But I don’t know what you are talking about when you describe IDX as “all-or-nothing”. NAR’s IDX policy includes language that appears in every MLS’s IDX rules (at least the couple hundred I’ve seen), that permits the displaying broker to display less than the whole IDX database. That means the displaying broker could show only million-dollar-plus listings, only her own listings, only listings with photos, only listings with remarks written in English, etc.

So brokers CAN display only their own listings on their web sites. But brokers who have invested a lot of money in their web sites, and have thought a lot about web marketing, and have built sites that are very popular, still think it’s worthwhile showig their competitor’s listings.
-Brian

With peer-to-peer XML/RSS these days, it makes no sense to be trapped with IDX solutions. Brokers should cut expenses and bad ties, and just go direct to each other as they wish. IDX is just trying to extend the life of the zombie known as MLS, neither of which are Next Generation Real Estate ideas…

Keep up the good work, Rob!

Matthew Ferrara

When I spoke with the marketing manager, he told me that the brokers had really pushed for this site… I think to compete with all the IDX sites.

Just for fun, anticipating that brave new world…

What if the property owner, soon discovers it is cheaper to reclaim his rightful ownership of the information? What if listing and selling most properties becomes as easy as loading up the property info into an (indexable) google wave template, and what if the aggregate (indexable) collection of waves becomes a crowdsourced national real estate database shaped only by those (the property owners) who provide the info?

If placement in the mls has been the biggest reason why most sellers use a real estate agent anyway, what will happen when the same benefit can be derived for free by filling out a simple web based form.

Competent buyers agents who can interpret the info will still be needed to guide, interpret, counsel… all that good stuff.

But who will really need the help of a listing agent? Sure, someone’s gotta negotiate the contract (yay lawyers), and marketing companies that specialize in real estate will be brought in at the seller’s discretion, but for most unexceptional property, what will be the need for that “listing” agent when “listing” your property becomes as easy as updating your facebook profile.

I’m thinking IDX (and maybe MLS) is almost dead because, well, the fact that brokers and mls’s that created the data exchange don’t need to “own” the data anymore is becoming more and more obvious. Sure, they’ve been permitted by property owners to pseudo-own the data for lack of a better alternative, but better alternatives are fast approaching if not already here in their infancy?

But I need time to frame up my thoughts about what you have said. (I don’t know if you have noticed, but I can’t seem to say anything very quickly. For Tolkein fans, I’m a bit of an Ent.)

-Brian

CBA is a commercial MLS with commission sharing arrangements, rules, regs etc. Their membership includes Realtor members and non Realtor members.

I was thrilled to see mention of HAR and was just excited that our company is a part of their success! There is not better time than now to protect our industry.

-rsh