A foundational rule that places the onus of commission on the seller has resulted in the national realtor organization losing a federal class-action lawsuit.

When it comes to determining the realtors' fees, Californians' home buying and selling processes may feel much more negotiable eventually, if not sooner rather than later.

The National Association of Realtors, the biggest trade association in America, is at the heart of this controversy. Across the nation, it has more than 1.5 million realtors. When members assist homeowners in purchasing and selling real estate, they also consent to a number of association rules. Whether some of these rules have been overly strict is the fundamental question.

The Mandatory Offer of Compensation Rule, which states that the seller must cover the buyer's commission expenses, is at the heart of the Missouri case. The home sellers' attorneys argued that this provision contravenes federal antitrust laws. The jurors appeared to be entirely in agreement. The $1.8 billion jury award in this case is what has realtors across the country paying attention.

The ruling is being contested by the association. For the time being, things continue as they are. But there's growing momentum for reform. For instance, the U.S. Justice Department attempted to reopen its investigation into the organization and its regulations in June.