Realtors Using MLS Reach a Deal | Agents Realtors

By? Christianne Child

Do you understand what MLS is and how it relates to real estate? Unless you?re a licensed real estate professional, you may not. Here is a basic definition outlining exactly what MLS is:

An MLS, otherwise referred to as a multiple listing service or multiple listing system, is a real estate tool that does not include listings that are sold by the individual property owner. However, real estate listings for all properties in a given area are provided. An MLS website, like the one used in Canada, provides all of these listings online. More often than not, ML websites are only accessible to licensed realtors. A fee must be paid in order to use, or view, the database intended for listing.

There are news stories related to real estate and MLS covered frequently throughout Canada. One of which includes the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) reaching a deal with Canada?s competition bureau in an effort to change the way selling Canadian homes occurs.

In order for homeowners interested in selling their properties to do so in an economic way, the principle of the agreement outlines they should have more affordable access to an MLS (multiple listing service) website.

Access to the MLS website has been a bone of contention between the CREA and the bureau for many years. The MLS website is owned by the CREA in Canada. According to statistics, approximately 90 percent of residential property sales are attributed to use of this website.

The original rules outlined by the CREA in previous years required all homeowners to purchase a standard set of services, some of which were an unnecessary expense to some users. A lot of homeowners were disappointed by this reality because they did not want to pay the MLS anything more than what was absolutely necessary.

One such homeowner issued a public statement commenting about how a real estate agent wanted a commission, so she didn?t want to sign up for the services. The Competition Bureau disputes this, though, and stated the rules do not compete. The bureau believes the real estate agents are penalized, and the consumers aren?t provided with enough choices for services.

The commissioner of competition announced in a separate news release that consumers should be able to choose which services they want from the real estate agent, and the ratified agreement should reflect this. The commissioner concluded by saying that the consumer should only have to pay for these choices.

The ratification would benefit real estate agents in that they can offer a substantially higher number of services, as well as affordable pricing in order to ensure their customers? needs are adequately met.

The battle continued between the CREA and the Competition Bureau for months, and came to a screeching halt when the bureau demanded the agreement be legally binding, or it would not be accepted.

An agreement was reached, however, and it was approved by the board of directors. However, the CREA?s 90,000 members still need to ratify the agreement. On Oct. 24, 2010, a meeting was scheduled to do so. The President of the CREA states that extensive negotiations are what helped bring this agreement to fruition.

Christianne is a Guelph Real Estate Agent with HomeLife Realty Limited Brokerage. Everybody who knows Christianne knows that her professional focus has always centered around Customer Service Excellence. Contact her about any property that is in the MLS Guelph listings.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Christianne_Child

Source: http://www.apaanchorage.org/realtors-using-mls-reach-a-deal.html

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