I agree that March in and of itself doesn’t tell us squat. But six months of squat tells us much.

I disagree. If you have 6 months in a row down x% in volume, that is “a trend”. The chances of the trend continuing throught the year are then great. If we look at everything since the mortgage changes hit, and it all looks the same, chance are it will stay the same.

I can easily do that and will include them in my quarterly report. Thanks for the suggestion.

Don’t know if it’s too difficult to calculate this stat but I can see why this will be very helpful

The main purpose of an mls system to date is to offer a commission to come and see and show and sell the house. Not to provide data. It’s purpose was well established long before there was much data, or even a computer system, back when we had books.

The primary function of the mls system is for sellers to be able to access more, many and most agents to show their home, not to provide “data” to agents. In fact in a lot of ways it served its purpose better when there was less data, as often the info is so much that it provides a means for agents and buyers to NOT want to see the home, TMI, so more info is not always better given the purpose of the mls.

The cost of the system is irrelevant and minor. The real “cost” of the system is the cost of getting the listings in the first place to put in the system, not the measly quarterly charge of being a member of the mls. Also the cost of implementing the best exposure for the seller via photos and information that “lures” buyers to the property. So giving too much info in a manner that also gives a buyer what they need to determine not to go see the house is really counter to the purpose of the mls.

I know that no one seems to want to “get” that part, but I thought it bore repeating. It really is an advertising vehichle, not a data source. The only difference is it used to be a way for agents to advertise to other agents on behalf of the seller. Now buyers can “see” into it, but the purpose of the mls has nothing to do with buyers really, it’s a B to B portal agent to agent.

When we originally were trying to “fool” someone with new listing numbers, it was to fool lazy agents We were only trying to trick them into getting to the property and to show the property in hope that once there, the buyer would like it. We never did it to fool the public, as the public had no access.

It’s been interesting being an agent through all the changes from DOS system and mls books to date. From all agents working for the seller through all the many and different types of representation for buyers and sellers. The historical aspect may be insignificant today, and yet much if not most of what is done is done from that historical perspective.

Unless the entire system is dismantled and the wheel reinvented, it will still have it’s basis in its original purpose. So perhaps the B to B mls system should remain and actually regress back to its real purpose leaving the “new” system to be invented by someone outside of the mls.

Like any business the NWMLS better be continually improving their service, both in price and in quality, or someone else might come along and eat their lunch.