Real Brokerage, Frano Team dismissed from Taylor RESPA suit

The list of defendants in the Taylor Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA) just got smaller.

The plaintiffs notified the court of their decision to voluntarily dismiss The Real Brokerage and The Frano Team, which is brokered by Real, from the Taylor suit on Wednesday. The parties were dismissed without prejudice, meaning that the plaintiffs could file another suit with the same claims against these defendants at a later date. 

When asked for a comment, Real told HousingWire that as a blanket policy the firm does not comment on litigation.

This notice comes just one day after Seattle-based Federal Court Judge James Robert approved a motion filed in March by Real and The Frano Team to compel arbitration between the two parties and the plaintiffs. In addition, the judge stayed the suit until the arbitration is completed. It is unclear if the stay will remain in place now that these parties have been dismissed. 

Originally filed in mid-September 2025, the Taylor suit claims that Zillow tricks consumers into using agents affiliated with Zillow through its Flex and Premier Agent programs, resulting in inflated home purchase prices. 

In December 2025, the lawsuit was consolidated with a second suit known as the Armstrong suit, which was first filed in early November, claiming that Zillow pressures agents in its Premier Agent and Flex lead programs to steer buyers to Zillow Home Loans for their purchase mortgage pre-approval. Allegedly, agents who send more clients to Zillow’s mortgage arm for their pre-approvals received extra or higher-quality leads in exchange.

Real and The Frano Team, as well as the Oregon-based brokerage Works Real Estate, were added to the consolidated suit via a first amended complaint filed in early January. In this complaint, the plaintiffs again claimed that Zillow tricks consumers into using agents affiliated with Zillow through its Flex and Premier Agent programs, resulting in inflated home purchase prices. Works Real Estate was voluntarily dismissed from the lawsuit in February. 

In a second amended complaint filed in April, the plaintiffs added eXp Realty as a defendant, accusing it of supporting Zillow’s “fraudulent business enterprise” by allegedly steering clients to Zillow Home Loans for their financing needs.

The court is still considering Zillow’s motion to dismiss the lawsuit. 

Zillow did not immediately return HousingWire’s request for comment.