Mark Weisletter as interviewed by the Toronto Star outlines his views on thee misguided direction of the Competition Bureau on MLS> It is about time someone listened to this common sense approach to the issue of real estate competition. You can read his article from the link:
http://www.yourhome.ca/homes/realestate/article/798369--competition-bureau-misguided-about-mls
Showing posts with label MLS. Show all posts
Showing posts with label MLS. Show all posts
Friday, April 23, 2010
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Greater Toronto REALTORS® report March Resale Market Figures
April 6, 2010 -- Greater Toronto REALTORS® reported 10,430 sales through the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in March, pushing total first quarter 2010 sales to 22,418 – the best result on record under the current Toronto Real Estate Board (TREB) boundaries. The average price for March transactions was $434,696. The average price for the first quarter was $427,948.
Click here for complete Market Watch. http://www.torontorealestateboard.com/consumer_info/market_news/mw2010/pdf/mw1003.pdf
Click here for complete Market Watch. http://www.torontorealestateboard.com/consumer_info/market_news/mw2010/pdf/mw1003.pdf
MLS rival joins battle against Competition Bureau
Garry Marr, Financial Post Published: Wednesday, April 07, 2010
The Canadian Real Estate Association now has a strange ally in its fight with the Competition Bureau - the owner of an independent site that aims to compete with the Multiple Listing Service.
National FSBO Network Inc. has filed a motion for leave to intervene in the case before the Competition Tribunal involving the federal watchdog and CREA, the group that represents more than 100 real estate boards across Canada and the country's 98,000 agents.
Melanie Aitken, Commissioner of the Competition Bureau, filed an application with the tribunal in February in which she referred to CREA's practices as anti-competitive.
The two sides have been battling over access to the MLS system, which is owned in Canada by CREA and which the bureau says is responsible for about 90% of residential property sales.
Last month, CREA approved new industry regulations that would give consumers some ability to decide how much or how little they use an agent on a real estate deal.
Ms. Aitken rejected the changes passed by CREA. Her plan would allow real estate agents to provide a multitude of a la carte services, including using an agent just to list on MLS.
Private sales by owners represent as much as 30% of all transactions in some centres, National FSBO says. Its application suggests the government watchdog's plan would put them out of business, thus reducing competition instead of creating room for it.
"We are not quite sure what the commissioner is trying to achieve," said Stephen Skelly, vice-president of operations with Ottawa-based National FSBO. "There is a discussion of a fee-for-service operation and that's the kind of thing FSBO businesses already provide."
Mr. Skelly's worry is that if agents list property on the MLS for a one-time fee and provide no additional service, his members won't be able to compete because the MLS has such a dominant position. He is trying to link various FSBO networks across the country and has six signed up, including GrapeVine Home Marketing Consultants in Ottawa, one of the largest in eastern Ontario.
"There is serious concern in the FSBO community that if the commissioner's application is successful, it would be very difficult for FSBO businesses to compete with agents who would have full use of the MLS and ‘related trademarks' and who would have all of the advertising and marketing recourses of CREA and its members. This could ultimately lead to the demise of FSBO businesses and the cost-effective services they provide, and effectively [create] a monopoly situation," the application states.
Neither CREA nor the bureau would comment on the application. Both sides can file a motion with the tribunal as to why or why not Mr. Skelly should be granted intervenor status.
The bureau has also received a request for leave to intervene from Lawrence Dale, the former owner of Realtysellers, which says it was prime target of CREA's anti-competitive practices.
No date has been set for the tribunal hearing.
Read more: http://www.financialpost.com/news-sectors/story.html?id=2775030#ixzz0kjzNGvyj
The Canadian Real Estate Association now has a strange ally in its fight with the Competition Bureau - the owner of an independent site that aims to compete with the Multiple Listing Service.
National FSBO Network Inc. has filed a motion for leave to intervene in the case before the Competition Tribunal involving the federal watchdog and CREA, the group that represents more than 100 real estate boards across Canada and the country's 98,000 agents.
Melanie Aitken, Commissioner of the Competition Bureau, filed an application with the tribunal in February in which she referred to CREA's practices as anti-competitive.
The two sides have been battling over access to the MLS system, which is owned in Canada by CREA and which the bureau says is responsible for about 90% of residential property sales.
Last month, CREA approved new industry regulations that would give consumers some ability to decide how much or how little they use an agent on a real estate deal.
Ms. Aitken rejected the changes passed by CREA. Her plan would allow real estate agents to provide a multitude of a la carte services, including using an agent just to list on MLS.
Private sales by owners represent as much as 30% of all transactions in some centres, National FSBO says. Its application suggests the government watchdog's plan would put them out of business, thus reducing competition instead of creating room for it.
"We are not quite sure what the commissioner is trying to achieve," said Stephen Skelly, vice-president of operations with Ottawa-based National FSBO. "There is a discussion of a fee-for-service operation and that's the kind of thing FSBO businesses already provide."
Mr. Skelly's worry is that if agents list property on the MLS for a one-time fee and provide no additional service, his members won't be able to compete because the MLS has such a dominant position. He is trying to link various FSBO networks across the country and has six signed up, including GrapeVine Home Marketing Consultants in Ottawa, one of the largest in eastern Ontario.
"There is serious concern in the FSBO community that if the commissioner's application is successful, it would be very difficult for FSBO businesses to compete with agents who would have full use of the MLS and ‘related trademarks' and who would have all of the advertising and marketing recourses of CREA and its members. This could ultimately lead to the demise of FSBO businesses and the cost-effective services they provide, and effectively [create] a monopoly situation," the application states.
Neither CREA nor the bureau would comment on the application. Both sides can file a motion with the tribunal as to why or why not Mr. Skelly should be granted intervenor status.
The bureau has also received a request for leave to intervene from Lawrence Dale, the former owner of Realtysellers, which says it was prime target of CREA's anti-competitive practices.
No date has been set for the tribunal hearing.
Read more: http://www.financialpost.com/news-sectors/story.html?id=2775030#ixzz0kjzNGvyj
Monday, March 22, 2010
CBC Reports on MLS Changes
Follow this link to see the CBC Neews report on the MLS decision by CREA today:
http://www.cbc.ca/video/player.html?category=News&clipid=1448263726
http://www.cbc.ca/video/player.html?category=News&clipid=1448263726
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Economic activity in Toronto Ready to Improve States Toronto Real Estate Board
Renewed economic growth suggests that commercial real estate situation to
improve in 2010 states Toronto Real Estate Board http://ping.fm/dZD1k
improve in 2010 states Toronto Real Estate Board http://ping.fm/dZD1k
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