[Herakles]

Not to many people remember that the last time a flat tax was discussed, the group that came out against it, and pretty munch killed it was the Realtors. Everything for them is a write off, so that 6% is pretty much tax free: and that is why they did not want tax reform for the rest of us!

Soon, I hope, people will realize that asking for 6% (or greater) of their nest egg is too much to ask. It's my opinion, from what I've seen here in central Pennsylvania, that the Realtors have so much control that they, not market forces, dictate prices. I am bewildered why the government does not consider this industry a Trust.

[Texas_Jarhead]

"Soon, I hope, people will realize that asking for 6% (or greater) of their nest egg is too much to ask."

I banged out a whole screed about how overpaid Realtors are but tossed it in the circular file. I mean 6% of the value of your most valuable asset for a couple man days (if that) of work. Needless to say I completely agree with your comments.

[sittnick]

The realtors here in Rockford, Illinois like to ask 7%. Worse, the Rockford Area Association of Realtors takes some of that money, and puts up billboards and buys radio time to shill for every school tax increase that gets proposed. Some of the commission also goes to radio spots warning people about the problems of FSBO. (I figure FSBO must work, or they wouldn't advertise against it.)

Nothing against Realtors in general, everything against the local realtor's association.

I am building a home without a realtor, and I will sell my present home without one.

[Graymatter]

I'm in central PA. See post #9. Ebay fee $100. No realtor. Sold the house sight unseen, never showed it even once.

Realtors in this area seem very strange to me, a native of NY-NJ. Here it's hard to get them to come out on a Sunday. In NY they will leave their dying mother's bedside to show you a property. In NJ they'll offer you an option on her house too.

[alnick]

Realtors have so much control that they, not market forces, dictate prices.

They're trying that down here in Louisiana where non-flooded houses are selling at a premium. They're trying to use guilt to get people to sell at pre-Katrina prices, advising sellers not to be greedy.

The fact is that in my town where large areas were completely devestated, other large sections of the town didn't flood. We all got varying levels of wind damage, but the entire nearby parish of St. Bernard was completely under water, and they're migrating over here. Our population is higher than ever, and the inventory of livable houses is extremely low, which does change the value of the property. It has to.