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GNL says

Here's a question...how does an MLS become THE MLS for the area. Realtors are required to enter their listings into "the" MLS. Does the NAR determine who owns/starts and/or is picked to be "the" MLS for an area?

Central Panhandle Association of Realtors operates the MLS here. I've seen the same in other places where an association operates the MLS, and each RE brokerage was a member of the association.

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GNL says

Here's a question...how does an MLS become THE MLS for the area. Realtors are required to enter their listings into "the" MLS. Does the NAR determine who owns/starts and/or is picked to be "the" MLS for an area?

Central Panhandle Association of Realtors operates the MLS here. I've seen the same in other places where an association operates the MLS, and each RE brokerage was a member of the association.

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So, the brokers determine who "the" MLS is?

GNL says

So, the brokers determine who "the" MLS is?

The association determines the MLS. And the association is made up of local real estate brokerages. It may give the appearance it is like an exclusive club.

Just like there was an unofficial association of companies like IBM, Intel and Compaq that came up with a design for the USB.

Its easy to sell on Zillow and Trulia as well as Craigslist if you want to sell by owner.

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The association determines the MLS. And the association is made up of local real estate brokerages. It may give the appearance it is like an exclusive club.

Just like there was an unofficial association of companies like IBM, Intel and Compaq that came up with a design for the USB.

The different MLS systems don't even use compatible data formats with each other.

Partnering with Zillow would fix all those issues. Threaten to pull the data availability and Zillow caves? Can't be that simple.

HeadSet says

GNL says

(you do not have to be a Realtor to sell a home. You only have to be a real estate agent working for a brokerage.

In Virginia, and likely most other places, you must be a licensed real estate agent working for a broker to market someone else's home and collect a commission. To become a real estate agent you must pass a written test and background check. Over time, an agent also must also do some continuing education. To become a broker that can supervise these agents, one must have 3 years of full-time experience plus complete further education and testing.

Being a Realtor is not the same as being a real estate agent. A Realtor is a real estate agent but a real estate agent is not necessarily a Realtor.

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Its easy to sell on Zillow and Trulia as well as Craigslist if you want to sell by owner.

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Have you sold a house that way?

Onvacation says

When I was in real estate in the mid '90s, a lot of selling agents wouldn't even look at your offer if it wasn't presented by a Realtor.

?? Around here, and other places I have lived, a realtor likes nothing more than to have a buyer show up without an agent. The selling agent is more than happy enough to fill out the contract and not have to split the commission with a buyer's agent.