Earlier today Inman News' InmanBlog posted on a new website created by the U.S. Department of Justice's Antitrust Division that is intended to shine some light on anticompetitive real estate brokerage practices. A DOJ press release accompanied the site's launch.
I see the new website includes a link for anticompetitive MLS practices, information on discriminatory state laws, and an email address for reporting questionable conduct. As you may recall, the joint FTC/DOJ report on industry competition issued last spring recommended, among other things, that DOJ "promote consumer understanding of marketplace options. . . . Competition in the real estate brokerage industry would likely be enhanced if consumers had better access to such information." Good to see the DOJ following through on this point.
Here is a copy of a letter that is circulating around the web and to the Department Of Justice, MfRMLS and Orra
ReplyDelete"The National Association of Racketeering" NAOR
When a member Realtor does not pay the annual board of Realtors dues by a certain date, in turn the Mid-Florida Regional MLS privileges are shut down , even all well knowing that the MLS/ Supra fees are paid up until March 2008 ? Correct..
Do you not feel that by these actions that the general public and the listings that have been effected By these actions now creates a hardship to the home sellers listings on your Mid-Florida Regional MLS system and the Realtor/Client fiduciary to there client has been affected in a monetary manner.
This action also has a large effect to home sellers and potential home buyers through out you entire MLS coverage areas, from what I have been reading in the news that about 10% of the greater Orlando Realtors have not renewed there board membership, so having said that all of 10% have been shut down from using your Mid-Florida Regional MLS system.
Another effect of this shut down of MLS to it agents, you are taking away there right to work ! As the listing agent, and to allow the listing agent access add new clients listing into your system knowing that the MLS dues are paid up..
Do you offer a refund of the MLS members dues back to the Board of Realtor members that you have shut out of the Mid-Florida Regional MLS?
Please tell me how any of this benefits the consumer especially in todays market and my last question is this.
"Why is it, the Mid-Florida Regional MLS has shut our Non-Realtors from participating in the Mid-Florida Regional MLS" it would seem to me as a unfair trade practice.
http://www.usdoj.gov/atr/contact/newcase.htm
Included links
Http://www.mfrmls.com/
http://www.orlrealtor.com/Main/Main.asp