Monday, 25th of October 2010 at 02:01:55 PMOne of my desires is to see a state-wide Multiple-Listing Service (MLS). This would in effect provide a participating agent in one location to see listings in another part of the state. Now, many think that this would cause a flood of agents practicing in areas that they don’t know, and at first, this may be the case. But from an agent that worked both Phoenix and Tucson, I can tell you it gets old pretty quick. I started to focus not on one city, but one part of one city.
No, the real reason I want to see a state-wide MLS is in the power in volume. Arizona Regional Multiple-Listing Service (ARMLS) is the largest in the state, representing 5 boards and 31,676 agents (76% of all agents in the state). And I have to say that ARMLS provides a lot of benefits to their subscribers. From several meetings a year (conference, training sessions) to extended hours of service centers and a great volunteer basis to help contribute to a better system.
Under a data share agreement with several other MLS in the state, from the ARMLS you can see the listings of 39,734 agents or 95% of the state. In a lot of ways, we have the start of a state wide MLS. Each of the MLS are learning from each other, how they determine property characteristics and enforce rules. I learned from watching California become a state-wide that this task cannot happen over night, but it can happen. While initially it will be painful to transition, the end result will benefit everyone from the agents down to the consumers. I’m excited to be watching the action unfold.
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I would like to see a state wide system for every state. As I am looking for a place to move but very flexible. It is not based on a job or city or even a region. It is more based on price, climate, and building codes. It is too difficult to search a state city by city when city isn’t the top criteria at all. I am looking for a good deal on a piece of rural land in a suitable climate. A particular city is the last thing on my list. I would even like to search by region even, or even the whole U.S. but that might be pushing the logistics a bit.