This partnership also advances equity, fosters healthy competition and facilitates the homeownership process.
Realtors possess the knowledge and expertise to guide buyers and sellers through a complex process, ensuring fair treatment and representation for all parties. Realtors help individuals from diverse backgrounds navigate the housing market, providing insights that promote affordable housing and equal opportunity.
One of their greatest tools in providing the best service and representation to their clients lies in broker marketplaces, more commonly known as MLSs. These are centralized hubs that keep buyers, sellers and real estate agents connected with access to every available listing currently for sale so they know their options, which is essential to fostering healthy competition. When buyers and sellers work with a realtor, they can be confident that they have access to the largest pool of properties for sale in the marketplace.
Not only do MLSs provide access to inventory, but they also deliver widespread advertising, as well as the practice of the listing broker paying the buyer broker’s compensation, which incentivizes participation in these local real estate marketplaces and creates the largest, most accessible and most accurate source of housing information available to consumers.
Having housing information concentrated and accessible in one place in local markets levels the playing field among brokerages, allowing smaller brokerages to compete with larger ones, and provides for unprecedented competition among brokers, including those with different service and pricing models.
Even the ability to find listings for homes online is made possible by virtue of local MLS broker marketplaces. Online home listing sites receive much of their inventory from these local broker marketplaces. That data exists because of real estate professionals and others’ commitment to cultivating comprehensive housing data reinforced by guidelines that ensure accuracy and transparency so consumers can confidently rely on the information.
Realtors and MLSs strive to work symbiotically to support the housing market; realtors negotiate on behalf of their clients to ensure fair prices and terms, engage in continuing education to stay abreast of important laws and regulations, and provide guidance on pricing strategies and marketing techniques to attract potential buyers. Broker marketplaces complement realtors’ expertise by providing buyers and sellers with a plethora of options. They can choose a realtor who stays up to date with market trends and aligns with their specific needs.
This partnership also advances equity, fosters healthy competition and facilitates the homeownership process. By providing guidance, expertise and a competitive environment, these elements contribute to a more equitable and transparent housing market. Whether you’re a buyer or seller, leveraging the expertise of real estate professionals and utilizing the MLS can help ensure a smooth and successful property transaction. QCBN
By M. Faye Humphrey
Faye Humphrey is the 2023 president of the Prescott Area Association of Realtors. With more than 20 years of experience, Humphrey is the broker/owner of KMF Real Estate, with offices in Prescott and Scottsdale.
The Prescott Area Association of Realtors (PAAR) is the trade association representing more than 2,000 REALTORS® serving the greater Quad Cities area. Established in 1944, PAAR’s mission is to advocate for private property rights, and provide its members with resources to foster their business success. The term REALTOR® is a registered trademark, which identifies real estate professionals who subscribe to a strict code of ethics as members of the National Association of Realtors.
For more information, contact:
Elissa Portela
Communications Director
Prescott Area Association of Realtors
Office: 928-445-2663 x 203
www.paar.com