If they pay a reasonable fee? Otherwise the MLS is just a price-fixing anti-trust setup. It's time for a change to the Real Estate Scam!
2007-05-28 05:05:13 · 10 answers · asked by SQD 2 in Business & Finance ➔ Renting & Real Estate
one word "craigslist"
2007-05-28 05:09:23 · answer #1 · answered by uatafoya 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Up until 50 years ago if you were looking at houses you had to go to each individual real estate office to ask what they had for sale. Then some real estate people started allowing other companies to sell their listings and share in the commission. This evolved into the multiple listing service.
Each agent is responsible for keeping the information as accurate and truthful as possible. (if you have ever tried to buy a house and found it was already sold, then you know how important it is to keep things current).
I have looked at websites where builders list what they have for sale and where FSBO's list what they have for sale. Those sites are never updated and usually almost criminally incorrect.
Opening up the MLS in that way would only destroy that service. A new one that is dependable would have to be started somewhere else and restricted as to who could enter data so we could depend on it.
There are Real Estate people that are members of the multiple listing service that provide almost no service except putting your home in the MLS. Their fees are very low. Most people choose not to use them and to have an agent to represent them and help them sell for a better price.
2007-05-28 05:43:47 · answer #2 · answered by glenn 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The MLS is used by agents and brokers. We pay a fee to be able to use it.
It is one tool that the general public does not get access to. If the MLS allowed people without a Real estate education to list homes there we could have all kinds of scams and problems. Agents and Brokers have spent many many hours of education with on-going education in their fields. They can not afford to make a mistake in a listing or scam a person or they would lose their license. What would the private individual lose? Nothing.
When you have nothing to lose why should you worry that the information is accurate and the title is clear and that it is really truly for sale?
If the MLS opened up to all, you would see so many people hurt by those who wish to gain in real estate.
Agents and Brokers provide a service to the customer. MLS is one tool in which to do it and the fees are high. We make a living only when we are responsible for the sale of a home or land or income property. It is getting harder and harder to make a decent living in Real Estate and many of us have spend our lives being educated and paying the fees for the education and all the licensing fees and all the overhead to maintaining a place of business. If we allow anyone to do what we do, we are out of business. That is the bottom line.
And the Real Esate Market will be hurt and the impact will be felt. And many will end up in court because the scammers will be rampant.
Use FSBO and pay for your advertising. Everyone has that option.
2007-05-28 05:18:35 · answer #3 · answered by Nevada Pokerqueen 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You may freely use the MLS in my area as long as you pay the same fees which I pay. Start with the $1200 one time fee to become a MLS member, then follow that with an annual fee of $475.00 to retain membership, plus a $65.00 monthly fee for handling technology and website work.
Oh, and don't forget the time and expense involved in obtaining your real estate license, since having one is also a requisite for listing on the MLS.
2007-05-29 06:30:02 · answer #4 · answered by acermill 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can get your house in the MLS for a reasonable fee. There are limited service agencies that will put your house in the MLS, give you the forms, and you go sell your house.
The MLS is a service that licensed Realtors pay for, and if everyone had access to it, it would become a disaster. I suspect you are misinformed about the MLS and how it works.
2007-05-28 07:40:24 · answer #5 · answered by godged 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
MLS is basically a realestate service ad co-op and was formed many years ago by a group of realitors. It has nothing to do with the general public. It is one of the advantages of listing with realitor. If you were a licensed realitor you could join MLS as well. It is also the relitors way of making sure the selling and buying realitors are adhearing to local laws. MLS stays on top of the ever changing realestate laws. FSBO magazine was formed and came out for people like you to assist in marketing your own home. MLS is a realitor group. Just as UAW is the auto union. Unless your one of them you can't join and use their services.
2007-05-28 05:14:21 · answer #6 · answered by asccaracer 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Look that's not a scam, I was a Realtor/Broker for 35 years, I as a Realtor paid to the Board of Realtors and they in turn paid to the multiple listing service. There never was a scam, I also paid hefty fee's for that service.
2007-05-28 05:12:56 · answer #7 · answered by Conrey 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
That would be nice for people wanting to sell their home, but the fact is that realtors developed and own the MLS. It is the same as any other software program. You have to pay to use. Check to see if there is any FSBO (for sale by owner) groups in your area. They usually provide a reasonable cost for access to the MLS. PP
2007-05-28 05:11:28 · answer #8 · answered by ttpawpaw 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Multilist services are usually a group of realtors, who understand and follow the rules for the service. If anyone could list properties there, it would become chaos since people who didn't understand the requirements would be listing property.
If you're selling privately, then you are avoiding paying a realtor. How would this work if you were listing with a realtor's site?
2007-05-28 05:10:57 · answer #9 · answered by Judy 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Required, forced, I have a real problem with. The market place takes care of pricing, NOT Realtors. ~
2007-05-28 05:13:14 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋