All Forum Posts by: Jesse Smith

@John Ching - "Mafioso" is a great way to describe it. The realtor associations seems to have all of the power, because they've been operating so long. Even though technology should have made the MLS virtually obsolete today, it persists because of the realtor associations. Very frustrating and expensive.

Hi!

I recently passed my Missouri salesperson licensing exam and related coursework.  My application for license was approved by the Missouri Real Estate Commission, and I've signed on with a broker.  

My question is - I need access to the MLS, but I do not want to join the NAR (KCRAR chapter). I don't believe that I am required to join KCRAR to gain MLS access, but I can't figure out how to do it. In my only discussion with my broker, she mentioned that people had fought KCRAR before to gain MLS access... but she didn't think they were successful. I'm perfectly willing to pay for my MLS access, but I don't want to pay the high membership fees for KCRAR.

Can anybody shed some light on this process?  Can I gain access to the MLS as a Missouri Licensed RE Agent, without joining KCRAR?  Thanks!

@Aaron Poling - Thanks for the reply. Sounds like the primary benefit is the extra info and disclosures available via the MLS.

When I posted my FSBO house on Zillow, it auto-listed on other sites, like Trulia. I've also had a lot of brokers and agents calling me asking for a commission for bringing a buyer, so Zillow seems to be getting quite a bit of exposure to RE professionals.

Can somebody please help me understand the tangible benefits of gaining access to the MLS? I just completed my real estate licensing exams for Missouri, and I will be applying for a license, and placing it with a broker. I understand that I'll have to pay a fee through the broker, if I want to access the MLS.

My question is - What is the actual benefit of MLS access, when most - if not all - of the information is publicly available on sites like Zillow and Trulia? With available technology today, the MLS doesn't seem to have nearly the weight that it used to... but the access fees remain high.

• On the buyer/investor side - Do agents get "early access" to property listings?  Somehow better information?
• On the listing side - Does a MLS listing really get that much more exposure than one on Zillow, Trulia, etc?

Thanks!

EDIT - Yep, I see the typo in the title.  :-/

 Honestly, this seems pretty unethical.  

 My offer did not have an expiration, although I considered putting a 24hr clock on it.  Games like this make me angry.  The seller's agent should present the offer to the seller for their decision... Not wait around for another offer that nets him a higher commission.  That seems very unethical.  Especially since I could pull my offer at any time.  Seems like a breach of his fiduciary duty to his client.  They asked for a price... I offered it... Should be done.

Do you disclose this on your listing, that you will be reviewing offers the following Tuesday?  It seems like a full price offer should be presented to the seller.  With multiple showings scheduled, it seems like he is trying to find a buyer without a buyer's agent.  If he receives an offer from a buyer at full price, without a buyer's agent, I feel like he will push the seller toward that offer.  Seems very unfair to hold back a written offer at full asking price.

I found a great investment opportunity in a hot local neighborhood.  Within hours of the listing going live, I entered a full-price offer in writing.  This was on Wednesday, and the seller's agent claims he "cannot reach his client" until Saturday to present any offers.  In the meantime, he has set up multiple showings.  

I'm confident that other full-price offers will come in before Saturday.  Doesn't he have a fiduciary duty to present my written offer when I submit it?  I refuse to believe that he is not able to reach his client, given all forms of communication available today...

 I may give this approach a try.  I haven't been consistently direct about asking if they have specifically interested buyers.  

 Could you please elaborate on what drives the $33-million cost to run a listing service?  This seems impossibly high, unless it factors in a lot of overhead for broker compensation.  The listings themselves could be handled very inexpensively by leveraging simple database technology.