National Homebuyer Advocates Call for Open Real Estate Markets
News related to:National Association of Exclusive Buyer Agents · 2 min read
MESA, AZ, UNITED STATES, September 30, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- A nationwide movement is gaining momentum as exclusive buyer agents warn of a growing trend in the real estate market: the use of private listing networks (PLNs) to hide homes from the open market. These practices, often referred to by names like "pocket listings," "office exclusives," and "coming-soon" programs, are raising concerns among homebuyers and sellers alike.
The National Association of Exclusive Buyer Agents (NAEBA), a nonprofit organization founded in 1995 by consumer advocates, is at the forefront of this movement. NAEBA members, who exclusively represent homebuyers, are advocating for full transparency and equal access to housing inventory. They argue that these private arrangements can create a powerful financial incentive for brokerages to keep both sides of a transaction in-house, thereby shortchanging buyers and sellers.
The concerns extend beyond access. Critics, including members of NAEBA, are raising questions about conflicts of interest, fiduciary duty, fair housing, transparency, comparable-sales data, and whether buyers are effectively pressured to sacrifice independent representation to access certain properties. For sellers, the central question is whether limiting exposure aligns with getting the strongest possible market response. For buyers, it is whether access to housing inventory should depend on which brokerage they use.
Gramm’s observation highlights the regional variability in the use of these practices.
The practice of private listings is not without its critics.
The impact of these practices is not limited to just the sellers and buyers.
These perspectives come from Exclusive Buyer Agents (EBAs) across the country. Their goal is to protect the buyer's best interest at every stage of the home purchase transaction. By advocating for full transparency and equal access to housing inventory, these brokers are fighting to preserve a fair real estate market for consumers across America.
Founded in 1995 by consumer advocates, NAEBA is committed to promoting fair housing and eliminating discrimination and steering in the housing industry to ensure a level playing field and equal opportunities for all buyers. Members of NAEBA believe there is a better way of working in the real-estate industry, one that is fully aligned with the homebuyer’s best interests. They work at real estate brokerages that never represent home sellers, never accept listings, and never advertise properties for sale. By doing so, NAEBA members eliminate the conflicts of interest common in traditional firms that attempt to represent both buyers and sellers in the same transaction.
The push for transparency and equal access to housing inventory is a critical issue in the real estate market. As more homebuyers and sellers become aware of the potential pitfalls of private listing networks, the demand for open and fair practices is likely to grow.