Although licensing protects the public from unscrupulous and incompetent brokers, the court decision said, "the court cannot discern how prohibiting cooperation between an out-of-state broker and a Kentucky licensed broker reinforces this protection. It appears that the prohibition's main purpose is to ensure that virtually all commissions are kept in Kentucky. This is achieved, however, at an unconstitutional cost to interstate commerce."

Green points out that the Kentucky law prevented clients from enlisting the services of trusted brokers they have worked with for years. "In many instances our clients have long-term relationships with particular brokers who know the client's procedures, due diligence preferences and the way in which the client likes to move through the acquisition or disposition process. These clients want the broker to be involved the whole way through, but the way the Kentucky law was, you could not do that," the Marcus & Millichap chief says.

The lawsuit, which alleged that the turf state laws harmed consumers by preventing access to the national market for commercial real estate brokerage and depressing real estate prices, was filed by a group of consumers and real estate brokers, with Marcus & Millichap leading the suit. Green calls the ruling a victory for all consumers, saying that commercial real estate investors "should not be forced to choose between seeking fair market value for their property or violating state laws."

Green tells GlobeSt.com that the lawsuit even had the support of brokers in Kentucky who see the advantage of bringing in capital sources from outside of the state as well as operating on a more national basis. The brokers felt that Kentucky was restricting their clients' potential to maximize value by tapping into national markets, and the court's ruling supported that point.

According to the court's ruling, Kentucky's prohibitions against cooperating with brokers not licensed in the state have the effect of "isolating Kentucky from the national brokerage market." The court's decision comments that the purchase and sale of real estate is often a costly and complex transaction and that, "a consumer who maintains a trusted relationship with a broker should not be compelled to accept the services of a stranger in order to make that transaction."

The seven other states that prohibit cooperation with out-of-state real estate brokers are Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Missouri and Utah. Kentucky state officials did not return calls seeking comment on the federal court ruling.