I have heard much chatter lately about a establishing a statewide MLS system in the State of Michigan. This afternoon when I returned from an appointment I had an e-mail from MAR conducting a membership survey on property data and the MLS. Most of the questions had to do specifically do with the MLS and what types of services the MLS should offer, offers of compensation and other MLS rules.
How many other people have received this survey? I am curious of how many people in the state would favor a statewide MLS? What do you feel are the advantages and disadvantages? Do statewide MLS's exist in other states? I know that many of the smaller brokerages in Northern Michigan where I am from have been reluctant to share the information on their listings and it has been only recently that some of them have even agreed to allow their listings to be shared on IDX. I know their main concern would be that agents from downstate would now have information on both active and solds (which is not currently available) more readily available and would be more likely to move into our area. I am sure that Seller's don't care who sells their property in this type of a market as long as they get their money for it. From that regard if it is in the best interest of our Seller's maybe it is our responsibility to thoroughly investigate a statewide MLS.
I felt that AR would be a great forum to discuss with forward thinking people how this this may positively or negatively affect our business in the future. What are your thoughts?
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