Arizona
What will the National Association of Realtors settlement mean for Arizona homebuyers?
Report finds Americans are optimistic about buying a home in 2024
After years of feeling priced out of the market, potential homebuyers are feeling optimistic again, according to a new report.
Scripps News
A national $418 million settlement proposal over real estate commissions could drastically change how much homebuyers pay agents.
Under the National Association of Realtors deal, which needs federal court approval, the group with more than 1.5 million members has agreed to prohibit listing agents from offering buyer brokers compensation.
The case centers around an alleged practice called steering, which involves buyer agents guiding their clients to homes for sale on which they would receive the biggest commissions.
“This is the end of traditional real estate commissions,” said Greg Hague, the CEO and founder of 72SOLD. “It needed to happen. Consumers have spoken, and steering is absolutely happening.”
He gave an example of a $6 million Paradise Valley house that was on the market last year. The seller agreed to a $100,000 buyer agent fee. That’s less than half the 5% to 7% typical commission, which is often split between the buyer and seller agents.
The agent with the listing couldn’t get any showings, Hague said.
Hague said the listing agent was contacted by other real estate agents who required a 3% commission to show the house to buyers. The seller agreed to pay 3%, and the house quickly had 16 buyers looking at it, he said.
Attorneys from Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro, the law firm that led the lawsuit against the Realtors group, say the settlement could save consumers billions of dollars a year in broker fees.
The National Association of Realtors continues to deny wrongdoing.
The settlement deal also calls for buyer brokers to have representation agreements that spell out the compensation they will receive from clients.
“We settled the NAR suit because it would have been more costly to keep fighting it. People don’t like Realtors,” said Christa Lawcock of Realty Executives. “But it’s the lawyers who win, not the first-time homebuyers.”
She said buyers without the money to pay commissions won’t have any representation and won’t get help negotiating a price or asking for home improvements or receive the recommendations for appraisers and mortgage brokers that agents can provide.
If the settlement is approved in court, the new rules could go into effect this year.
It’s not clear if this settlement will impact a similar lawsuit filed by an Arizona home seller against the state’s biggest Realtor associations and more than a dozen of its biggest residential brokerages.
Lawyers for Joseph Masiello, who filed the Arizona class-action complaint in January, didn’t respond to questions about the case.
The National Association of Realtors suit is the second settlement over commissions. Last fall, a jury ruled in favor of Missouri plaintiffs over real estate commissions, awarding them $1.8 billion.
Bobby Lieb, associate broker with Launch Powered By Compass, said the settlement doesn’t bother him.
“People selling million-dollar homes will pay experienced real estate agents to sell them because they end up making more money,” he said.
But he said commission issues are driving out inexperienced real estate agents who got into the business during the pandemic housing boom.
Hague said buyers who can’t pay a real estate agent out of pocket can negotiate an agent fee and roll it into their mortgage.
Tougher to purchase: New ranking says Arizona now among least affordable states to buy a house
Reach the reporter at catherine.reagor@arizonarepublic.com or 602-444-8040. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter: @CatherineReagor.
Arizona
San Jose State transfer OL Nate Hale committed to Arizona and broke down his decision
After taking official visits to UCLA and Arizona over the last week, San Jose State offensive line transfer Nate Hale is headed to Tuscon to play for the Wildcats.
Hale said his familiarity with the Wildcat staff, who initially recruited him to San Jose State played a big role.
“UCLA was great and they’re definitely building something there but I committed to Arizona on my trip,” Hale said. “A lot of the staff there is the same staff that was at San Jose State my freshman year and it was great to see so many familiar faces.
“I love coach B (Brent Brennan), he was one of the first coaches to offer me out of high school. I love his energy, authenticity and his belief in me and I can’t wait to play for him and go block for Noah (Fifita).”
UA OL coach Josh Oglesby played a big tole in his decision as well.
“It’s always impossible to say no to coach O,” Hale said. “I’m so excited to play for him again and I ahve a great connection with their OC Seth Doege as well.
“It was a tough decision but me and my family talked and prayed about it and we felt that Arizona was the best all around fit for me.”
Hale is a player we saw a lot of out of high school where he prepped for state power Orange Lutheran (Calif.). He signed with the Spartans as part of the class of 2023 and started 10 games as a right tackle this past season.
“I’m going to stay at tackle at Arizona as well,” Hale said. “They said they want me to come in to compete and contribute immediately.
“That was my first time in Tucson and I loved the campus and awesome facilities. I know I can develop on and off the field so I’m really excited about my decision.”
Hale will have two years of eligibility left and has the game experience and all around skill set to be a potential plug and play tackle and compete for a starting spot right away.
Arizona
Arizona State Adds Mid-Season Game Changer: Euro Juniors Champion Albane Cachot
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18-year-old Albane Cachot from Toulouse, France, has joined the Arizona State University women’s swimming and diving team mid-season. The Dauphins Toulouse OEC (the same club that produced Léon Marchand) product wasted no time adapting to short-course yards, winning the 50/100/200 free events in her first meet at the Mona Plummer Aquatic Center.
Cachot made a name for herself in 2024, when she won the 50 free (25.45), 100 free (54.65), 200 free (1:59.18), and 50 fly (26.57) at the French Junior Championships in April. Two months later, she finaled in all four events at the French Elite Championships, placing 10th in the 50 free (25.43), 5th in the 100 free (54.61), 4th in the 200 free (2:00.34), and 7th in the 50 fly (26.95).
In 2025, she represented France at both the European Junior Championships in Šamorín, Slovakia, and the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore. At Euro Juniors, she won gold in the women’s 100 free, clocking a lifetime-best 54.17. She also finished 7th in the 50 free (25.48) and 7th in the 200 free (2:00.46), and 5th in the 50 fly (26.51, a PB). Cachot swam on 3 of France’s relays at World Championships (women’s 4×100 free, mixed 4×100 free, and mixed 4×100 medley). She earned a bronze medal for her prelims role in France’s mixed 400 medley relay, and she joined Beryl Gastaldello, Marina Jehl, and Marie Wattel in the women’s 400 free relay final that placed 5th with a national record-breaking time of 3:34.62.
In her short-course yards debut on January 3 at the dual meet with Grand Canyon, Cachot put up a team-leading time in the 50 free (22.43). She ranks 3rd in the 200 free (1:46.38) behind Jordan Greber (1:45.14) and Grace Lindberg (1:45.43) and 4th in the 100 free (49.11) behind Greber (48.81), Shane Golland (48.98), and Gerda Szilagyi (49.05). Greber, Lindberg, and Golland achieved their times during the CSCAA Dual Challenges.
The CSCAA challenge meets was also where ASU notched their fastest relay times of the season so far. Without speculating as to what her flying start times might be, it is clear that even her flat start SCY times would have lowered the Sun Devils’ free relay times by a couple of tenths in the 4×50 and 4×100 and by 3 seconds in the 4×200. And her converted LCM times would have been of even greater value.
Best SCY times:
- 50 free – 22.43
- 100 free – 49.11
- 200 free – 1:46.38
Best LCM times (converted):
- 50 free – 25.31 (22.08)
- 100 free – 54.17 (47.36)
- 200 free – 1:59.18 (1:44.48)
- 50 fly – 26.51 (23.25)
Cachot is joining Arizona State’s class of 2029 with Alexia Sotomayor, Bella Scopel Tramontana, Cali Watts, Eleaunah Phillips, Jessie Carlson, Marley Lovick, and Ursula Ott. Avery Spade was also new this season, transferring in from Indiana.
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Arizona
Predicting Where Former Arizona State Star Lands
TEMPE — The Sam Leavitt saga has been one that has split the Arizona State fanbase.
While some have been steadfast in bringing up the contributions that the two-year star poured into the program, others have been emphatic in pointing out the optics of the exit appearing less-than-ideal in a point of critique.
Regardless, the Sun Devils have moved on – with Kentucky transfer Cutter Boley and Michigan transfer Mikey Keense being the two exterior options that were brought in to signify a new era.
Now, Leavitt continues to seek a new college home for what might be his last season of collegiate football – Arizona State on SI makes sense of it all below.
Confirmed Visits – LSU, Tennessee, Miami
Leavitt’s first visit came with Boley’s former school in Kentucky, but the Wildcats have seemingly moved on by signing Notre Dame transfer Kenny Minchey.
LSU has made sense as a destination in recent weeks, with the presence of Lane Kiffin and the ironic twist of Jayden Daniels going from Arizona State to winning a Heisman Trophy with the Tigers as points of focus. It wouldn’t be a shock to see Leavitt heavily consider the SEC power.
Tennessee reportedly attempted to pry Leavitt away from the Sun Devils last spring and failed. This time, they loom as a relative “sleeper” – the redshirt sophomore even spent two days in Knoxville. This is a situation that is “wait-and-see”, as the Volunteers are still waiting to see what comes of QB Joey Aguilar’s pitch to receive more eligibility.
Miami is another spot that has made sense, as senior Carson Beck will be playing his final game of his collegiate career on January 19. No state income tax, the allure of joining Cam Ward and Beck as potential major risers on NFL draft boards, and playing for a storied program are all major drawing points.
Expected Visit – Oregon
Oregon is the complicated potential landing spot.
There is still a bit of uncertainty surrounding what Oregon’s Dante Moore decided to do pertaining to entering the 2026 draft, so the Ducks must stand pat until a firm decision is made.
It’s simple to see why an Oregon native would be drawn to play for what has become a storied franchise that now has a phenomenal track record of developing quarterbacks.
Verdict: Leavitt Lands With Oregon
There’s absolutely nothing firm about this prediction, but Oregon makes the most sense – with the caveat that Moore decides to go pro.
Read more on why the Arizona State men’s basketball team will exceed expectations in the 2025-26 season here, and on why the bright future of the football program isn’t dimmed by the loss to Arizona here.
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