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Richie Alan Naggar, agent & author  (people first...then business Ran Right Realty )

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Rainmaker
1,090,637
Diana Zaccaro Broker Associate
ZOOM Realty Group - Cocoa Beach, FL
"The Accidental Blogger" Cocoa Beach, Florida

Most brokers here have a clause in their ICA requiring agents to join the Board and the MLS and they must keep their dues paid to the state, local and national boards as well as MLS. If any agent does not comply, the broker will usually terminate the ICA.

Failure to join and keep your dues current (both MLS and Board) results in the agent either going to inactive status or being a referral agent. Not at all unusual here.

 

Mar 12, 2016 03:02 AM
Rainmaker
2,390,620
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Ward County Notary Services - Minot, ND
Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker

Sounds like the local MLS is trying to do the job of the State RE Commission. I'd say they are over stepping their bounds Richie Alan Naggar 

Mar 12, 2016 08:11 AM
Rainmaker
1,712,676
Joe Pryor
The Virtual Real Estate Team - Oklahoma City, OK
REALTOR® - Oklahoma Investment Properties

Complete agreement with the policy. We have seen data scrappers from out of state get access through one person then giving it to everyone else. The MLS is broker to broker communication and compensation and it is for everyone. However, in OKC REALTORS® can ope out like with an assistant, but they cannot show homes, or have a Supra key.

Mar 12, 2016 03:43 AM
Rainmaker
1,239,901
Sam Shueh
(408) 425-1601 - San Jose, CA
mba, cdpe, reopro, pe

Trying to generate revenue & keep agents honest.

We have 9000 paid members but there are may be 15000 active or semiactive agents. Many are shielded under someone else. Some are loan persons or appraisers. Many are PT realtors just who can not afford paying steep fees.

Mar 12, 2016 03:29 AM
Rainmaker
5,772,575
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Richie,

It sounds like what you do with a car that you are not driving, but still have to pay the DMV.  Sounds like much ado about NADA.  LOL A

Mar 12, 2016 02:55 AM
Rainmaker
3,071,489
Tony and Suzanne Marriott, Associate Brokers
Serving the Greater Phoenix and Scottsdale Metropolitan Area - Scottsdale, AZ
Haven Express @ Keller Williams Arizona Realty

Like that here too

Mar 12, 2016 08:51 PM
Rainmaker
1,231,853
Mary Yonkers
Alan Kells School of Real Estate/Howard Hanna Real Estate - Erie, PA
Erie/PA Real Estate Instructor

If you want to eat you pay, otherwise you carry sign, "I work for food'

Mar 12, 2016 07:51 AM
Rainmaker
687,136
Hella Mitschke Rothwell
(831) 626-4000 - Honolulu, HI
Hawaii & California Real Estate Broker

Frankly, I'm surprised your board did not do this before. Even a small board in Del Norte County, California that I belong to has that rule. Ditto in the large Honolulu Board of Realtors that I belong to in Hawaii has that rule. Now, if I joined other MLSs in other areas of California and islands of Hawaii (which is ok for me) and, let's say,  I had agents working for me in those other areas, I wonder if I need to join that board so that my agents could join the MLS. And, probably, those agents would need to join that particular board. I can see my own memberships growing and much spending of extra dollars. Which is ok as long as those are productive agents!

Mar 12, 2016 07:03 AM
Rainmaker
617,935
David Gibson CNE, 719-304-4684 ~ Colorado Springs Relocation
Colorado Real Estate Advisers LLC - Colorado Springs, CO
Relocation, Luxury & Lifestyle residential

Richie,
If someone is going to hold themselves out as a professional, fully capable of serving a client, they need the tools and rights that typically only come by paying local board dues. The model may change in the future.

Mar 12, 2016 06:43 AM
Rainmaker
140,768
Joan Dickie
Keller Williams Premier Realty - La Crosse, WI
Keller Williams Premier Realty

Mine is the same way.  It is well enforced.  I don't like it.  For example, my main brokerage is in another state.  We don't even have an office here, but we do have a local address.  Now, the local board wants  all the agents in the other state in the main office to pay MLS fees even though they don't have a WI license.

Mar 12, 2016 06:14 AM
Ambassador
3,727,873
Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@Properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital

I think that's pretty much the way it is in most places - including here.

Mar 12, 2016 05:26 AM
Rainmaker
5,216,398
Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Chicago, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

If you are spomsored by the broker, you must join the MLS, no declarations!

Mar 12, 2016 05:24 AM
Rainmaker
533,993
Robert Havana
Park and Protect- Alberta Real Estate License Parking - Calgary, AB
Alberta Real Estate License Parking

my local board does that too, just one more of many reasons that the real estate board model is failing and doing a disservice to members.  The lethbridge real estate board is poorly operated and does a shitty job for its members.

Mar 12, 2016 05:18 AM
Rainmaker
1,513,143
Raymond E. Camp
Ontario, NY

I agree they should deactivate unless they have enough clients to be referring. It is the same here.

Mar 12, 2016 03:51 AM
Rainmaker
5,583,278
Barbara Todaro
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA
Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

that's a bit over the edge!!!

Mar 12, 2016 03:44 AM
Ambassador
3,164,294
Tammy Lankford,
Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA
Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

If your brokerage is in the MLS here, all agents must also be members.  The MLS pulls numbers from the real estate commission that that is what the broker is billed for.  Brokers can collect from their agents, but must pay for every active licensee in their firm, it's always been this way.  Agents are NOT required to have a supra key if they are not actively selling though.

Mar 12, 2016 03:27 AM
Rainmaker
4,800,082
Gabe Sanders
Real Estate of Florida specializing in Martin County Residential Homes, Condos and Land Sales - Stuart, FL
Stuart Florida Real Estate

This is the way it's been with my association for as long as I can remember.

Mar 12, 2016 03:16 AM
Rainmaker
4,160,812
John Pusa
Glendale, CA

Richie Alan Naggar Some boards require joining the MLS, while other board don't require.

Mar 12, 2016 03:11 AM
Rainmaker
921,504
Annette Lawrence , Palm Harbor, FL 727-420-4041
ReMax Realtec Group - Palm Harbor, FL
Making FLORIDA Real Estate EZ

In my region of FLORIDA all agents working with a member broker MUST also join the board. 

This is simply to retain control of the options available to agents.

Those who ask, 'Must I join the board?" soon realize the have no choice unless they somehow find the courageous and visionary broker.

They DO have options, I trust they can find them.

My thoughts? These are actions that are implemented to protect turf, to extend a perceived relevance to a money model that sees the sun setting on their time. Agents can represent buyer and seller and receive compensation without being members of the board in the state of Florida.  Just need a visionary broker to raise their hand.

Mar 12, 2016 03:03 AM
Ambassador
6,393,404
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

Ours has a similar policy.

Jun 09, 2019 11:41 PM
Rainmaker
3,988,007
Debbie Reynolds, C21 Platinum Properties
Platinum Properties- (931)771-9070 - Clarksville, TN
The Dedicated Clarksville TN Realtor-(931)320-6730

Everyone in our board has to be a member of MLS or the broker has to pay the fee for them as a non-participant.

Oct 07, 2016 12:26 PM
Rainmaker
7,836,134
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

That is already required in many areas.

Mar 13, 2016 01:05 AM
Rainmaker
4,572,183
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

I think if that is what your board requires - you better comply or find a new board.

I have found in some smaller brokerages -- there are "agents" who are not board members.  I think there is sharing of MLS identifications and lockbox access.    

Mar 12, 2016 09:39 PM
Rainmaker
634,482
Kathleen Luiten
Resort and Second-Home Specialist - Princeville, HI
Kauai Luxury Ocean Home Sales

That's the requirement we have. I wish joining the MLS was a choice rather than a requirement. On my team we don't need four subscriptions or the big expense!

Mar 12, 2016 05:03 PM
Rainer
80,653
Linda Guess
Keller Williams Tri-Lakes Branson, MO - Branson, MO
Branson area real estate sales.

Our rules are the same.  I have no problem with the rule.

Mar 12, 2016 01:42 PM
Rainer
321,564
Melissa Jackson REALTOR
Trinity Premier Properties - Azle, TX
Helping You Make The Right Move

Same for me.  I had to join the MLS and Realtor Association that my broker is  active.  

Mar 12, 2016 01:11 PM
Rainmaker
1,622,432
Inna Ivchenko
Barcode Properties - Encino, CA
Realtor® • GRI • HAFA • PSC Calabasas CA

On my team not everyone is an active member. If an agent gets a listing or needs mls they activate their mls access( 300 activation+ 220 per 1/2 year)

Mar 12, 2016 12:32 PM
Rainmaker
1,157,785
FN LN
Toronto, ON

My board requires that all agents in a brokerage office be a member of the board.  A brokerage can have non-board members by having the relevant agents be in a different office.

Mar 12, 2016 11:47 AM
Rainmaker
1,502,998
Ryan Huggins - Thousand Oaks, CA
https://HugginsHomes.com - Thousand Oaks, CA
Residential Real Estate and Investment Properties

We don't have that here.  If you're active and need MLS access, you need to join the board.

Mar 12, 2016 10:58 AM
Rainer
3,375
TJ Powers
Powers Realty - Redondo Beach, CA
Ocean View Property for Sale and Lease

I am starting to think that the MLS is turning into a monopoly. Agents are increasingly putting homes up for sale without the use of the MLS, which makes it hard to earn a commission. What is the MLS doing about that? They shouldn't be able to make all the rules that only benifit them. They need better management overall.

Mar 12, 2016 09:37 AM
Rainmaker
846,475
Marco Giancola
Beachfront Realty - Miami Beach, FL
Realtor (305)608-1922, Miami Beach Florida

That is the way it is here

Mar 12, 2016 02:59 AM