MLS access/Board of Realtors fees

[TX ladybug]

I am just so frustrated and mostly venting, but if someone can shed some light I would like to know why on earth would an appraiser need to pay Membership fees, State Association and National Association fees on top of the application fee then an MLS application fee just to get access to the freaking MLS! I'm talking about $1K for primary access to one MLS then like $650 for each additional one. In our area there are 4 MLS chapters. This is freaking ridiculous!!!!! I hear rumors that the realtors don't like the appraiser in some chapters and that we appraisers need them, but no that is not the case. Just wondering if other appraisers have these ridiculous fees also?

 

[EDWARD BERRY]

Why Don't You Appraisers (and I Are One) Just Develop A Data Base Of Your Own?

You Surely Have More Precise Data, Accurate Measurements, Etc.

The MLS With Its Components Today Is The Best Money An Appraiser Can Spend.

I Would Pay 4 Times What Mine Costs And Still Come Out Ahead.

Corelogic Data, Maps, 14 Interior Pictures, Court House Data, Lockbox, Etc.

All That For $350.

Appraisers Have Tried To Set Up Their Own And Never Came Close To Getting 33% Participation.

Pay And Be Happy.

 

[Tom Woolford]

See if your MLS recognizes "Thompson Brokers" All I pay is MLS access, not the annual fees and all that crap.



In the 1991 Thompson v. Dekalb County Board of REALTORS® case, the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the exclusive right of members of the Dekalb County Board of REALTORS® to use their Multiple Listing Service is harmful to non-member real estate brokers. The decision opened up MLS participation to nonmembers in the jurisdiction of the 11th Circuit, which includes Florida.

 

[Restrain]

The problem in Texas is that without MLS, you don't have the data. Now, you can go down to the appraisal district and use its sales data as the appraisal districts subscribe to MLS. But if you are a professional, you have to gut it up and join. We used to have the multiple MLS system issue here, but they all unified some 15 or more years ago. All agents, brokers applauded as it cut everyone's costs. Join, then push to unify the MLS.

 

[Terrel L. Shields]

My understanding here is that once we have membership in 1 board, we can access any adjacent board for the monthly fee...no need of new membership. That is supposed to be an NAR rule. I know in Missouri such rules are meaningless and tiny areas have little fiefdoms that the Realtors control the data closely.

 

[Tejus]

http://appraisersforum.com/showthread.php?t=143958

NAR could implement a single MLS data base and allow each local Realtor Board to select which MLS system their members use to access that data base. This would be a huge benefit to all the NAR members (includes Realtors and Appraisers) since they could belong to a single local Board and have access to all the MLS data.

NAR and many of the local Realtor Boards will never do this because the MLS access fees are a huge cash cow for them. The NAR and the local Realtor Boards are more interested in funding themselves then their members.

My local Realtor Board leaders are some of the most corrupt people you will find.

The only way to address this is vote out the local Realtor Board leaders and replace them with people who will represent the members best interest.

 

[TxArmadillo]

TxLadybug, you don't have to pay all of those silly azz fees. NAR is going to get their fee. I think you can decline TREC and perhaps your local BoR too but the TREC political action committee fees can absolutely be declined as can the donation to their local charity/fund raisers.

The MLS is a separate fees because not all BoR members use the MLS. I know builders, home improvement companies, etc. that are members of my local BoR and don't use MLS.

Also, ask your variety of local BoR about reciprocity. As a member of the larger of my local BoRs, I have discounted access to the other MLS that covers a portion of my service area.

If your service area truly covers an area serviced by four different MLS providers, I'd have to wonder if your service area may be too large.

 

[GCJim]

I am just so frustrated and mostly venting, but if someone can shed some light I would like to know why on earth would an appraiser need to pay Membership fees, State Association and National Association fees on top of the application fee then an MLS application fee just to get access to the freaking MLS! I'm talking about $1K for primary access to one MLS then like $650 for each additional one. In our area there are 4 MLS chapters. This is freaking ridiculous!!!!! I hear rumors that the realtors don't like the appraiser in some chapters and that we appraisers need them, but no that is not the case. Just wondering if other appraisers have these ridiculous fees also?

They are little regional monopolies. They do it because they CAN.

 

[Fritz in NY]

$ 335. a quarter here per person. I had an argument with the CEO of the local Board, My wife is a Cert Res. but dose nothing but MY comps and stuff. CEO insisted that since she has a "License" she has to pay dues. Money grabbing is all I can think since dues is way down from 2007-2009.
Gee, if my kids also had a AP Licence could he grab money from them too?

 

[JTip]

Go ahead and vent.....then get out your checkbook.

For one MLS around here I had to scratch out a check for $4,600 to join and pay $36/month. When the year ends I will have to pay $400 and continue $36/month. I feel it is easier to just cough up $800 for the year and not feed my dog and cat for a while.

There is one small one that I would like to join. It has maybe two dozen members and is around $6,000 to get in the door. I will stick to my area for now.....

It's either pay up or flip burgers.