What if there were porn pictures all over the site with an mls search tool? Can’t the broker opt out of having his listings and company name show on a porn site? If Redfin can get a license and access, so can a porn site.

Ardell, I just wanted to jump in and say thanks for articulating what many people do not grasp. Even agents and brokers fail to realize the significance of the MLS. We all need to do a better job of getting this message out. This is also in direct contrast to MLS wannabees like Redfin that want to reap the benefits of the MLS without any of the responsibility.

I’ve been a member of NAR, WAR, PAR, FAR NJAR and CAR. But am not currently a member of NAR or WAR. We’re considering IBA and are members of CBA and NWMLS.

I will do the DOJ explanation in a new post. As to the NWMLS public site. It is purposely not snazzy so as not to compete with member brokers’ sites. It worked for a long time as most used the Brokers’ sites instead, for the reasons you noted. A public site is a requirement, but spending tons of money to make it better than the broker members’ sites is not required. NWMLS is owned by the brokers, so competing with the broker sites doesn’t make sense.

I now understand the reasoning behind “blacklisting” certain brokers from listings. The North West MLS (NWMLS) seems to do a good job of keeping these rules in place – as I understand it you can choose to either put data on the internet (where every rube can see it and ask their agent to visit) or not. As I understand it, the Justice Department is not challenging this sort of setup.

I’ve heard that other MLS systems are a little different, where members can withold listings from selected brokers’ websites, which does little to keep nasty, mud tracking agents out (they can still try to sell the home, right?), but makes it harder for them to do business because their website isn’t as useful. This sort of discrimination seems less in the interest of sellers and more in the interest of established brokers and, as I understand it, this is the type of descrimination the Justice Department is suing over. It’s not like I will only use my agent’s site when I’m looking for a house online. My family uses a local (full service!) agent who does a great job off of the internet, so for internet stuff I would use the great tools put out there by others. I’m all for handing out punishment for those who don’t follow the rules set by the community, but isn’t that what the fines are for? You’ve worked with the MLS here and I’m sure you know a lot about other MLS systems – Is arbitrarily banning selected (usually low-cost) brokers from receiving internet listings really a tool you wish you had or is the NAR going overboard in defending this practice? I’m curious!

Also, do you ever feel like a pirate when you say NAR? Do you hold the R longer on National Talk Like a Pirate Day (http://www.talklikeapirate.com/)?