A NATIONAL MLS -  

Would it be in the Public interest to have a National MLS Board? Well of course it would, how could it not. Getting past the sentiment of those who do not play well with others.., we can see a whole new and exciting opportunity to help the Public.

The fear: some MLS boards will fear loss of power and fear control by a larger Big Brother. It does not have to be that way.

The facts: it may take a court order to get some MLS boards to comply.

1. I believe that it would not be a big problem to develop the needed software to simply "plug in" to every MLS database out there. I am a real estate Broker and a webmaster and have been discussing the idea with others.

2. I believe that all MLS operations should stay "as they are" totally, with the exception of shared information to a National Database. Those who wish to stay as they are locally can then do so and not subscribe to the National Data Base. EZ stuff.

3. By leaving the infrastructure as it is we also avoid charges of having a Monopoly.

4. The local boards can benefit by sharing with other boards... much as we do with our political structure here in the USA. Each State has their own laws and rules, yet each State belongs to the Union or... part of the Nation.

5. We are a mobile Nation. Our people do move around a lot, especially Military families. Many of us Agents/Brokers would like to offer a simply standard National Search that could be easily directed to where the end user wishes to go.

6. In the end each MLS would retain is its own unique identity, processes and rules..., yet each can benefit from the National exposure and strength of a National United MLS. The NAR has done it already in terms of uniting Realtors.

7. Some agents may not like the thought, so they would be able to just keep on keeping on as they are in their warm comfortable place that they are happy with. No biggie. - Those Agent who would "share" and join with a National effort to grow, would of course benefit in other ways.

8. Some MLS Boards may not like the thought, so they would be able to just keep on doing what they have been doing...of course, but by allowing access to a National Board they would at least derive benefits for those of their members who could use the exposure. They would give up NOTHING. They would gain EVERYTHING. - In fact I see several ways that a local MLS could bring in additional income from the process and bring added benefits to the Public.

Aaaaah so. Complex it is, but it does not have to be. I have talked with a couple other high end Techs and together we have thought of legal ways to tap into MLS databases to do just this very thing, make a National MLS Database. It will happen in time in some way.

IMHO, the local MLS offices can each join together and have some say and control in the future of a National MLS... or they can hide their heads in the sand and watch people like me or others, who will take the lead and bring on a group of Lawyers to find the legal way to force them to comply or at least share their information. I hate the thought of giving Lawyers that much money and "forcing" anyone to comply, but it doesn't have to be that way.

Things are in the works already. Just sit back and watch or encourage your local MLS boards to work together for the Public interest and ultimately in the end, their membership.

Kind regards to all,

Don Leske II / Broker-webmaster 
www.BCIwire.com  / www.BCIrent.com / www.homes-and-properties.com / www.Realhomes.us