Posted on 05/09/2005 4:59:07 AM PDT by Koblenz
NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. antitrust regulators are preparing to sue the National Association of Realtors (NAR) over policies they believe will illegally restrict commission discounting and harm online competitors, The Wall Street Journal reported Monday.
The effort by the Justice Department and the Federal Trade Commission aims to protect buyers and sellers of homes and could help contain high real-estate costs in a booming housing market, the newspaper said.
(Excerpt) Read more at money.cnn.com ...
Who said anything about free?
I am pointing out that's it's a closed system. Paying for access would be worth it to me. But not thousands of dollars. And, since you are spending money to make money why the gripe?
I will acknowledge that the federal Congress has the enumerated power to "regulate commerce," commerce being defined as trade or exchange, and relunctantly agriculture, manufacturing, or mining for argument purposes.
Congress cannot use this enumerated power and violate the Bill of Rights.
Anti-trust laws appear to violate both Amendment V and Amendment IX.
There are folks who are capable of doing it themselves and getting the same results without paying a fee; more power to them. But there are lots more who make mistakes which cost them big time!
Who is going to stop them... the Supreme Court? Let's not forget campaign finance reform.
I have a real estate license. I'm not complaining that I only made $950 on the transaction, but rather, I'm complaining about the client for complaining about my $950 fee for five hours work, while not even questioning the $35,400 real estate commission she paid the broker for three hours work.
I'm with you. Realtors that actually make money work extremely hard.
BTW, the average annual income of a realtor nationwide is $25,000. That does not sound "overpaid" to me.
Many realtors are part time. The averages are therefore not meaningful.
I don't mind realtors making 6%, just like I don't mind if someone pays $3,000 to fly from NYC to LA. But the realtors shouldn't get state legislatures to mandate that I pay 6%. There should be competition allowed.
>> But the realtors shouldn't get state legislatures to mandate that I pay 6%. There should be competition allowed.<<
With that I agree, 100%.
I hope you make the same contention about accounting, lawyering, and medical practicing, as well.
My State regulates my medical practice in terms of licensing and quality issues. They likewise regulate realtors in terms of licensing and quality issues.
However, medical price-fixing is illegal and there is nothing that prevents me (other than common sense business considerations) from offering medical services at 10% of what other physicians charge.
If all the M.D.'s in our State got together to ensure that our medical charges never got below a certain figure, the Feds would be on us like pit-bulls on a pork chop.
I understand your point. And certainly, buying a property for rental income versus a primary residence are completely different things. However, since we always sent our kids to parochial or private schools, the only factors we ever really looked for in a potential home were safety, convenience, and a reasonably maintained neighborhood. Today I live in one of those ridiculous neighborhoods where homes sell before they're really even on the market. We would never buy here today.
Dear old and tired,
Well, you know that we homeschool, so the schools weren't an issue for us. But I guess they are for something like 80% or so of folks with kids.
"Today I live in one of those ridiculous neighborhoods where homes sell before they're really even on the market. We would never buy here today."
Me, too. I couldn't even afford my house, now. My income hasn't gone up 70% in the last four years.
But increasingly, in the Washington area, most of the neighborhoods are becoming ridiculous.
sitetest
Any honest attorney will advise against this... Hiring a reputable Realtor or Real Estate Attorney will limit SELLER & BUYER liability....as well as minimize frustrations...
The transfer of real property should not be considered on the level of selling a car....
In the event of litigation, most litigating attorney's require at least a $5,000 retainer fee..... Now this is in addition to the Real Estate Attorney fees....GRIN....
Compare that to the commissions and the possibility of added litigation & possible settlements and the Realtor commission is seen in another light...not to mention the Realtor commission is part of the market value of the property....
Any Realtor in Texas caught fixing prices is subject to losing his/her license..... I always "privately" negotiate my fees.... ...some of my clients have gotten my services for free, some I lost money on, and some got a year's worth of my time....others bought quickly and paid a reasonable commission.
I have never and will never take advantage of those that trust me....NEVER... I am a Texan...and real Texans do not do that...our word is our bond.
I have purchased property without a Realtor and sold one without a Realtor. All three were handled by my attorney at a fraction of the cost a Realtor which was more than offset by the savings of a lower purchase price on the buys and fees on the sale.
If they earn it, the market will bear it; and if not, not.
Either way, no need for mandates. There should be maximums, but not minimums.
Bump for later read.
bttt
Well good...but you are the exception... I charge fees based on my value to my client. I am glad your sales worked out...yet I don't understand how a Real Estate Attorney is cheaper than a Realtor...?
...unless your attorney is one of those without any specialization... I will always wonder why an otherwize reasonable person will use "an attorney outside his expertise" for any reason...but demand a specialist when it comes to healthcare..... Go figure.....
So...would you apply this logic to food, furniture, appliances, and other labor.....maximum limits?
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