Should MLS Be Only For Realtors?
If you’ve ever looked for a property to buy, it’s almost certain that you’ve daydreamed through more than one lunch hour looking for your dream house on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) website. It’s estimated that 90 per cent of all housing sales in Canada are from the MLS database.
Much like other industries – music, publishing, newspapers, travel – the real estate world is changing. At this point, if you want to list your property with MLS you need to use a real estate agent. But as with other industries there are many people who would prefer to take the do-it-themselves route.
Canada’s Competition Bureau is taking the Canadian Real Estate Association to the Competition Tribunal in March over the rules governing the use of MLS. If there were fewer restrictions for home sellers able to use MLS to sell their home, it could potentially reduce the need for realtors. I leave the question open – is that good or bad?
