REALTORS® Association Considers New Rule Requiring All Listings Be In MLS

The MLS Technology and Emerging Issues Advisory Board, of the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR), proposed a rule change that is sparking some controversy among its’ members.  The proposed “Clear Cooperation Policy” requires that all listings be put in the MLS within 24 hours of “marketing a property to the public“.  The policy defines “public marketing” as including, but not limited to, “flyers displayed in windows, yard signs, digital marketing on public-facing websites, brokerage website displays (including IDX and VOW), digital communications marketing (email blasts), multi-brokerage listing sharing networks, and applications available to the general public”.

But, isn’t that how it is now?

Many consumers may having been thinking that this is how it was all along, that new listings were required to go into the MLS but, that is not currently the case.  Presently (and going back to the beginning of the MLS here in St Louis, I believe), agents have been able to determine the best marketing methods for their client, as well as allow their client input as to whether they wanted their listing in the MLS immediately, after a period of time or even not at all.

Continue reading “REALTORS® Association Considers New Rule Requiring All Listings Be In MLS

St. Charles County Association of REALTORS(R) Presidents’ view of the market – Final Post

Dennis Norman

Dennis Norman

By: Dennis Norman

For the past two days I have written about my E-View with Karen Vennard, the 2009 President of the St. Charles County Association of REALTORS(R) to get her take on the real estate market in St. Charles County. 

Today will be the final post in this series in which Karen has been shared her insights with us on the real estate market in St. Charles County.  Now we’ll pick up where we left off yesterday:

Karen Vennard, 2009 President, St. Charles County Association of REALTORS

Karen Vennard, 2009 President, St. Charles County Association of REALTORS

Dennis – We hear a lot about REO’s, foreclosures and short sales being a large part of the sales activity in many local markets.  Do you know what percentage of the current activity in St. Charles County would be these types of sales?  Also, please tell us how they affect your market.

Karen – I do not have the percentage of REO/Foreclosures/Short Sales nor can I say that they do not exist but St. Charles County has not been as adversely affected as some areas in the Metropolitan area by these types of sales.  Some people can see that this is an opportunity for these “distressed” homes to be sold and brought back up to market value.  I see this as a chance to revitalize neighborhoods that may have been affected by an increased number of foreclosures.

Dennis – What do you feel are the best opportunities today for home buyers in St. Charles county? Continue reading “St. Charles County Association of REALTORS(R) Presidents’ view of the market – Final Post

St. Charles County Association of REALTORS(R) Presidents’ view of the market – Part two

Dennis Norman

Dennis Norman

By: Dennis Norman

Yesterday I began my E-View with Karen Vennard, the 2009 President of the St. Charles County Association of REALTORS(R) to get her take on the real estate market in St. Charles County.

Karen’s extensive knowledge of the market was apparent in her informative answers in yesterdays E-View.  Now we’ll pick up where we left off yesterday:

Karen Vennard, 2009 President, St. Charles County Association of REALTORS

Karen Vennard, 2009 President, St. Charles County Association of REALTORS

Dennis – Where do you see the real estate market in St. Charles County at now?

Karen – I see the market recovering; there has been an increase in pending sales in St. Charles county over this time last year.  That trend has been seen for the past 4 months now in the County.

Dennis – That’s encouraging news and also is fairly consistent with what I have seen in the metro market.  Now, lets talk about home prices.  People in most markets would be happy just to see some price stabilization and aren’t even talking about any appreciation in the near future.  Has, or is, St. Charles County seeing any price stabilization at this point?  Any idea when appreciation may come back into existence? Continue reading “St. Charles County Association of REALTORS(R) Presidents’ view of the market – Part two

St. Charles County Association of REALTORS(R) Presidents’ view of the market – Part 1

Dennis Norman

Dennis Norman

By: Dennis Norman

According to the website for the Economic Development Center for St. Charles County, the county was established October 1, 1812.  St. Charles County encompasses 561-square-miles of diverse landscape spreading out westward from the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers.

According to the Census Bureau, in 1970 the population of St. Charles county was 92,954.  By 2008 the population had grown to 349,307, an increase of over 275% in that 38 year period.  During the same period St. Louis County had a modest increase in population of just over 4% growing from 951,671 to 991,830.  The city of St. Louis saw a huge decline during the same period with the population dropping from 622,235 people to 354,361, losign over 43% of its population. Continue reading “St. Charles County Association of REALTORS(R) Presidents’ view of the market – Part 1