News explainer · Updated October 2026
The Zillow Preferred Lawsuit: What Agents Should Know
At the end of September 2026, Judge James Robart refused to dismiss Dupuis v. Zillow, a proposed class action by agents in Zillow's Preferred and Flex programs. They say Zillow ties lead flow to Zillow Home Loans pre-approvals and requires Follow Up Boss. Zillow calls the claims flawed. Nothing has been proven yet.
The case at a glance
Dupuis v. Zillow is an antitrust case in federal court in Washington state, now past the motion to dismiss.
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Case | Dupuis et al. v. Zillow Group Inc. et al., No. 3:26-cv-05049 |
| Court | U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington |
| Judge | James L. Robart |
| Brought by | Stephanie Dupuis, a Kitsap County team leader, with agents from Maryland and Oregon |
| Proposed class | U.S. agents enrolled in Zillow Preferred or Flex since January 16, 2022 |
| Latest ruling | Zillow's motion to dismiss denied, end of September 2026 |
| What's next | Discovery, where both sides exchange evidence |
What the agents claim
The core claim is tying: that Zillow links the leads agents get to how many clients they send to Zillow Home Loans.
These are allegations from the complaint, as reported by RealEstateNews and HousingWire. A court has not found any of them true.
- Lead quality and volume depend on hitting Zillow Home Loans pre-approval targets.
- Agents who miss the targets see fewer leads or are removed from Preferred.
- Agents must use Follow Up Boss, which Zillow owns, and Zillow tracks them through it.
- Zillow's referral fees of 35% to 40% are well above the 20% to 25% common between agents.
- Zillow's share of buyer traffic, which the agents put above 60%, leaves them no real choice but to join.
What the judge decided, and what he did not
Judge Robart found the agents plausibly alleged they have no real choice but to take part in Zillow's referral system.
He rejected Zillow's argument that agents could simply leave the platform. That only lets the case continue.
It is not a finding that Zillow broke the law, and the agents now have to back their claims with evidence. A related case, Taylor/Armstrong, was dismissed in July 2026; the agents filed an amended complaint in August, and Zillow has asked the court to dismiss it again.
Zillow says the claims are "fundamentally flawed" and that it will fight them.
What it means for your Zillow business today
Nothing changes in your Zillow agreement because of this ruling, and there is no class to join yet.
If the court certifies a class later, members are told how to take part. Until then, Preferred works the way it does now: a 15% to 40% fee on buyer-side commission at close, 40% on seller-side deals, and a Follow Up Boss subscription.
Talk to a lawyer about your own situation.
Don't let one portal run your pipeline
Most agents already get their business elsewhere: only 30% of Realtors got any business from paid third-party leads in 2024.
That figure is from NAR's 2025 Member Profile, as reported by HousingWire. Past clients and referrals cost nothing per deal, but they need steady attention: the anniversary text, the check-in, the thank-you after closing.
Where Sifta fits
Sifta works on every lead and past client, wherever they came from.
Sifta is a personal AI assistant for realtors. It runs the busywork of your business, so you can spend your time with clients.
It drafts the replies to new leads and keeps past clients warm, so less of your year depends on one source.
Sources
6 sources
Every source was checked on October 6, 2026. This page summarizes news reports and is not legal advice.
- RealEstateNews, Zillow poised for legal fight as agent antitrust case advances, Sep 29, 2026
- HousingWire, Zillow antitrust lawsuit over tying claim can proceed
- PYMNTS, Zillow must face agent antitrust claims
- Docket: Dupuis et al. v. Zillow Group Inc. et al., 3:26-cv-05049 (W.D. Wash.)
- Zillow, its motion to dismiss the Dupuis complaint
- HousingWire, The evolving landscape of lead generation (NAR 2025 Member Profile), Sep 17, 2025
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Zillow being sued by real estate agents?
Yes. In Dupuis v. Zillow, agents in the Preferred and Flex programs allege antitrust violations. A federal judge refused to dismiss the case at the end of September 2026.
What is the Zillow Preferred lawsuit about?
The agents claim Zillow ties the leads they receive to Zillow Home Loans pre-approvals and requires Follow Up Boss. Zillow denies the claims.
Can I join the Zillow agent lawsuit?
No class has been certified yet, so there is nothing to join. If the court certifies one, members are notified. Ask a lawyer about your own situation.
Did the judge rule that Zillow broke the law?
No. He ruled only that the claims are plausible enough to continue. The agents still have to prove them with evidence.
Does Zillow Preferred require Follow Up Boss?
Yes. Zillow requires a Follow Up Boss subscription for Preferred partner agents, and the lawsuit challenges that requirement.
Related reading
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