The Home Listing You Never Saw (with State Senator Nathalia Fernandez)

On this episode of Closed!, Lee sits down with New York State Senator Nathalia Fernandez, who represents the 34th Senate District covering parts of the Bronx and Westchester, to discuss the Fair and Transparent Real Estate Listings Act and the debate over pocket listings in New York real estate. Senator Fernandez breaks down what pocket listings are, why private or limited-access listings can leave sellers without full information and buyers without a fair chance to compete, and how her bill seeks to bring more transparency into the home sale process. Rather than banning private listings outright, the legislation would require sellers to be informed about where their property is being marketed and to provide written consent before a listing is kept off broadly accessible platforms. The conversation also explores the fair housing implications of hidden listings, how restricted access can shape who sees available homes, what brokers and agents should be preparing for if the bill becomes law, and why transparency is becoming a larger theme in real estate policy. Senator Fernandez also discusses the rise of AI-altered listing photos, “house fishing,” and the broader need to make sure buyers and sellers know what is real, what is available, and what choices they actually have. To learn more about Senator Nathalia Fernandez and her work, visit nysenate.gov or follow her on Instagram at @senfernandez34 and @fernandez4ny To learn more about Lee and Bergstein Flynn Knowlton & Pollina PLLC, visit bfkplaw.com