Grading Time! Reviewing My 2014 Predictions

Welcome to another edition of an annual tradition, in which I go back and grade myself on my predictions made at the start of this year. My track record so far: 2010 Predictions: 6 of 10 (.600) 2011 Predictions: 4.5 of 7 (.642) 2012 Predictions: 2 for 7 (.286) 2013 Predictions: 4.5 of 7 (.642) When … Read more

It's Time for a Grand Conversation on the MLS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATsmMBptA08 I just got back from NAR New Orleans where I got to see old friends (not enough of y’all, because that event is so f’in huge) and meet some new friends. But I said that I would be watching for some things at the event. Turns out, there wasn’t much to watch. Not a … Read more

Raising the Bar and Lawsuits… A Thought

I know I haven’t been blogging, but hey… when you’re sitting on the beach in Aruba staring at gently lapping waves of turquoise waters, diving into the Interwebz isn’t real high on your list of priorities. Trust me on that. 🙂 In any event, saw an interesting little tidbit this morning on Inman News that … Read more

Antitrust Questions on MLS Decision to Screw With Syndication

Having just spent a couple of days at CMLS, a young man’s fancy turns to questions of MLS-related things. In this case, a middle-aged man’s fancy might turn that way too, since it’s been a while since I’ve been a young man with fancy of any sort. As most of my readers probably know, RealTracs, … Read more

Competition Is Not Tortious Inteference

A brief note this Saturday morning… Conversations around my last post, about FTC taking action on anti-competitive Code of Ethics provisions, have raised an interesting and salient point. The best example comes from the comments, where Brian Rayl writes: Despite what the FTC states in terms of “soliciting other’s clients” there are very strict laws … Read more

The NAR Code of Ethics is Illegal (Probably)

I got a heads-up from a source, which then led me to investigate further, and… unless there’s something I am missing, the NAR Code of Ethics is (probably, in all likelihood) illegal as it stands today. It will need to be rewritten. News from federal regulators rarely make the front page. In fact, they rarely … Read more

Listhub Acquires Point2; I Think of TS Eliot

[EDIT: Please see the clarification posted below.] I’ve been hearing rumblings about a big game-changing deal for a couple of days, and this morning, it’s been confirmed. Listhub, a Move entity, has acquired Point2 from Yardi, bringing all listings syndication in the United States under one roof. From Celeste Starchild, General Manager of Listhub: Move … Read more