Grab a glass of rosé and settle in, because the legal drama surrounding Real Housewives of Beverly Hills’ Mauricio Umansky is heating up yet again. The real estate mogul and husband of Kyle Richards (at least for now?) is back in court. And this time, it’s not just another property deal gone sideways. Nope, Mauricio is swinging big with an antitrust lawsuit that could shake the luxury real estate industry to its core.
Let’s be real: Mauricio’s legal woes could not come at a juicier time. With rumors swirling about his separation from Kyle and his … active dating life. This lawsuit could be the headline-making distraction he needs. Or a giant headache he didn’t bargain for. Here’s everything we know about the latest legal mess in Mauricio’s orbit.
RHOBH’s Mauricio Umansky refiled antitrust lawsuit
You know things are serious when a lawsuit gets refiled. Mauricio originally filed an antitrust complaint back in 2020 against the National Association of Realtors (NAR)’s trade body. The original case was released at midnight on Tuesday after being put on pause in 2024. The 55-year-old wasted no time in refiling the case at 12:30 a.m. on behalf of his platform, The Pocket Listing Service. According to The Independent, the court documents accused the organization of enforcing anti-competitive policies on real estate listings. Mauricio argued that the rules were also damaging to his business. The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star claims that NARs have been “engaging in group boycotting tactics,” which in turn has frozen out the little guys.
Yes, that’s right; Mauricio is accusing the big dogs of real estate of icing him out of the luxury property playground. And if you thought this sounded eerily similar to that massive commission lawsuit that rocked the real estate world last year, you’re not wrong. There is also another antitrust lawsuit. The organization called out was forced to pay $418 million. But Mauricio’s case is taking a slightly different angle, and honey, it’s personal. Documents via Housing Wire note, “This lawsuit is about defending innovation and consumer choice in a market long dominated by entrenched gatekeepers. We created a platform that responded to growing demand for privacy, flexibility, and discretion. Particularly in highly-competitive and high-profile markets. And were met with coordinated resistance from an organization with a vested interest in preserving the status quo.”
What is Mauricio Umansky suing for?
Mauricio’s lawsuit alleges a full-on scheme to shut down competition from independent brokerages like The Agency. According to the complaint, the big-name firms and NAR have created a “cartel-like” environment where only the largest players can thrive. And Mauricio isn’t having it. He claims that these brokerages have been colluding to prevent his firm from accessing key networks, listings, and referral systems necessary to compete in the high-end market. In short, it’s giving Mean Girls, but make it real estate. However, NAR released a statement noting, “NAR will respond directly to the plaintiff’s claims in court. The Clear Cooperation Policy promotes transparency. And competition in the real estate marketplace. While still providing home sellers and their agents the option to list their property as an office exclusive.”
Mauricio also argues that the MLS (Multiple Listing Services) systems, which are basically the holy grail of real estate data, are being manipulated to favor firms aligned with NAR. That’s a big deal because without access to MLS data, it’s nearly impossible to play in the big leagues. So, if true, this isn’t just Mauricio being salty about a few lost listings. It’s a claim that the entire system is rigged. The lawsuit seeks monetary damages (cha-ching!) and injunctive relief. Which could lead to a major shake-up in how real estate deals are done across the country. Since opening, The Agency has grown to over 100 offices worldwide. Mauricio clearly isn’t just some scrappy underdog. He’s a serious player who’s tired of being benched.
The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills is available to stream on Peacock and Hayu in the UK and Ireland.
