Time for a Housecleaning: Racism in Long Island Real Estate

I am alternatively furious and despondent that this post has to be written in 2019. But it has to be. In case you missed it, Newsday, the local newspaper for most of Long Island in New York, ran a three year investigation into racial discrimination and steering in real estate. They just published their findings … Read more

Pass Clear Cooperation Policy, But Address the Gaping Loophole

On Saturday, the MLS Policy Committee of NAR approved the proposed Clear Cooperation Policy (also known as MLS Policy 8.0) as written and forwarded it on to the Board of Directors for approval on Monday. I would like to urge the Board of Directors to pass Policy 8.0, but immediately begin addressing one of the … Read more

[VIP] Zillow Unlock Event: Stages of Grief

Zillow’s big event for its IMT segment — Premier Agents, Rentals and New Construction — just concluded in my (new) hometown of Las Vegas. I attended Tuesday as a member of the press, because when the United States Department of Justice calls you a “trade publication” who am I to disagree? So first, let me … Read more

MLS Path Forward: Further Thoughts

Those of you who attended the CMLS annual conference in Salt Lake City have already heard the presentation that David Charron and I did at the close of Thursday. Hopefully, many of you downloaded the free white paper that we released and have or will read through our ideas there. If you did not attend … Read more

[VIP] Initial Thoughts on Realogy’s RealSure

I’m on the road, so blogging may be light. But I thought the announcement of the new RealSure Sell and RealSure Mortgage programs deserved some brief initial commentary. I didn’t feel like waiting for Friday’s Quick Takes and then writing up a giant post on this. Inman News has further coverage of the announcement, but … Read more

[VIP] On the DOJ Statement of Interest

In case you haven’t already heard, the U.S. Department of Justice has taken the rare step of intervening in a civil case with a Statement of Interest on Behalf of the United States of America. Interesting note: the intervention was in the Sitzer case out of Missouri rather than the Moehrl case in Illinois, which … Read more

More On NAR’s MLS Policy Statement 8.0: A Step Forward On Clarity

(The following are the personal opinions of the author, Sam DeBord. They do not necessarily reflect the views of RESO or its members.) The “Clear Cooperation Policy” proposed by the National Association of REALTORS’ MLS Technology and Emerging Issues Advisory Board is creating plenty of industry discussion. The policy would ensure that MLS participant brokers … Read more

On NAR’s MLS Policy Statement 8.0: A Step Forward… Into Confusion

Coming Soon and all of the off-MLS shenanigans have become an increasing problem within the industry, especially for the MLS. I’ve written about this here, here, and here (this post is VIP only). My position on MLS and systematic Coming Soon programs ought to be crystal clear by now, as I wrote in the Peace … Read more

On California’s New Gig Economy Law: Don’t Relax Just Yet

I feel pretty certain that anybody that is reading Notorious likely already knows that the legislature of California has passed Assembly Bill 5 (AB5) that tries to rein in the so-called “gig economy” workers. The bill is headed to Gov. Newsom for signature, and it appears that he will indeed sign it, especially given statements … Read more