotiable, no matter how you spin it.

Bess Freedman is the CEO of Brown Harris Stevens in New York City.

*inman news

Which side do you land on?

02/27/2026

In cities like Atlanta, Ga new development projects pop up consistently. Most tout “affordable housing” as a way to get the deal done along with the approval of the public, but generally that never happens.. why?

Because the claim is frequently a tool to navigate zoning restrictions and secure financing, while the economic reality of development favors higher-end, more profitable projects.

What does this mean?

It is nothing more than a strategic, and sometimes necessary, marketing and regulatory term to gain approval for projects that are, in fact, predominantly market- rate or luxury.

It’s all a facade. The more you know.

11/16/2025

Why buying and selling real estate is challenging in the current economic environment..

A homeowner with a low mortgage rate is "locked in" and reluctant to move, while potential homebuyers are "locked out" of the market due to high rates. The "mortgage lock-in effect" occurs when rising interest rates make it financially unappealing for existing homeowners to sell and get a new, much more expensive mortgage. This situation reduces the number of homes for sale, creating a shortage and keeping prices high, which, in turn, makes it difficult for new buyers to enter the market.
Being locked in to a low mortgage rate
Homeowners who secured low, fixed-rate mortgages are hesitant to move.
Selling their home would require them to get a new mortgage at current, much higher market rates.
This can lead to a significantly higher monthly payment, sometimes thousands of dollars more per year.
To stay in their current home, many people choose not to move, or they might rent out their property to earn income and offset costs while they consider their options.
This reluctance to move has led to lower housing inventory and increased competition for the few homes that are available.
Being locked out by high mortgage rates
Potential buyers are unable to afford a new home because of high interest rates.
The combination of high interest rates and high home prices has made it difficult for first-time buyers to qualify for a mortgage and afford a home.
The limited supply of homes for sale, caused by the "lock-in effect," further exacerbates the problem, driving prices up and making the market even more challenging.

10/09/2025

Seasons matter.. don’t look back, you are not going that way.
At CMRE we know this all too well. Let’s talk about your season and how we can help. 843-460-2989.

05/09/2024

An icon is gone..

I do not know the history or story behind this house on the end north end of Sullivan's Island, SC. If you do, please share

04/23/2024

Median sales price, don’t expect to wait for better a better deal!

* chsmls

02/05/2024

Let’s discuss real estate transactions that involve heirs. After being certified with Atlanta Housing Authority, I wanted to continue to give back after physically moving to South Carolina.

These transactions are very complicated and require months (sometimes years) of working without pay. I always learn so much and gain relationships that are real and lasting.
This is one of many reasons that I love what I do..

“Constance, it has truly been a pleasure getting to know you throughout my most recent family affair. The task may have been challenging, however you exuded extreme professionalism and care throughout the process. I would give your services five stars and recommend any friends or family in need of your resources. I am grateful that I was able to experience this process with you by my side along the way. Again, I thank you and am wishing you the best in future endeavors.”

Best Regards,

Louise Jenkins

01/15/2024

Erosion is devastating to beaches 🌊

11/02/2023

You may think black is too dark or too bold, but these 15 ideas may change your mind.

Think it makes a room smaller? More like it makes a room sleeker