Cheapest Way to Maintain MLS Access in PA?
I am a licensed PA real estate agent and linked to a broker. I got my license so that I had MLS access and could have flexibility setting up my own showings for my own investments. I work with only a couple clients per year (friends/family) since I have a full time job outside of real estate.
I was reviewing all of my fees involved with being an agent and currently a REALTOR which are:
1. State license fee - obviously mandatory
2. Bright MLS fee - obviously mandatory if I want MLS access
3. Supra fee - mandatory if I want to control my own showings and fairly nominal
4. GHAR (Greater Harrisburg Association of Realtors) Membership fee
I contacted my current broker to see if I could cut out the Realtor association fee but the response I got was that if a broker is "REALTOR associated" (most franchised brokers are), then you are required to be a member of a Realtor association.
I don't believe PA requires Realtor membership for MLS access so how does a non-Realtor yet licensed agent get MLS access in PA?