Think-tank deliberates over the future MLS structure

From a consumer stand point both home sellers and home buyers would stand to be the benneficiaries of increased marketing exposure through a nationally consolidated MLS. The only problem is brokers are requesting protection of information and content which not only hurts a seller wanting public exposure but limits the exposure brokers would get from there own listings. But it seems if there is one constant in real estate it is agents love "to shoot themselves in the foot." In the last year the Department of Justice has questioned and filed suit against the National Association of Realtors regarding property data and the control of such information. NAR has only brought more attention to its "anticompetive" policies recently by implementing minimum service requirements of a broker listing a home. The suits filed by the Department of Justice have raised consumer awareness of alternative listing models bringing attention to the current MLS structure, commission structure, and restrictive display of information. Flat fee MLS companies and real estate discounters are gaining market share all the while thanking the broker associations that got the attention of the DOJ. A nationally consolidated MLS could benefit the masses if created as a consumer-friendly database that is broker controlled.  

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