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NAR Code of Ethics Bans Use of 'MLS'

By Ryan Ward

Real Estate Agent with Keller Williams Realty Consultants

December 04, 2007 06:14 AM

If you have not heard, the NAR amended the code of ethics and this effects all of us so we must act! Here is the amendment to the Code of Ethics:

Section 4.4 - Use of the terms MLS and Multiple Listing Service

No MLS participant, subscriber or licensee affiliated with any participant shall, through the name of their firm, their URLs, their e-mail addresses, their website addresses, or in any other way represent, suggest or imply that the individual or firm is an MLS, or that they operate an MLS. Participants, subscribers and licensees affiliated with participants shall not represent, suggest or imply that consumers or others have direct access to MLS databases, or that consumers or others are able to search MLS databases available only to participants and subscribers. This does not prohibit participants and subscribers from representing that any information they are authorized under MLS rules to provide to clients or customers is available on their websites or otherwise.

There is a petition you can sign so that we, as tech savvy agents and brokers - the ones who know best, can have a say and effect the necessary changes to have this amenment repealed.

Please take the time to read what has happened here: http://www.freethemls.com/

And Please take the time if you feel that it is a worthy cause to sign the petition, link to it, blog about and get everyone you know in the industry to do the same.

We have an opportunity to correct what seems to me to have been a terrible mistake on the part of NAR and we need help from REALTORS everywhere to make the change!

Sign the Petition

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Kevin McGrath

Long & Foster Real Estate Companies- Fredericksburg/Spotsylvania - Fredericksburg, VA

Long & Foster Real Estate Companies

What exactly was the reason for this ruling?

Dec 04, 2007 06:37 AM

Ryan Ward

Keller Williams Realty Consultants - Atlanta, GA

I can't speak for them, but, here's more info:

http://www.realtor.org/RMODaily.nsf/pages/News2007111504?OpenDocument

http://www.realtor.org/narcomar.nsf/AllReportsbyID/86256DF20017A60C862573800058FDD1 must login

http://www.realestatewebmasters.com/thread19714.html

Dec 04, 2007 06:48 AM

Jessie Cochran

Counts Real Estate Group, Inc. - Panama City, FL

Panama City Realty Group

Ryan,

Thank you so much for shedding additional light on this subject!

NAR members need to wake up and educate themselves.

We are standing at a crossroads, and a train is coming down the track!

Dec 06, 2007 01:00 PM

Social Media, Email Marketing & Search Engine Optimization Specialist

PCS Online Solutions - Del Mar, CA

Ryan, like most things, we don't learn about it until it's too late. Seems to me the NAR has been pretty quiet about this.

Good post.

I feel the same way about the term "realtor." Soon you won't be able to use the term "agent." or buyer.

I'm off to the petition.

Happy Sailing ... _/) Paul -- www.eNewsletterSolutions.com

Dec 07, 2007 12:56 AM

Pam Graham

All Real Estate Options - Jacksonville, FL

Jacksonville, Clay & St Johns Counties

Through our IDX search, the consumers are accessing the MLS database. Perhaps not all of it because brokers have the right not to participate having their listings shown on other sites, but for the most part they are accessing it. What about disclosure? So by their amendment, I can't have a link on my site that says search the mls, I have to change it to search for homes or something of that nature? Aren't we paying our dues to have the right to use the mls and to let the public know we have access to the mls as well?

Dec 07, 2007 12:59 AM

Ryan Ward

Keller Williams Realty Consultants - Atlanta, GA

Paul and Pam,

It was done quietly and we are in fact providing consumers with an MLS database. This amendment itself seems to me to violate the code of ethics by telling us to tell consumers it is something other than access to the MLS database. Why do they intend for us to lie? Is there more to it?

It actually seems that there is more to it. There has been a lot of research done indicating that some alterior motives are at play behind the scenes.

There's tons of info about who and why located here. It's a long read, but, if you care about what the NAR is doing and how this will play out, every bit of it is essential reading for all of us. The only way this will stop is if the members of NAR (us) stop it.

Dec 07, 2007 01:10 AM

Ryan Ward

Keller Williams Realty Consultants - Atlanta, GA

Paul and Pam,

It actually seems that there is more to it. There has been a lot of research done indicating that some alterior motives are at play behind the scenes.

Dec 07, 2007 01:10 AM

Ryan Ward

Keller Williams Realty Consultants - Atlanta, GA

Paul and Pam,

It actually seems that there is more to it. There has been a lot of research done indicating that some alterior motives are at play behind the scenes.

Dec 07, 2007 01:10 AM

Bob Crain

Crain Realty - North County Luxury Homes - San Marcos, CA

San Diego County Real Estate Broker

Ryan,

I signed it and have also gotten the word out to several other agents. This is a blantant attempt by a few of the NAR Board members and a few of the larger Brokerages to line their own pockets by limiting the lead flow that goes directly to the agents.

For those who don't know who I am talking about there is a great thread over at the Real Estate Webmasters Forum. See it Here: http://www.realestatewebmasters.com/thread19714.html

I encourage all Real Estate agents to sign this petition. Once again this is not about protecting the already generic term MLS, it is about who will controll the use and distribution of leads. Over the last 5 to 10 years many real estate companies have had to increase the commission splits that they pay their agents because these agents are producing their own leads.

Many years ago the main issue was who's phone number will be on our yard sign, the brokers main number or the listing agents number... Some companies still don't get that one. Many areas still limit the number of IDX feeds a Real Estate office can have. Is this the first step in trying to completely limit our abiltiy to even have our own sites?

Dec 09, 2007 11:43 AM