On 12 Sep 2005 09:25:33 -0700, "Larry Bud"
wrote:


Andrew White wrote:
wrote:

"By the way, MLSs get most of their data from the public sources too.
Whatever noises dumb realtors and appraisers make from time to time
about ownership of the data, these go away fairly fast. The reason is
that you can't copyright facts! "

I don't know where you're living, but here in NJ, the MLS is the most
tightly controlled guarded possession of the realtors. It's the
listing of properties for sale in the area that is shared by the
realtors and is extremely important to be in if you want to sell your
house. You can't get your property into it without listing it with a
realtor and that is the lock that they use to get their 6% commission,
which is what most are still paying here.

What you're talking and about and what I'm talking about are two
completely unrelated issues.

What you're describing is the case everywhere in the US, but in most
places (including NJ, I believe) there are plenty of realtors who
would list your property for a small fixed fee in the MLS. I paid $150
to have my house listed in the MLS. I had to pay 3% to the buyer's
agent, of course, but I saved 3% of the seller's agent commission.

Or one could start their own database, free of realtors, and charge
nothing. A housing for sale database would be very simple to write.

Of course, attracting viewers could be a bit more challenging.