On episode 66 of Industry Relations, Rob and Greg discussed the potential repercussions of ending mandatory compensation. And Rob asserted that without cooperation and compensation, the value of the MLS lies solely in its data and technology tools.
How did those comments sit with MLS leaders?
Justin Landon is the CEO of the Lexington-Bluegrass Association of REALTORS, a 4,000-member MLS based in Lexington, Kentucky. Ryan Castle serves as CEO of the Cape Cod & Islands Association of REALTORS, a 3,000-member MLS serving Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard, and Nantucket. On this episode of Industry Relations, Justin and Ryan join Rob and Greg to share their argument against the assertion that the value of the MLS is tied solely to buyer’s compensation.
Justin and Ryan describe the work they do to ensure that listing agents follow data compliance guidelines, explaining how the MLS has evolved to become a catalyst for the adoption of technology and a distribution mechanism among agents and consumers. Listen in for insight on why compensation is usually offered even when it’s not required and learn about the MLS’s role in building technology that facilitates cooperation.
What’s Discussed:
Justin & Ryan’s argument against the assertion that the value of the MLS is tied solely to buyer’s compensation
The work MLSs do to ensure that listing agents follow data compliance guidelines
Why MLS teams need to know the areas they’re serving
How the MLS has evolved to become a distribution mechanism among agents and consumers
Why Rob suggests that MLSs need to invest in developing their own technology if compensation ends
The MLS as a technology provider vs. catalyst for the adoption of technology
Why compensation is usually offered even when it’s not required
The relationship between compensation and the steering problem in real estate
The potential to add reverse auto prospecting and rental data to the MLS
How NAR’s focus on the distribution of data provides an opportunity for MLSs
The MLS’s role in building technology that facilitates cooperation
What we need to do to prevent the government from making the MLS a public utility
Connect with Justin:
Lexington-Bluegrass Association of REALTORS
Connect with Ryan:
Cape Cod & Islands Association of REALTORS
Connect with Rob and Greg:
Resources:
What if Mandatory Compensation Goes Away? on Industry Relations EP066
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Does everything have to be so fast? Shouldn't some things take time?
Especially if it's the largest purchase/sale of your life?
On this episode of Industry Relations, Rob and Greg sit down with Brian Boero of 1000watt, to discuss his recent blog post, "Pushing Buttons". Join this high-level discussion and talk about the future of online real estate.
Does everything have to be so fast? Shouldn't some things take time?
Especially if it's the largest purchase/sale of your life?
On this episode of Industry Relations, Rob and Greg sit down with Brian Boero of 1000watt, to discuss his recent blog post, "Pushing Buttons". Join this high-level discussion about the future of "push button" real estate.
What‘s Discussed:
The consumer experience with pushing buttons
Redfin's 400 step process
The genius of Zillow's "Super App" marketing messaging
Greg talks "Zuber"
Keeping up with the consumer
What does a "better" real estate experience look like?
Connect with Rob & Greg:
Rob’s Website
Greg’s Website
Resources:
Brian's "Pushing Buttons" blog post
1000watt's website
Amazon's Day One Philosophy
Our Sponsors:
Who owns the data associated with a house?
As it stands right now, the listing broker is in control. But what if a buyer doesn’t want a floor plan or 3-D walkthrough of their new home available online?
There is growing public concern around data privacy in big tech, yet few are talking about how this translates to the real estate industry.
On this episode of Industry Relations, Rob and Greg sit down to discuss the complexities around who owns real estate data, considering whether homeowners should have ownership rights to the data for their property.
They explain the current privacy laws around street photography and explore the expectation of privacy in public records—including MLS databases.
Listen in to understand how privacy policies might impact different players in the real estate space and learn how to think about who should own property data once the SOLD sign goes up.
What‘s Discussed:
The ruling in the VHT v. Zillow case re: copyright in real estate photography
Who currently owns the data about a house and why it’s such a complex issue
Whether homeowners have ownership rights to the data for their property
The safety concerns associated with making property data available online (for buyers and sellers)
The current laws around photography and privacy
The expectation of privacy around public records and Rob’s take on why the MLS is not a private platform
How Apple’s App Tracking Transparency policy impacts real estate vendors
How privacy policies might affect Compass’ business plan
How we rely on open data to value homes
How the privacy issues surrounding big tech might translate to real estate
Connect with Rob & Greg:
Resources:
Our Sponsors:
On January 19, 2022, Fannie Mae announced a desktop appraisal option that goes live in Desktop Underwriter in March, making it possible to do an appraisal without a physical inspection.
So, what motivated this change in the rules? Why is it important?
What does a desktop appraisal option mean for appraisers? And how will it impact the real estate industry in general?
NIck Conteduca is the Senior Vice President of Tech Innovation and Subject Matter Expert at Opteon, a global real estate appraisal firm working toward the bold vision of same-day turn times.
On this episode of Industry Relations, Nick joins Rob and Greg to discuss Fannie Mae’s announcement, explaining what a desktop appraisal entails and the rules around who (or what) provides the information.
Nick weighs in on why there are only 75,000 appraisers in the US, describing how challenging it is to become a licensed appraiser and why the appraisal industry has a love-hate relationship with the new rules.
Listen in to understand why it’s unlikely that lenders will start using AVMs over appraisers and learn how the appraisal industry is evolving—and what technology can do to support appraisers, not replace them.
What‘s Discussed:
What motivated Fannie Mae’s new desktop appraisal option and why it’s a big deal
What a desktop appraisal entails and the rules re: who provides the information
How information for a desktop appraisal can be verified through virtual inspection technology
Why there are only 75,000 appraisers in the US and how they’re compensated
The appraisal industry’s love-hate relationship with the new desktop appraisal option
Why it’s unlikely that lenders will start using AVMs instead of appraisers
Why real estate data in public records and on the MLS is so inaccurate (and how appraisers correct the data in Fannie Mae’s Uniform Appraisal Dataset)
How challenging it is to become a certified appraiser as opposed to a licensed REALTOR
The relationships among appraisers, REALTORS and home inspectors
How the appraisal industry is evolving and how tech improvements might affect it
Connect with Nick:
Connect with Rob & Greg:
Resources:
Fannie Mae’s Desktop Appraisal Option Announcement
Fannie Mae’s Desktop Underwriter
Fannie Mae’s Desktop Appraisal FAQ’s
Fannie Mae’s Uniform Appraisal Dataset
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