A series of developments in the real estate industry indicate a significant shift in how homebuyers and sellers approach the costs associated with buying a home. Compass has agreed to a $57.5 million settlement in antitrust claims, highlighting the industry's move towards transparency and fairness in real estate transactions. Critics have labeled the traditional practice of compensating buyer agents as a bribe, suggesting that it signals a seller's willingness to reduce the asking price. Starting in June, sellers will no longer be required to pay the buyer's agent, a practice that has been criticized as corrupt and monopolistic. This change follows a successful argument by six home sellers in Missouri against the National Association of Realtors, claiming that the group's rules on commissions forced them to pay inflated fees. The settlement and these changes are seen as a victory for homeowners in Missouri and a potential model for future real estate transactions.