Comments on: Real estate rules termed “anti-competitive”

By: Valentine’s Day Book Deals and Linkstuff

Valentine’s Day Book Deals and Linkstuff — Wed, 11 May 2011 00:23:13 +0000

[...] Capitalist wrote about the whole MLS, real estate anti-competition thing this week. I’m cautiously hopeful that this will result in a better real estate environment by the [...]

By: Paul Reynolds

Paul Reynolds — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 02:15:46 +0000

These MLS issues are worth several billion in annual real estate commission paid by the public. 70% of Canadians own homes plus most business owners own commercial property. So this debate is about whether we continue to pay out $25,000 each when we sell properties or use competitive alternatives.Most of us now pay an average of $25,000 plus GST/HST on real estate commission when we sell. That is a lot of money from our pockets. If you wondered what the Competition Bureau thinks is unfair and damaging about the way real estate boards run MLS, you should read the basic legal complaint and reply at this government of Canada web site. http://bit.ly/bDtE4b Share your views at ILoveCommission.com –experience, views, jokes and video. Paul@propertyplace.ca

By: Realtors Suck

Realtors Suck — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 14:35:18 +0000

What does a Realtor do?

1) “Here is the dining area… that appears to be carpet… these stairs appear to go both up AND down.”

2) tell you to see a lawyer to fill out all the paperwork.

3) charge 5-7% for this “valuable” service.

Realtors are useless. good riddance. ever hear of something called the Internet? Sell your own house unless you are a sheep.

By: The top 3 myths of the Competition Bureau vs. CREA battle

The top 3 myths of the Competition Bureau vs. CREA battle — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 14:00:42 +0000

[...] the commission paid to real estate agents (see the comments in Canadian Capitalist’s post about real estate agents). If nothing else, the internet is the perfect mud slinging machine and the back and forth between [...]

By: The top 3 myths of the Competition Bureau vs. CREA battle – Armada Media Blog Knowledge

Fri, 02 Apr 2010 00:37:46 +0000

[...] commission paid to real estate agents (see the comments in Canadian Capitalist’s post about real estate agents). If nothing else, the internet is the perfect mud slinging machine and the back and forth between [...]

By: Thicken My Wallet » Blog Archive » The top 3 myths of the Competition Bureau vs. CREA battle

Mon, 29 Mar 2010 08:46:21 +0000

By: Mark

Mark — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 01:32:51 +0000

@ Financial Coach – you’d be able to conduct business with your proprietary software as you see fit so long as you don’t become a dominant quasi-monopoly. When you become overly dominant and engage in anti-competitive practices, the governments step in for the public good. That’s why the EU is regulating Microsoft, the Cdn government used to regulate Bell Canada (in the old days of just land lines), etc.

Union Gas and other utilities own, build and maintain the network of piping that brings natural gas into most urban homes. You could heat your home with alternatives such as fuel oil, electricity, wood, tanked propane, geothermal, etc. and you could call these other choices “competition” but Union Gas, Enbridge, etc. have dominant market positions and are hence regulated. If not, then they could simply jack their gas/transport rates up in the middle of winter and say “Don’t like it, go to the competition”. How would you like that after investing in a gas-fired furnace and water heater?

In addition, there may be competition to CREA but there is also collusion within CREA in that many/most full-service agents will not deal with the discount channels.

By: Canadian Capitalist

Canadian Capitalist — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 15:59:49 +0000

@How stupid can you get: I haven’t seen a single comment or demand asking for free access to MLS. Nobody is saying realtors have to work for free. All the public is asking for is CREA to allow registered realtors to offer a flat-fee model.

By: Me

Me — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 15:35:31 +0000

@How stupid can you get – here is a good post explaiing the debate for you;
http://www.thickenmywallet.com/blog/wp/2010/02/10/are-you-better-off-with-a-non-monopolistic-mls/

and this is interesting;
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/business/Public+soon+have+access/2549222/story.html

it looks like some brokers/realtors like this hewie guy want to offer the discount flat fee services, but he can’t , shame on you CREA for not allowing fair competition for your own members! and shame on some of you other realtors for not listening to your clients/consumers and offering better choice of services due to your own greed! its too bad they have MLS in their pocket, otherwise all would be fair.

By: Rick

Rick — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 15:03:47 +0000

@E I agree, was totally thinking the same thing, it seems “How stupid can you get” has missed the point like several others in the realtor camp. Noone is asking CREA to let the the public get into MLS for free or even let them in at all. It’s some of your own paying members that want to offer a different fee structure, pay per service, as oppose to commission full service.

@How stupid can you get: Please re-read what the Bureau is trying to accomplish; “Changing the minimum service requirements” to make it fair and competitive for all YOUR members. Then please re-read your post and correct your all the useless stuff you are ranting about.

@Greg You really do make some great points, I think CREA and realtors need to take a good look at what the Bureau wants, and public perception, as it’s time for them to embrace some change, or it could hurt thm in the end.