More talk today about a MLS consolidation. The Connecticutt Statewide MLS has created an MLS ‘Bill of Rights’ to foster acceptance of consolidation of MLSs. The key tenents of this Bill of Rights:
The right to do business throughout the state where they are licensed to practice real estate;
The right to timely, accurate MLS data;
The right to expect that the MLS will act in their best interests;
The right to representation on the governing body of the MLS, and for broker representatives from large, medium and small-sized firms to “share equally in governance”;
The right to advertise and distribute online listings content within the rules and regulations;
The right to an Internet Data Exchange (IDX), Virtual Office Web site (VOW) and/or broker download feed and/or access.
Discussions of a National MLS have been bounced around for some time but now there seems to be a growing consensus that the National Association of Realtors should move forward with the ‘Realtors Property Resource’, an effort to bring all Realtor property listings under one umbrella organization. The efficiencies of a nationwide MLS could result in lower participation fees for brokers which, presumably, could be passed along to consumers.
