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Rainmaker
5,216,387
Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Chicago, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

Never ever discuss commissions except to tell your agents your office policy! You must be the lone wolf to avoid potential problems!

Jun 06, 2016 08:21 AM
Rainmaker
1,525,616
Sybil Campbell
Fernandina Beach, FL
Referral Agent Amelia Island Florida

I think in this situation we can't be too careful.

Jun 06, 2016 06:54 AM
Ambassador
2,684,009
Fred Griffin Florida Real Estate
Fred Griffin Real Estate - Tallahassee, FL
Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker

     Discussing commissions or fees with other real estate practitioners, even in other states, is ill-advised.  You do not want to face the wrath of the U.S. Department of Justice Anti-Trust Division.

Jun 06, 2016 04:26 AM
Rainmaker
1,466,207
Michael Setunsky
Woodbridge, VA
Your Commercial Real Estate Link to Northern VA

Roy Kelley I believe this answers the question:

"Price fixing is an agreement (written, verbal, or inferred from conduct) among competitors that raises, lowers, or stabilizes prices or competitive terms."

I would say any discussions in a public forum falls into this category.

P.S. I didn't see Kenneth J. Jones answer. It looks like we're on the same wavelength.

Jun 06, 2016 03:15 AM
Ambassador
6,393,154
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

Yes, their interpretation of the law is very broad, so we have to be careful everywhere.

Jun 07, 2016 10:02 AM
Rainmaker
989,652
Jennifer Mackay
Counts Real Estate Group, Inc. - Panama City, FL
Your Bay County Florida Realtor 850.774.6582

It's always better to be safe than sorry IMO

Jun 06, 2016 10:40 PM
Rainmaker
4,319,419
Praful Thakkar
LAER Realty Partners - Andover, MA
Andover, MA: Andover Luxury Homes For Sale

Roy Kelley - thanks for sharing the link. And to best of my knowledge, we should not discuss about commission.

Jun 06, 2016 03:42 PM
Ambassador
3,727,873
Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@Properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital

My understanding is that it restricts (prohibits) conversations between agents or brokers from different real estate companies in Q&A, in blogs or any place else.  I remember when Shannon & Luchs and some other guys were have a conversation at some country club that was overheard by some anti-trust lawyer at Justice.  Nobody went to the slammer, but years later when I was the managing broker for their downtown office, I had to do four training sessions each year on the subject for my agents.  

Jun 06, 2016 01:18 PM
Rainmaker
1,090,637
Diana Zaccaro Broker Associate
ZOOM Realty Group - Cocoa Beach, FL
"The Accidental Blogger" Cocoa Beach, Florida

Yes, not a good idea whether in your state or outside of it.

 

Jun 06, 2016 01:14 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

I do not engage in commission discussions with agents outside of my office with my broker. If a discussion starts I remove myself. 

Jun 06, 2016 12:36 PM
Rainmaker
3,986,258
William Feela
WHISPERING PINES REALTY - North Branch, MN
Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.

Dangerous ground with that subject in conversation

Jun 06, 2016 12:14 PM
Rainmaker
2,362,942
Lise Howe
Keller Williams Capital Properties - Washington, DC
Assoc. Broker in DC, MD, VA and attorney in DC

I think that such discussions are not worth testing the limits of the law

Jun 06, 2016 11:13 AM
Rainmaker
2,443,250
Evelyn Johnston
Friends & Neighbors Real Estate - Elkhart, IN
The People You Know, Like and Trust!

Yes, I wouldn't discuss it...

Jun 06, 2016 10:59 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

It shouldn't stop a discussion, though it should stop collusion.

Jun 06, 2016 06:09 AM
Rainmaker
1,502,998
Ryan Huggins - Thousand Oaks, CA
https://HugginsHomes.com - Thousand Oaks, CA
Residential Real Estate and Investment Properties

There is a lot of letter v. spirit interpretation that can go on with those rules.

Jun 06, 2016 05:37 AM
Rainmaker
823,579
Susan Laxson CRS
Palm Properties - La Quinta, CA
Realtor in San Diego, CA & Naples, FL

I would say yes and agree with Kenneth J. Jones 

Jun 06, 2016 05:03 AM
Rainmaker
1,844,271
Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
Real Estate Broker Retired

Yes Roy, thanks for posting that. Hope we can get some noobs to read them.

Jun 06, 2016 04:59 AM
Rainmaker
5,772,575
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Roy, I think Kenneth J. Jones has the answer.  A

Jun 06, 2016 04:06 AM
Rainmaker
613,494
Eve Alexander
Buyers Broker of Florida - Tampa, FL
Exclusively Representing ONLY Tampa Home Buyers

Anti trust and price fixing relates to setting prices with "competitors".  When agents are in different states they are not "competitors". 

However with that said, I don't think it is wise to discuss commissions.

Eve

Jun 06, 2016 01:36 AM
Rainmaker
4,936,605
Will Hamm
Hamm Homes - Aurora, CO
"Where There's a Will, There's a Way!"

I would have to say not to be discuss here.

Jun 06, 2016 01:25 AM
Rainmaker
1,617,916
Harry F. D'Elia III
WEDO Real Estate and Beyond, LLC - Phoenix, AZ
Investor , Mentor, GRI, Radio, CIPS, REOs, ABR

I do not discuss

Jun 27, 2017 05:43 AM
Rainmaker
921,504
Annette Lawrence , Palm Harbor, FL 727-420-4041
ReMax Realtec Group - Palm Harbor, FL
Making FLORIDA Real Estate EZ

FREE opinion of value.

$1 for an opinion of value.

Rebate 100% of $500 fee for opinion of value if listed with agent.

$300 for an opinion of value.

Now, if this appears on my AR blog, or on the US 19 Billboard or in the Q&
A section of Active Rain that is publicly viewable all play a role regarding price fixing. Maybe a response to another question that explicitly seeks price and compensation information is more pertinent.

And does the reasonableness of the answer have a bearing such as $1,000,000 for that 3/2 bungalow opinion of value?

But I do believe an effective marketer could take excerpts of such a discussion and create a better marketing strategy.

Yes, the FTC does frown on competitors COLLUDING on price.

 

Jun 06, 2016 02:22 AM
Rainmaker
2,781,163
Richie Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

Roy...I dont think discussion comes under banning rules. Freedom of speech prevails

Jun 06, 2016 02:14 AM
Rainmaker
1,157,785
FN LN
Toronto, ON

This is an excellent legal question which I am not licensed to answer.

Jun 06, 2016 01:24 AM