Category: Top » Finance » Real-estate »


Author: Lawrence Bunnell | Total views: 5 Comments: 0
Word Count: 604 Date: Thu, 2 Aug 2007 2:09 AM

What Is Flat Fee Mls?

Have you ever wondered about how buyers' agents find homes that match the needs of the buyers? Have you ever wondered how buyers find a home with all of the features - number of bedrooms, bathrooms, finished basement - that they are looking for when they search online?

The answer to both questions is similar: both buyers' agents and individuals searching for a new home online find what they're looking for using the Multiple Listing Service - the MLS.

In the past, the only way to ensure that, when you sold your home, it would be included on the MLS was to use a seller's agent who would add your listing. For those who wanted to save the commission that would be paid to a seller's agent, the compromise meant that they would need to do a lot more marketing for their home so that buyers and buyers' agents would find the listing.

Now, however, that's changed. Since the introduction of Flat Fee MLS, for sale by owner sellers are also able to ensure that their homes are able to be found by buyers and buyers' agents. Since the introduction of Flat Fee MLS, for sale by owner homes can be listed on the same multiple listing service that real estate agents use without having to pay a seller's agent's commission.

Instead, thanks to companies that offer a Flat Fee MLS listing service, home sellers can pay one low flat fee to have their home included in the MLS for a particular amount of time - typically six months. Instead, thanks to companies that offer a flat fee MLS listing service, home sellers can ensure that buyers and buyers' agents are able to know the features of a home on the market, as well as the asking price for the home.

In other words, Flat Fee MLS is a service provided by a number of real estate companies that allows home sellers - in particular those home sellers who do not wish to use sellers' agents - to pay upfront to have their homes included in the multiple listing service.

Similarly, because these real estate companies recognize that there are may be other marketing materials that for sale by owner sellers can take advantage of, companies that offer Flat Fee MLS listings also offer other services, also for a single flat fee. These services may include lock boxes, websites, marketing flyers or brochures and the option to include additional photos or even a virtual tour to the property listing.

Each additional service that these real estate companies will com at a flat fee - just as the MLS listing did. Because of this, home sellers are able to know what their expenses will be up front. They know that they will pay a flat fee to have an MLS listing, another flat fee for renting a lock box, another for adding a virtual tour. Home sellers who use a Flat Fee Listing will also know that they will not be charged for services that they do not need.

When you sell your home with a Flat Fee MLS listing, you can be sure that you are only paying for services that you need to sell your home. When you use a Flat Fee MLS listing, you can be sure that buyers and their agents will be able to find your listing. And, when you use a Flat Fee MLS listing, you can be sure that you are saving money in the process of selling your home.

About the Author

Lawrence Bunnell is a Partner and the Principal Broker of IHS Realty, an Internet based, real estate brokerage company offering consumers online, flat-fee, 'a la carte' real estate brokerage products and services. Lawrence has been a full-time licensed REALTORĀ® since 1984 and is currently a licensed real estate broker in Virginia, North Carolina, Maryland, Georgia, South Carolina and Pennsylvania. In addition to his role as the firm's Prinicipal Real Estate Broker, his duties include serving as the head of web application design and development and Internet marketing initiatives for IHS. http://www.ihsrealty.com/




Rate, comment or bookmark this article

Seed Newsvine

Rating: Not yet rated

Bookmark this article in your preferred program
AddThis Social Bookmark Button

Comments RSS

Mon, 6 Aug 2007 at 9:00 PM, by flatfeemls
I used flat fee mls: http://www.listingflatfeemls.com is great you can even access flat fee mls in arkansas and almost every state in the US. Sell by owner on the MLS and keep the commission

Add Comment

Your Name:


Your Email:


Comment

Enter the code shown

Visual CAPTCHA



Popular Articles in this cathegory

1: First Things First . . . Why Apartment Buildings?
Apartment investments provide low risk compared to residential investing. A $250,000 home can rent up to $2500 a month. While a $250,000 10 unit apartment building at $500 per unit can rent for $500..

2: Hey Contractors, How To Fill Out Aia Pay Apps - Part 1
If we grabbed the first 10 small subcontractors you crossed paths with and tested them on filling out AIA pay applications, 7 or more would probably fail the test At least, that's about the error rate I've seen while reviewing pay applications

3: Deficiency Judgment After Foreclosure? Is It Likely The Lender Will Sue You
Depending on the foreclosure laws in your state lenders may have the right to sue you for a foreclosure deficiency. Will a lender sue you for a foreclosure deficiency? A concern for many that are facing a foreclosure, but is it likely that the lender will sue you?

4: How To Pool Lender Money To Fund Your Real Estate Deals
When a good real estate deal comes my way, I can grab it because I know the money is waiting for me. While my competitors are scrambling around applying at the bank, I've made an offer and closed the deal. Private lenders make it all possible and this article tells why.

5: Getting Out Of Trouble!
When a good real estate deal comes my way, I can grab it because I know the money is waiting for me. While my competitors are scrambling around applying at the bank, I've made an offer and closed the deal. Private lenders make it all possible and this article tells why.


Creative Commons License
This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 License.
Spanish taslation