At the MLS strategic planning session, a great deal of discussion centered around RPR, REALTORS PROPERTY RESOURCE and its potential impact on MLS. RPR's primary offering is tax data, something our members currently enjoy but most smaller MLS's cannot afford. Upon reviewing what is available through RPR it appears that our own MLS offers much of what RPR is proposing for members. A key benefit is that RPR will theoretically provide all the USA listings and the research behind them if all the MLS's participate in a data feed.
The RPR Blog spends a lot of time convincing members that this is not like REALTOR.com because it would be owned solely by NAR members- but REALTOR.com started that way as well. For those of us who were around back then there is an uneasy feeling of distrust. Just like REALTOR.com which once paid members for their listings via their MLS or board, members now pay a great deal to access REALTOR.com benefits.
There is a fear among MLS's that once RPR is up and running co-broke agreements or alternate compensation agreements will replace the need for MLS's entirely or that RPR will eventually provide a means to offer cooperation and compensation in its business model. Now the question is ... Is this a good thing or a bad thing?
Your MLS and board are positioned to stand alone independently should this be the final result. MLSOK has many other offerings (and continues to develop services) that it could remain viable should this be the final outcome. The leadership's primary concern is that members receive the same level of service and support they currently enjoy from OKCMAR and MLSOK regardless of RPR's impact. It is far too early to tell what the future of RPR holds, death of MLS or a positive evolution of the real estate industry. Please take the time to read the RPR blog and learn about this enormous shift in the game.
4 comments:
Too bad our MLS can't just opt out of realtor.com! One way to force the predators out of business.
Dawn and OKCMAR leadership -- it sounds like you are doing a great job in talking and learning about RPR in conjunction with your planning sessions. Your MLS is well-positioned whatever happens with RPR or the impact it will have on MLSs across the country since you offer so many services to your customers. Keep up the good work!
Realtor.com is remembered and you hope that NAR learned a lesson from it, but I do believe we need to be on guard about this. I also believe that if NAR moved towards a nationwide MLS system, they would have a mass defection on their hands. After all they do depend on our dues for survival. BY the way, if you look at realtor.com current usage, it is a 45 degree angle down. That should also give NAR pause.
Great topic, and great points made, all of which need to be seriously considered by our entire membership, so everyone has a solid understanding of the topic when things do become more clear. I agree with Joe, that it's imperative that we all proceed with caution here... hope for the best and prepare for the worst.
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