The Next Fight for Fair Housing Is Online

For generations, homeownership has been one of the clearest pathways to economic opportunity in America, particularly for Black and Brown communities. A home has never been just four walls and a roof. It has helped parents send children to college, start businesses, and create opportunities that last for generations.I would argue that online home listings have created a more equitable system by allowing agents and brokers to serve their clients with the full inventory of available homes. For buyers, that transparency determines where they live, whether their home builds wealth, and the opportunities they can create for future generations. But this equitable listing model is under increasing threat.Private listing networks (PLNs) and pocket listings allow homes to be marketed privately to a select group of agents, brokers, and potential buyers instead of through a multiple listing service (MLS), the shared database real estate professionals used to find and compare homes. Supporters say these practices give sellers more choice, control, and privacy. But in today’s housing market, you shouldn’t have to know someone to know what’s possible.The growing acceptance of private listing net...