Commitments and Contingencies |
12 Months Ended |
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Dec. 31, 2025 | |
| Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract] | |
| Commitments and Contingencies | Commitments and Contingencies Legal Proceedings
From time to time the Company is involved in litigation, claims, and other proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business. Such litigation and other proceedings may include actions relating to employment law and misclassification of agents as independent contractors, intellectual property, commercial or contractual claims, brokerage or real estate disputes, or other consumer protection statutes, ordinary-course brokerage disputes like the failure to disclose property defects, commission disputes, and various liabilities based upon conduct of individuals or entities, including agents and third-party contractor agents. Litigation and other disputes are inherently unpredictable and subject to substantial uncertainties and unfavorable resolutions could occur.
In September 2024, Fathom Realty, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, reached a nationwide settlement related to claims asserted in Burnett v. The National Association of Realtors, et al. As part of the settlement, Fathom Realty paid $0.5 million into a settlement fund on October 1, 2025, $0.5 million on January 2, 2026, and is obligated to pay an additional $1.95 million on or before October 1, 2026. The Company has included $2.45 million in other short-term liabilities in its balance sheet as of December 31, 2025. Fathom Realty has also agreed to adhere to the rule changes put forth by the NAR.
As previously reported in a Current Report on Form 8-K filed on November 28, 2023, the Company has been named as a defendant in a purported class action complaint in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas Sherman Division, filed on November 13, 2023, by plaintiffs QJ Team, LLC and Five Points Holdings, LLC, individually and on behalf of all other persons similarly situated. A second purported class action complaint was filed on December 14, 2023, by plaintiffs Julie Martin, Mark Adams and Adelaida Matta in the same court, naming the Company as a defendant along with others, many of whom are also named in the first lawsuit. These lawsuits are purportedly brought on behalf of a class consisting of all persons who listed properties on a Multiple Listing Service in Texas (the “MLS") using a listing agent or broker affiliated with one of the defendants named in the lawsuits and paid a buyer broker commission beginning on November 13, 2019. The lawsuits allege unlawful conspiracy in violation of federal antitrust law and, against certain defendants (but not the Company) deceptive trade practices under the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act. The Company opted into a settlement between a nationwide plaintiff class and the NAR by executing a Supplemental Settlement Agreement in June 2024 (the "NAR Settlement"). On November 26, 2024, the court approved the NAR Settlement over objections. The final approval order is currently being appealed, and the Company is actively monitoring. If the NAR Settlement is sustained on appeal, it is expected to resolve claims against the Company related to this matter.
A third purported class action complaint was filed on April 11, 2024, by plaintiffs Shauntell Burton, Benny D. Cheatham, Robert Douglass, Douglas Fender, and Dana Fender in the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina. Like the Texas lawsuits, the South Carolina lawsuit alleges unlawful conspiracy in violation of federal antitrust law and is purportedly brought on behalf of a class consisting of all persons who used a listing broker in the sale of a home listed on an MLS in the District of South Carolina beginning on November 6, 2019. The case is currently stayed pending the final approval of the settlement between a nationwide plaintiff class and the NAR. As discussed above, the Company opted into a settlement between a nationwide plaintiff class and the NAR by executing a Supplemental Settlement Agreement in June 2024. The court approved the NAR Settlement over objections on November 26, 2024, and the approval is subject to appeal. If the NAR Settlement is sustained on appeal, it is expected to resolve claims against the Company related to this matter.
A fourth purported class action was filed against Fathom Realty, LLC and other real estate brokers on September 26, 2024 on behalf of buyers of residential property nationwide, and with an Illinois-specific sub-class. In the complaint, the Plaintiffs allege that Defendants conspired to raise buyer broker commissions in violation of Section 1 of the Sherman Act, the Illinois Antitrust Act, and the Illinois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. On December 16, 2024, the Company filed a Motion to Dismiss for Failure to State a Claim, and the plaintiffs filed an amended complaint in January 2025. The parties have agreed in principle to a settlement amount of $250,000, payable in three installments; however, the agreement remains subject to negotiation and execution of a mutually acceptable settlement agreement.
My Home Group, which the Company acquired in November 2024, is a defendant in an active lawsuit in the United States District Court for the District of Arizona, filed in January 2024. In September 2025, the plaintiff filed for preliminary approval of the settlement agreement. The Company estimates the total cost of the settlement to be
approximately $1.0 million. The Company has included $0.5 million in accrued and other current liabilities and $0.5 million in other long-term liabilities in its balance sheet as of December 31, 2025.
Fathom Realty, LLC is a defendant in an active lawsuit filed in August 2024 in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. In September 2025, the court granted preliminary approval of a settlement agreement. The Company estimates the total cost of the settlement to be approximately $1.0 million. The Company has included $1.0 million in accrued and other current liabilities in its balance sheet as of December 31, 2025.
On January 28, 2026 the Company received written notice from TotalBrokerage alleging that My Home Group (“MHG”) failed to remit certain subscription fees due in January 2026 under the parties’ subscription agreement (the “Agreement”). TotalBrokerage matter involves an alleged claim amount of approximately $1.0 million.
The Company is currently evaluating the claims asserted by TotalBrokerage and assessing its contractual rights and obligations under the Agreement. At this time, the Company cannot reasonably estimate the ultimate outcome of this matter or determine whether a loss contingency exists or the amount of any potential loss, if any. Accordingly, no accrual has been recorded as of December 31, 2025. The Company will continue to evaluate this matter and will record a liability in a future period if and when a loss becomes probable and reasonably estimable.
Other than the NAR Settlement above, we cannot predict with certainty the cost of our defense, the cost of prosecution, insurance coverage, or the ultimate outcome of the lawsuits and any others that might be filed in the future, including remedies or damage awards. Adverse results in such litigation might harm our business and financial condition. Moreover, defending these lawsuits, regardless of their merits, could entail substantial expense and require the time and attention of management.
Assets in Escrow
In conducting our operations, we routinely hold customers’ assets in escrow, pending completion of real estate transactions, and are responsible for the proper disposition of these balances for our customers. Certain of these amounts are maintained in segregated bank accounts and have not been included in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2025, consistent with GAAP and industry practice. The balances amounted to $3.2 million and $1.9 million at December 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively.
Encompass Net Worth Requirements
To maintain approval from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to operate as a Title II non-supervised mortgagee, our indirect subsidiary, Encompass Lending Group, is required to maintain adjusted net worth of $1.0 million and must maintain liquid assets (cash, cash equivalents, or readily convertible instruments) of 20% of the required net worth. As of December 31, 2025, Encompass had adjusted net worth of approximately $2.3 million and liquid assets of $2.4 million.
Commitments to Extend Credit
Encompass enters into IRLCs with borrowers who have applied for residential mortgage loans and have met certain credit and underwriting criteria. These commitments expose Encompass to market risk if interest rates change and the underlying loan is not economically hedged or committed to a purchaser. Encompass is also exposed to credit loss if the loan is originated and not sold to a purchaser and the mortgagor does not perform. The collateral upon extension of credit is typically a first deed of trust in the mortgagor’s residential property. Commitments to originate loans do not necessarily reflect future cash requirements as commitments are expected to expire without being drawn upon.
Regulatory Commitments
Encompass is subject to periodic audits and examinations from various federal and state agencies, including those made as part of the regulatory oversight of mortgage origination, servicing and financing activities. Such audits and examinations could result in additional actions, penalties or fines by state or federal government bodies, regulators or the courts.
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