Ryan Ward Got Me Fired Up.

Hi Jim, Great post. I don't get the arrogance from these people. How on earth are they going to rename the MLS? Once they rename it and inform the American public will we be able to use it or will they say we can't use it because we don't show all of the information in it? Sorry, but, that is absurd, costly, narrow minded and, well, just ignorant. These people are trying to play a game of semantics and it's very unbecoming. I just love when they say that consumers are not using the MLS on my website. Do they take me for an idiot? Let's see...The MLS data feed is provided to my vendor of choice, REW. I integrate the MLS datafeed onto my website for consumers to search all active listings in the MLS database. Some knucklehead wants to come and tell me that this is not the MLS? Sorry, that doesn't fly and, in my opinion is blatantly dishonest. A true picture of MLS does not require that all data be shown. To make their argument, that's what you have to do.

I agree with you Ryan. I sent one more e-mail to the guy and included with what I send here is what I got back. Hi NAR MLS Committee Member, I am interested in knowing just how someone gets on a committee like this. I have been a REALTOR® for 4 years now and not once have I ever been asked to vote or approve anything. I hear what you were saying but think that it is totally the wrong approach. Here is a excerpt from the conversation about NAR’s move to make using the term MLS a violation. “It's nothing short of irresponsible, anti-competitive and due to this decision, consumers will be even more misrepresented by the use of the term. In their efforts to protect the consumer, they are doing far more harm than good. I have the MLS feed in my website. Non members have elective listings as advertising and will portray it to the consumer as the MLS. What's worse?” I agree with many of the above thoughts. The consumer is not going to stop using the term “MLS” no matter what NAR thinks or does. Once the few of us who use MLS or Search the MLS on our websites are forced to stop using it, the lead sellers (homegain, housevalues, homes, …) will be free to have a monopoly on advertising the terms associated with MLS and then be able to extort a 30% or 35% referral fee from Realtors for even more consumers who end up in their clutches. James Boyer RE/MAX Properties Unlimited You achieve appointments on NAR’s committees by first becoming active in your local board.. I was a board President which led me to be a NAR director, which in turn enabled me to get appointed to the MLS committee at NAR. So get involved locally… Regards, NAR MLS Board Member I don't know about your local board of realtors Ryan, but there does not seem to be much reason to get involved in mine.