Help! How do appraisers get access to MLS data Or other listing, sale price, type of loan data

[Mike Ault]

I'm not sure if you're located in a nondisclosure state however in areas not covered by MLS for one reason or the other (i.e. "we don't get along well enough in this town to form an MLS") I've had good luck with title companies. They are of no help when it comes to statistical data but if all you're looking for is comparable sales they are another resource. A box of fresh doughnuts goes a long ways.

 

[Dublin ohio]

I'm not sure if you're located in a nondisclosure state however in areas not covered by MLS for one reason or the other (i.e. "we don't get along well enough in this town to form an MLS") I've had good luck with title companies. They are of no help when it comes to statistical data but if all you're looking for is comparable sales they are another resource. A box of fresh doughnuts goes a long ways.

Good idea. But it seems that most title companies are working remotely these days

 

[Terrel L. Shields]

A box of fresh doughnuts goes a long ways.

We have a McKee Baking plant in town. So I bought a case of Xmas Tree Little Debbies and dropped off in the abstract and title office in one county...It pays dividends. On one recent report they provided me a prior appraisal of the property. Turns out the owner of the title company was a co-administrator appointed by the judge over the probate hearing for the estate.

 

[Badlands]

Yikes! Just got by invoice for my annual dues. $1045.00. Includes national, state and local dues and keybox access. There is also a $23 per month MLS access fee. Our MLS covers 8 counties.

$3000+ just for application, then monthly, then I still need subscribe to two more to cover the counties that surround me. It feels like $10,000 before the annual dues is a bit excessive for a small rural appraisal business.

 

[J Grant]

$3000+ just for application, then monthly, then I still need subscribe to two more to cover the counties that surround me. It feels like $10,000 before the annual dues is a bit excessive for a small rural appraisal business.

Wow, that is crazy - talk to one of the MLS boards, sometimes they have reciprocal memberhsip in other nearby boards and carry each other's listings .

 

[Overimprovement]

So I did get in touch with one organization, the application fee is $3119.50. That is before dues. It seems like a lot to access data in one area. I have enough work elsewhere, I will continue to decline work in those areas unless the lender is ok with relying on county data. What i cannot find is listing price or loan type.

And agents lead the cries of not enough appraisers, their deals can't close without us, but they effectively want to price gouge us out of their little kingdoms.

Guess it's just a business decision on your end.

Yet somehow Corelogic, et al have full access to everything. SMH.

 

[Overimprovement]

$3000+ just for application, then monthly, then I still need subscribe to two more to cover the counties that surround me. It feels like $10,000 before the annual dues is a bit excessive for a small rural appraisal business.

Try to bargain with them. If they are really feeling an appraiser shortage, they may work with you. Talk to the MLS president first. If they are well covered already, is it worth your time and money?

 

[LordofTexas]

It's common in a lot of small towns in Texas. I got sales information from the courthouse and/or title companies in the towns where there were no agents or MLS. Ten years ago I used to work the small town of Hico, Texas. They had ONE Broker in the town and he was NOT on a computer system with MLS. He kept every sale documents in log books created in Word on a computer. If you didn't know him, you could not get appraisal/sale information on anything because there was NO other data. It only took me a year to quit going to these little rural towns. It wasn't even worth $1,200 an SFR appraisal for all the headaches.

 

[LordofTexas]

Also, the MLS boards are crooks for the little information we access. My fees are $537 every December for dues and $227 every quarter for access. I never go to meetings, never go to functions, newer get free lunches, and hardly ever talk to most agents on the board. In addition, I have to take mandatory classes with them that do not get me continuing education credit every year to satisfy their requirements for all "members".

 

[Mike Ault]

Also, the MLS boards are crooks for the little information we access. My fees are $537 every December for dues and $227 every quarter for access. I never go to meetings, never go to functions, newer get free lunches, and hardly ever talk to most agents on the board. In addition, I have to take mandatory classes with them that do not get me continuing education credit every year to satisfy their requirements for all "members".

They need appraisers to help subsidize them because they're all wearing their cars out doing $75 BPO's. If you see a tiny "smart car" running around town shooting pictures it's probably some realtor moving your cheese.