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I guess I mean all the NAR realtors who work for Coldwell Banker, Re/Max, Sotheby's, etc, etc, etc. You know, the 6% commission guys who pay dues to an organization that regularly misrepresents the real estate market to the public.
Not sure, but I think they're also the ones who control the MLS with an iron glove-- prohibiting comments, allowing sellers to delist and relist ad infinitum and still call it a "new" listing, not allowing non-Realtors to use it, not sharing all the information publicly or easily-- you know, the stuff the Department of Justice filed the anti-trust lawsuit. Sites like Redfin that share info like previous sale price and dates of delisting and relisting are pushing the NAR and MLS to change their model.
I guess I mean all the NAR realtors who work for Coldwell Banker, Re/Max, Sotheby's, etc, etc, etc. You know, the 6% commission guys who pay dues to an organization that regularly misrepresents the real estate market to the public.
Not sure, but I think they're also the ones who control the MLS with an iron glove-- prohibiting comments, allowing sellers to delist and relist ad infinitum and still call it a "new" listing, not allowing non-Realtors to use it, not sharing all the information publicly or easily-- you know, the stuff the Department of Justice filed the anti-trust lawsuit. Sites like Redfin that share info like previous sale price and dates of delisting and relisting are pushing the NAR and MLS to change their model.
DOJ and NAR settled.
How did that work out?
I think it hardly registered in the overall market, because of the obvious weakness of DOJs position, and the minimal concessions they wrung from NAR.
Admittedly, NAR and members are imperfect.
I strongly dislike "freshening" of listings, but it certainly is not illegal. Shouldn't DOJ focus on wrongs, and not sophomoric perception of style points?
I also dislike the wanton desire to negatively comment on someone's home, under a cloak of anonymity, without burden of any objective measurement. It certainly is unethical for a REALTOR to promote the activity, as it could clearly be manipulation or vandalism without consequence.
Is this different than the old feature where anyone could review homes? That got shutdown back in 2007 for violating MLS rules.
Now agents can review homes. They still have the "per MLS rules" restriction keeping other people from commenting on the home. Yes, I agree there might be inaccurate anonymous statements like on any online forum, but like any online forum, I think the majority would be honest opinions and certainly could be put to the lie by visiting a house or having a home inspector walk through it.
I think not allowing comments from people who've seen and inspected the home is a disservice to buyers and noncompetitive. Basically, the MLS maintains this rule to the benefit of realtors who get a higher commission on a higher sales price and to the detriment of buyers.
In the past three years of looking at houses, my respect for realtors has declined markedly. The majority I've encountered know little about the houses they're showing, claim ignorance on things I know they know and claim lots of interest and competitive offers when there are none.
I did start out with a positive attitude, but experience has changed my opinion.
I think not allowing comments from people who've seen and inspected the home is a disservice to buyers and noncompetitive. Basically, the MLS maintains this rule to the benefit of realtors who get a higher commission on a higher sales price and to the detriment of buyers.
The topic of commissions has been covered extensively throughout the real estate forum. Believe it or not, most (granted not all, but MOST) if the realtors out there actually care about the clients that hired them.
Quote:
Originally Posted by cohdane
In the past three years of looking at houses, my respect for realtors has declined markedly. The majority I've encountered know little about the houses they're showing, claim ignorance on things I know they know and claim lots of interest and competitive offers when there are none.
please eloborate on this. Is it your buyers agent that knows little about the houses they are showing you or is it the listing agent that knows little about the property they are listing? How do you know there are things that your agent knows but they just aren't telling you? Again, how do you know there aren't any other offers?
Quote:
Originally Posted by cohdane
I did start out with a positive attitude, but experience has changed my opinion.
Now agents can review homes. They still have the "per MLS rules" restriction keeping other people from commenting on the home. Yes, I agree there might be inaccurate anonymous statements like on any online forum, but like any online forum, I think the majority would be honest opinions and certainly could be put to the lie by visiting a house or having a home inspector walk through it.
I think not allowing comments from people who've seen and inspected the home is a disservice to buyers and noncompetitive. Basically, the MLS maintains this rule to the benefit of realtors who get a higher commission on a higher sales price and to the detriment of buyers.
In the past three years of looking at houses, my respect for realtors has declined markedly. The majority I've encountered know little about the houses they're showing, claim ignorance on things I know they know and claim lots of interest and competitive offers when there are none.
I did start out with a positive attitude, but experience has changed my opinion.
You are in huge error on the control of comments. It is absolutely to protect Sellers, not Realtors.
The buying public has hyper-sensitivity, superstitions, misperceptions, and avoidance of anything with any taint to it.
If someone slams a listing and without merit, it has to be explained away, but whether true or not plants a seed in the readers' minds, "I wonder how bad that house is?"
Stupid commentary could cost a Seller thousands for no reason, without bringing any value to anyone. It is most excellent that Realtors and MLSs have that standard. It separates us and places us on a higher plane of decency from the Zillows and Trulias and other muck.
People should visit and view homes that they want to consider buying, not dismiss them because of childish rants.
Is this different than the old feature where anyone could review homes? That got shutdown back in 2007 for violating MLS rules.
It is different. The Sweet Digs blog had reviews on the blog about homes that were viewed. This is per the MLS, and in Oregon it would be state law, considered advertising. You can't advertise another agent's listings without their permission. Here you could lose your license for that. They got fined and pulled the house reviews.
The new feature is an MLS feature. There is a section in the NWMLS that allows agents to make comments about the listings. They are just pulling those comments into their VOW since it is an MLS field. So same concept, but this time via the MLS.
I haven't used Redfin but I did went through its website... it only shows properties on some locations and favors some popular locations like parts of Virginia and California...
They only show properties for the MLS's they belong to. It has nothing to do with "popular locations."
...The new feature is an MLS feature. There is a section in the NWMLS that allows agents to make comments about the listings. They are just pulling those comments into their VOW since it is an MLS field. So same concept, but this time via the MLS.
Ah, that's why I never heard of it. We don't have that feature in our MLS for agent comments. Therefore, not supported by Redfin in Phoenix. I'm surprised it's not classified as a private field not for public viewing.
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