MLS & Database Subscription costs

[bpatnaik]

Hello everyone,

I am looking in to setting up a appraisal business and curious what is an average monthly expenses for everyone spends towards MLS and Data subscriptions ???? Thanks for any info.

 

[Lawrence R.]

This is going to vary widely.

Ours is only 25 per month, per subscriber in the office. But that is after you pay about 1200 dollars in initation fees, dues, membership, stated fees, hidden fees, and any other fee that they can slap on your ***.

so the true monthly cost is about 125 bucks a month.

 

[mrblue]

Way too much. Go get a regular job with good benefits!

 

[Walter Kirk]

These costs depend on your location. To properly cover my area an appraiser needs access to three or four MLS systems plus one data service ( for square footage, age and sales history). If I paid full price for all of these services I couldn't afford to stay in business. I am lucky to have relationships with brokers and appraisers which allow me to share some services and save money.

 

[bpatnaik]

Thanks Walter. I am realizing it may need 3 MLSs and RealQuest subscriptions.

In the current housing market how many appraisals do you get to do per month in your area if you don't mind?

 

[rbrienza]

bpatnaik
Are you an appraiser?

 

[Walter Kirk]

My business isn't dependant on mortgages or sales. Most of my work is court related, bankrupcy, estates, tax appeals, divorces and damaged properties.

The good thing about my business is that people die in good economic times and bad and the bankrupcy busines is steady.

 

[mrblue]

Walter,
That is a good way to do things. Diversify. I am the same way. I like to do Real Estate consulting, as well as Appraisal consulting. Expert witness classes are so valuble. There is a wide range of appraisal work.

 

[Tom Foster]

All the ones I have cost about $180 per month

 

[jakeboeger]

In the current housing market how many appraisals do you get to do per month in your area if you don't mind?

Not enough to pay the bills!

My data sources are about $235 per month. This includes public records data as well as two different MLS systems.