eXp & Weichert Settle Hooper Homebuyer Lawsuit for $42.5M — What Buyers Need to Know

By Frances I. Thorsen, REALTOR®

In a major development for homebuyers across the country, eXp World Holdings and Weichert Realtors have agreed to a combined $42.5 million settlement in the Hooper v. eXp World Holdings et al. case — a separate homebuyer antitrust lawsuit filed in the District of South Carolina. The agreements were filed on April 1, 2026, and are pending court approval.

What Is the Hooper Case?

The Hooper lawsuit is a class action brought on behalf of homebuyers who allege that eXp World Holdings, Weichert Realtors, and the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) conspired to inflate buyer-agent commissions, forcing buyers to pay artificially elevated prices when purchasing homes.

Unlike the Batton and Tuccori cases — which have received the most media attention — Hooper is a distinct lawsuit with its own plaintiff class, jurisdiction, and legal team. It was filed in the District of South Carolina and is being litigated by the firm Knie & Shealy.

Settlement Details

• eXp World Holdings: Approximately $34 million

• Weichert Realtors: Approximately $8.5 million

• Combined total: $42.5 million

• Status: Pending court preliminary approval

This brings the total value of real estate commission antitrust settlements to well over $1.9 billion across all active cases, including NAR ($418M), Moehrl ($250M), Gibson ($289.7M), Tuccori ($110M+), Keller Williams ($70M+), and RE/MAX ($8.5M).

What Does This Mean for Homebuyers?

If you purchased a home using an eXp-affiliated or Weichert-affiliated agent, you may be eligible to file a claim once the settlement receives court approval. Key facts to know:

• The settlement is not yet approved — a preliminary approval hearing must be scheduled first

• Claim filing deadlines have not yet been set

• Eligibility will likely depend on your transaction date and the brokerage involved

• This is a separate settlement from Batton, Tuccori, and other cases — you may be eligible for multiple settlements

How Is This Different From the Batton Cases?

Many homebuyers are confused by the growing number of real estate commission lawsuits. Here is a quick comparison:

• Batton 1 (Sellers): Focused on home sellers; KW settled for $20M, RE/MAX for $8.5M

• Batton 2 (Buyers): Focused on home buyers; Compass, Redfin, eXp, Weichert, and United RE must face trial after MTD denied March 25, 2026

• Hooper (Buyers): A separate buyer-focused case in South Carolina; eXp and Weichert chose to settle here rather than fight

Notably, eXp and Weichert are defendants in both Batton 2 and Hooper — suggesting they may be pursuing a dual-track strategy of settling in some venues while litigating in others.

What Happens Next?

The settlement agreements have been filed with the court. The next steps are:

1. Court schedules a preliminary approval hearing

2. Notice is sent to potential class members (eligible homebuyers)

3. A claim filing period opens

4. Final approval hearing is held

5. Settlement funds are distributed to approved claimants

We will update this page as soon as a claim filing deadline is announced. To stay informed, take our free Settlement Eligibility Quiz or compare all active settlements side by side.

Track All Active Cases

The Hooper settlement is just the latest development in a rapidly evolving legal landscape. Our Lawsuit Database tracks all 53+ active and settled cases in real time. You can also view individual defendant profiles, court documents, and case timelines.

Image Credit: Nano Banana