A Wild Prediction

[Terrel L. Shields]

I'm thinking that if the NAR chokehold on access to MLS's is broken, then the NAR will lose a lot of members. OTOH, I don't think it will make access to the MLS any cheaper. The providers will simply jack up the prices and you'll still be paying $1k or perhaps something less for access to the MLS. In other words, breaking the NAR's power base will not save you a dime. I hope I am wrong.

 

[Fernando]

I'm thinking that if the NAR chokehold on access to MLS's is broken, then the NAR will lose a lot of members. OTOH, I don't think it will make access to the MLS any cheaper. The providers will simply jack up the prices and you'll still be paying $1k or perhaps something less for access to the MLS. In other words, breaking the NAR's power base will not save you a dime. I hope I am wrong.

If less members in NAR, the MLS fees will be higher. Just like fewer appraisers than real estate agents in CA and I'm paying more than 4X fees in licensing.

 

[RCA]

I'm thinking that if the NAR chokehold on access to MLS's is broken, then the NAR will lose a lot of members. OTOH, I don't think it will make access to the MLS any cheaper. The providers will simply jack up the prices and you'll still be paying $1k or perhaps something less for access to the MLS. In other words, breaking the NAR's power base will not save you a dime. I hope I am wrong.

WRT to California, NAR doesn't have any such "chokehold" on MLSs around here. Appraisers can in fact get access to the MLS, without becoming members of the local MLS (which requires becoming a member of NAR). I am admittedly both a Licensed California Real Estate Broker and Certified General Real Estate Appraiser --- but I am not a member of NAR or the local MLS. In fact, I have access pretty much to the entire state - although there are still a few MLSs I would have to pay extra fees for.

For $900/year I have access to:
MLS Listings. (San Mateo County, Santa Clara County, Santa Cruz County, Monterey County, Alameda Count, Contra Costa Count, ...)
BAREIS MLS. (North SF Bay)
BayEast/CCAR/BridgeMLS. (East SF Bay, Southern, Central and Northern California areas)
Metrolist (Sacramentoe, Central Valley)
SFAR MLS. (San Francisco)
CRMLS (Los Angeles)
TheMLS. (Never used)
SDMLS. (San Diego)
Paragon Combined CA Listings

 

[RCA]

If less members in NAR, the MLS fees will be higher. Just like fewer appraisers than real estate agents in CA and I'm paying more than 4X fees in licensing.

It won't make any difference. The MLSs do have a chokehold on the listings though --- if they want to get nasty, they can.

 

[Tom D]

king kong core logic owns the MLS here. without nar control maybe they will offer a public pay per view., or have advertising for non paying views.

 

[Terrel L. Shields]

Locally, almost none of the MLS's have any reciprocity. I am an associate in Oklahoma. But NWA treats appraisers as Realtor-appraiser members with even voting rights. But NWAR is not cooperative with W. River Valley (Ft. Smith) nor Central MLS CARMLS in Little Rock. They tried to combine once and failed. Likewise, my membership in NEO MLS does not privilege me to the Tulsa Green Country MLS. You could easily spend $5,000 a year being members of two state MLSs.

 

[gregb]

In fact, I have access pretty much to the entire state

Beverly Hills, Ojai, Santa Ynez Valley, Lompoc/Santa Maria, Santa Barbara are all separate MLS boards with limited access unless an appraiser is an affiliate member. CRMLS does have access to some of these areas, but most are not included in the CRMLS system.

 

[RCA]

Beverly Hills, Ojai, Santa Ynez Valley, Lompoc/Santa Maria, Santa Barbara are all separate MLS boards with limited access unless an appraiser is an affiliate member. CRMLS does have access to some of these areas, but most are not included in the CRMLS system.

pro.MLSListings.com also provides free acces to "TheMLS.com" - which headquartered in Beverly Hills and covers Beverly Hills. As far as the other areas you mention, I don't know. Santa Barbarra for me is out in the sticks, oddly speaking, I don't have much use for it, i.e. I can do without it.

 

[WestMichiganCG]

Non-realtor dues for NAR are $810 per year already in West Michigan. Wouldn't take much.

 

[David S]

WRT to California, NAR doesn't have any such "chokehold" on MLSs around here. Appraisers can in fact get access to the MLS, without becoming members of the local MLS (which requires becoming a member of NAR). I am admittedly both a Licensed California Real Estate Broker and Certified General Real Estate Appraiser --- but I am not a member of NAR or the local MLS. In fact, I have access pretty much to the entire state - although there are still a few MLSs I would have to pay extra fees for.

For $900/year I have access to:
MLS Listings. (San Mateo County, Santa Clara County, Santa Cruz County, Monterey County, Alameda Count, Contra Costa Count, ...)
BAREIS MLS. (North SF Bay)
BayEast/CCAR/BridgeMLS. (East SF Bay, Southern, Central and Northern California areas)
Metrolist (Sacramentoe, Central Valley)
SFAR MLS. (San Francisco)
CRMLS (Los Angeles)
TheMLS. (Never used)
SDMLS. (San Diego)
Paragon Combined CA Listings

Where is your $900 pay to ? MLS board or some organization? I know most MLS board have two versions fee. The appraiser version fee is lower since you never need to use CAR form to write the contract. Sometime they low another a couple of hundred $ if you don't need Supra key to open the door.