While the MLS has evolved into a technology company over the last several decades, the leadership and governance structures of these independent entities have lingered in their REALTOR association roots.
North Carolina Regional MLS is embodying a move to reflect a humility and recognition that we are all better when we work together. Their new name Hive MLS reflects the character and culture of their organization. They are a group that is driven by how they can consistently improve at serving the needs of their end users and the shareholder associations they partner with. Unlike some MLS brands, Hive MLS positions the company as a humble servant to the greater good and the success of the real estate professionals they serve.
Today, local Associations provide lockbox access only to their local members. Some provide 1-day access codes with an additional cost to those outside of their territory. Others flatly refuse to provide access to members of other associations or MLSs they deem competitive. In Louisiana, for example, there are three markets equidistant from one another. Two of the three have agreed to provide reciprocal access, yet refuse reciprocal access to the third.. This type of anti-competitive behavior is completely counter to earlier proposed agreements with the DOJ that required statewide lockbox access to all licensees.
Local real estate associations play a crucial role in supporting agents and brokers, providing services that range from professional development to community engagement. But how do members perceive the value of these services? Our recent survey of real estate agents and brokers reveals valuable insights into which offerings resonate most and where associations might refine their focus to better serve their members.
The Clear Cooperation Policy, which mandates REALTORS® to list properties on NAR-affiliated MLSs within one day of signing the listing agreement, is under scrutiny from the Department of Justice (DOJ), which has revived its investigation into the association’s rules. NAR has announced plans to appeal a court decision allowing the DOJ’s inquiry to continue. The discussion has also reached emergency status because of a Clear Cooperation Lawsuit scheduled to go to trial in November.
At WAV Group, we are passionate about finding ways to ensure the long-term success of the real estate industry by protecting the best interests of real estate consumers. The on-going spirited debate around the Clear Cooperation Policy centers around different brokerage and MLS beliefs about the ways to serve real estate consumers.
WAV Group shares the results of its Clear Cooperation Study to gain directional insights into the feelings of brokers and MLSs regarding the Clear Cooperation Policy incorporated into the model rules by the National Association of REALTORS®.
I just had a very interesting conversation with some well-heeled luxury brokers from Los Angeles. They told me that since the new requirement to sign a 14-page State-sponsored Buyers Agency Agreement before showing a property has gone into effect, they have seen a dramatic rise in dual agency deals.
After receiving about my 15th call is as many weeks from a distraught Association Executive telling me they just been fired, mostly for irrational and indefensible reasons, I just had to get my thoughts down to see what we can do to fix this systemic problem. I wrote an article entitled Why are so many of our strongest Association Executives getting fired?, about the ill-fated careers of many amazing Association staff leaders.
In this season of 2025 budgeting and year end planning, you may want to take a look at WAV Group’s Brokerage Technology Roadmap Report to start to think about what you should be thinking about for your brokerage technology solutions moving forward. The good news is the leading brokerage technology vendors have been working to help brokers operate more efficient and profitable businesses.
Now that the attorneys have been awarded nearly $1 billion, I believe we are going to see a lot more attorneys come out the woodwork to try to find additional vulnerabilities in our policies and procedures/traditions. I believe the attorneys and DOJ are just getting warmed up. Here’s one potential vulnerability that keeps me up at night….
Since the Biden Administration announced their priority to “un-tie” real estate 4 years ago, I have been urging my MLS clients to get serious about opening up their subscription services to all licensees.
