MLS fees?

[Annelle]

Prior to opening an office in Lake Havsu, AZ I had called the MLS board there to find out their fees, if the MLS covered the entire county, and if it included access to public records. Their fees were a bit steep, but I thought I could still get enough biz over a 5 city range to make it less traumatic. They weren't sure about how to get Public Records info or if it was included.

I rented my home, moved, explored and familiarized myself with the area for two weeks driving around before I approached the board. I purchased my biz license via the city also in the meanwhile. The fees are based on Realtors with no breaks for appraisers. The fee of approx $1,000 was for Sept 1st to Dec 31st. for that city only as it turned out. Each of the 5 closest citys had approx the same fee. Lake Havau board, andr Bullhead City wouldn't even let me look at it the MLS in their office to see if public records was linked without buying it first. They didn't know how, or wouldn't advise me on how to find out about public records access. ( Golly, I wasn't even trying to look up a property, I just wanted to see what features it had prior to purchase). I refused to purchase based on not knowing what I was purchasing.

I believe they mislead me on purpose because as they were having a hard time keeping appraisers. To be limited to just the one city would not be a great biz decision. I had to make a choice. I decided they were too user/appraiser unfriendly and moved back to California. The sad thing was that having an appraiser licensed in California and AZ at that time was rare. It is so much harder to go from AZ licensing to CA, than CA to AZ, so the appraisers there don't bother. Which is why I moved there to begin with because I thought I found a nitch.

The city of LH called me a year later to find out why I didn't renew my Biz License and I explained what had happened. They were appalled and said they would look into it, as they were happy to have me there to begin with. I do not know what became of it, if anything.

San Diego County costs $50 month, and So Cal MLS is $45 I think with a ontime $250-$350 join fee for both when I joined, a number of years ago. Different offices in the county charge different rates, but the data is the same. Naturally I shopped around. . I found if you join Orange County MLS first, San Diego does not charge you their join fee, and you can pay on a month to month basis as needed. I got tired of paying for comp checks, or jobs that cancelled, so I haven't paid them anything for a while. I love the option however.

So the moral of the story is, do your due diligence!

 

[Jozsef Poor]

And that costs $200+/Month?

Anyway/regardless, I think it would be cheaper if you went and became a REALTOR®, rather than paying monthly dues, NO?



So if the Broker is NOT a REALTOR®, then if they are holding your license, YOU cannot become one?:

Okay. It is cheaper for a regular appraiser just to become a Realtors association member and through the association pay the MLS fee.

I am a sales broker with my own office and my Reator fee is $400 per year and my MLS fee is about $400 as well. +-$800 for 12 month is equal +-$67 a month. better than $200

 

[Vegan702]

I am considered a broker through the MLS as far as fees are concerned as I am the owner of the company. I just got my renewal for next year for the board and it is $525 for the year, then I pay every month to the MLS about $30. So its about $75 a month to be a Realtor and have MLS access.

 

[OSU Beavers]

Those Realtors get you comming and going. We have three different MLSs here in my county because the greedy b@stards won't co-op with eachother.

 

[Vegan702]

Those Realtors get you comming and going. We have three different MLSs here in my county because the greedy b@stards won't co-op with eachother.

Our area up here used to be that way, but they switched not long ago. Only one city doesn't participate, however some of their sales are still listed in the main MLS. If I get an assignment in that area I just turn it down as I would have only some of the information in that area and probably not enough to derive any meaningful market data. Sucks as its only down the road from me and closer then almost every other place I appraise in.

 

[OCApp]

Here in Orange County, CA it costs about $20 per month to be an MLS user either as a broker or as an appraiser. If you want to be a full user and Realtor its about $50 or $60 per month.

Either way you get all of Orange County (around 3,000,000 people), Los Angeles County, most of Riverside County and San Bernardino county. It doesn't include San Diego County.

And when you get the MLS you get public records tax data and flood zones.

Not a bad deal.

 

[robert higgins]

This maybe a Conn. thing, but why do I have to become a full member of a local Realtor Broad just to be able to get access to MLS services, which are two different fees. The B.O.R. fee is $440 per year membership with a $100+ app fee. Then I have to pay for MLS access fee of $85 per qtr. with a 1-time $100 app fee. I am giving the Broad of Realtors $440 (free cash IMOP) a year for nothing as I am not buying or selling real estate, nor a realtor, just to be able to get access. What a rip off.

How about paying me $550 a year to do appraisals for your company and then charge you my normal fee to do the appraisal.

 

[Mountain Man]

Jozef, the two major MLS systems in GA are private companies, and the Realtors have nothing to do with it. However, it is much cheaper to join as a broker than an appraiser. There are many smaller and more local/regional MLS systems owned and run by the Realtor board, and I subscribe to those as a broker too. It is much cheaper as a broker. Not to mention, I get to list my own stuff in all of them.

 

[Mike Boyd]

Not necessarily. BAREIS has a little thing that has a rotating number that you have to put in with your UN and PW.

AND......it is a violation of the rules to use someone else's password. Big fine.

 

[Vegan702]

Just got an email today that my monthly MLS dues are going from $32-$35 to account for the anticipated 15% drop in members. Too bad they all weren't appraisers.