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From the Desk of Corina Cisneros Founder, Cisneros Realty Group | Lakes Region, New Hampshire
By the end of this article, you will understand exactly what this is, an actual group stands out.
The System That Changed Everything
Twenty years ago, the internet transformed real estate for consumers.
The Multiple Listing Service, combined with the arrival of Zillow in 2006, created something genuinely remarkable: for the first time in history, any buyer, anywhere in the country, could see every home for sale in real time. No insider connections required. No obligation to a specific agent or firm. Just open, equal access.
That was a revolution. And it worked. Sellers got broader exposure, which meant more competition, which meant stronger prices. Buyers got a complete picture of the market, which meant better decisions. The playing field was level because the information was shared.
That foundation is now being dismantled, piece by piece. And it is happening fast.
Wait. What Is a Private Listing Network, Exactly?
Here is the simplest way I can explain it.
Imagine your town has one grocery store where every farmer brings their produce. Every shopper sees every product. Prices are competitive. Everyone wins.
Now imagine some farmers start selling only to people who shop at their private club first, before anything reaches the main store. If you are not in the club, you never know that produce existed. Farmers think they are getting more control. But shoppers with fewer choices pay more, and farmers lose the competition that drives up their prices.
That is a private listing network. A property is marketed inside one brokerage's internal network before it ever reaches the open market. Only buyers working with agents at that firm even know it exists.
This Is Not a Rumor. Here Is What Happened in the Last 60 Days.
In a six-week window this past March, the industry shifted publicly and permanently. Here is what was announced, with sources:
February 2026: Compass and Redfin announced a partnership bringing Compass's "Coming Soon" exclusive inventory to Redfin's platform, making those listings visible on Redfin before they appear anywhere else.
March 17, 2026: Zillow launched Zillow Preview, a public pre-market listing product, partnering with Keller Williams, RE/MAX, HomeServices of America (which includes multiple Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices franchises), United Real Estate, and Side. Chicago Agent Magazine These pre-market listings are exclusively available on Zillow, Trulia, and the listing brokerage's own websites. PR Newswire
March 18, 2026: eXp Realty, my brokerage, announced that agents will be able to syndicate "Coming Soon" listings to Realtor.com, Homes.com, and ComeHome.com, which is HouseCanary's portal partnered with Google Search, starting April 15. HousingWire eXp's CEO Leo Pareja was explicit that this would be non-exclusive, open to any portal on equal terms. RealEstateNews.com
All in one month.
You Are Now Required to Check Multiple Sites. And It Will Get Worse.
Here is the problem none of these announcements fully addresses.
Real estate is shifting away from a single cooperative marketplace toward a landscape shaped by competing platforms and distribution strategies. Brokerages want control over their listings. Portals want control over visibility and leads. What was once a straightforward process is becoming more fragmented and more strategic. Inman
Today, a buyer who only checks Zillow may miss listings that live on Redfin. A buyer who only checks Realtor.com may miss what is on Homes.com. A buyer not connected to a specific brokerage's private network may never know certain properties existed at all.
The result: buyers are forced to check multiple sites, maintain multiple accounts, and hope they are not missing something critical. That is not a better consumer experience. That is a worse one.
And the seller who thinks a private launch gives them an edge? They have quietly agreed to show their home to a fraction of the market. Less competition means less leverage. Less leverage means less money.
Governments Are Taking Notice. States Are Acting.
This is not just an industry debate. Elected officials across the country are responding.
In March 2026, Washington Governor Bob Ferguson signed Senate Bill 6091 into law, prohibiting real estate brokers from marketing properties to exclusive groups unless the listing is simultaneously marketed to the general public. The law passed with nearly unanimous bipartisan support. HousingWire Wisconsin enacted similar legislation in December 2025, with similar bills now pending in Illinois, Connecticut, and Hawaii. HousingWire
As one industry leader put it: "When transparency erodes, so does trust in the system." Inman
I agree completely.
I Am Biased. I Will Own That.
My own brokerage, eXp Realty, built a pre-market tool. So did Keller Williams. So did Berkshire Hathaway. So did virtually every major firm in the country. When the industry moves, no one can afford to be absent from the conversation.
But building the tool and encouraging its use are two very different things.
eXp's approach was specifically designed to be non-exclusive and broadly distributed. eXp CEO Leo Pareja said: "If a home is being marketed to the public, consumers deserve the opportunity to see it. This is not about limiting where listings appear. It is about expanding visibility." HousingWire That principle is one I can stand behind.
What I cannot stand behind is the strategy of withholding a listing from the open market as a competitive tactic. That benefits the brokerage. It does not benefit the seller.
Where Cisneros Realty Group Stands. Full Stop.
For sellers: Unless you have a specific, documented reason to limit exposure, such as privacy, security, or health concerns, we will market your home to the broadest possible audience from day one. Maximum visibility creates maximum competition. Maximum competition protects your equity. That is not a promise. It is the math.
For buyers: I have invested in AI-driven search tools and off-market intelligence strategies that surface listings before they are broadly available, including coming-soon inventory, pre-market signals, and broker network access across platforms. You will not be shut out. My job is to make sure you see what exists, even when parts of the system are designed to limit your view.
For the industry: I support a transparent market where every property is visible to every buyer at the same time. Not because it is the popular position. Because it is the right one.
If you read this and you thought: finally, someone is saying this plainly, without spin -- then we should talk.
I have been in this market for over 12 years. I have 750+ transactions behind me. I have no interest in telling you what you want to hear. I have every interest in helping you make the best possible decision.
Corina Cisneros Founder, Cisneros Realty Group 603-273-6160 [email protected] | CisnerosRealtyGroup.com
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