The NAR Redefines RSS

There they go again. 

Will we ever see the end of the constant meddling of the NAR in the business of real estate brokerage?

Check out this latest one.

Report and Recommendations

of the

IDX Data Use Work Group

of the

Multiple Listing Issues and Policies Committee

March 2011

This time the NAR has literally redefined the true meaning of RSS.  From that of "really simple syndication" to now mean, in terms of a newly revised IDX policy, "really stupid solution".

There are some things that would take just way too long to discuss even in a blog - and this may be one of those "things".

Suffice it to say that I believe the NAR and MLS should never meet nor intersect in business. 

One is supposed to be a professional association and the other SHOULD BE a utility designed for the effective management of real estate data on behalf of the BROKER.

The use of the data and the permitted use of the data should ONLY be determined by the owner of the data - the BROKERS.  Not the NAR, not the State Association, not the local Board and not the MLS.

It is the listing broker that is fully liable and responsible for the display and use of the listing information contained in the MLS - and it is each listing broker's decision what happens with their listing and sold information - period.

For a select group on an NAR committee to decide and rule on such business critical matters is simply ludicrous.

Unfortunately, after years of measures and legal cases that have been intended to separate organized real estate at the national, state and local levels from the data management utility the MLS - the NAR still feels compelled to architect and evolve the rules, policies and regulations of the MLS industry.

Maybe someday the Brokers in this industry will realize that this addiction to the power demonstrated by the NAR over data decisioning needs to be treated with immediate, let's say - intervention and rehab.

How much damage needs to be inflicted before maybe, just maybe it's time?