<HTML> <HEAD> <title>WebForm1</title> <meta name="GENERATOR" content="Microsoft Visual Studio .NET 7.1"> <meta name="CODE_LANGUAGE" content="Visual Basic .NET 7.1"> <meta name="vs_defaultClientScript" content="JavaScript"> <meta name="vs_targetSchema" content="http://schemas.microsoft.com/intellisense/ie5"> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content='text/html; charset=UTF-8'> </HEAD> <body > <TABLE id="Table1" cellSpacing="1" cellPadding="1" width="100%" border="0"> <TR> <TD><b>Comment Number:</b></TD> <TD>518795-00009</TD> </TR> <TR> <TD><b>Received Date:</b></TD> <TD>9/25/2005 5:31:12 PM</TD> </TR> <TR> <TD><b>Organization:</b></TD> <TD>Open House Realty</TD> </TR> <TR> <TD><b>Commenter:</b></TD> <TD>Moore, Michael</TD> </TR> <TR> <TD><b>State:</b></TD> <TD>SC</TD> </TR> <TR> <TD><b>Agency:</b></TD> <TD>Federal Trade Commission</TD> </TR> <TR> <TD><b>Rule:</b></TD> <TD>Competition Policy and the Real Estate Industry</TD> </TR> <TR> <TD><b>Docket ID:</b></TD> <TD>To Be Added</TD> </TR> <TR> <td colspan='2'>No Attachments</td> </TR> </TABLE> <hr/> <b>Comments:</b><br/><br/> Competition Policy in the Real Estate Industry Request to Participate, Project No. V050015. Date: September 24, 2005 Name:&nbsp;&nbsp;<BR>Experience: Licensed Realtor 1990 to current / Licensed Real Estate Broker 1999 to current - Owner/Operator of Open House Realty, a residential real estate brokerage firm with 55 agents offering  Consumer Choices in Real Estate Services I have made several attempts to email my request to participate as a panelist to RealEstatePanelistRequest@ftc.gov and RealEstateWorkshop@usdoj.gov Each time I received a return email notice that my attempts had failed. Would you please forward this on to the appropriate parties. To Whom It May Concern: I have reviewed the cases and letters prepared by the U.S. Department of Justice and the responses from the National Association of Realtors (NAR). While I do have a great deal of respect for NAR and the large franchise firms, I see more harm than good for the consumer and the innovative business models. As a member of NAR, I find it disturbing that some of NAR s members may have allegedly conspired to restrain competition in real estate brokerage services and erect barriers designed to protect the interests of a few. If this is proven, thousands of dues paying NAR members, that do not follow the status quo, could discover their dues may have funded attempts to limit or eliminate their business models. If this is the case and the situation is not corrected, we may see a mass exodus from NAR and the door opening for an alternative organization to be formed. Anything is possible. There is also mounting evidence throughout the country that boycotting alternative business models is rampant, even though some claim they do not condone this type of activity. One only needs to research the Internet, read news and magazine articles and make a few calls to business owners that operate alternative models and they will see for themselves. If the DOJ thoroughly investigates, it may discover that restraint of trade at the local level is a bigger problem for the consumer than people realize. This alone may be the most financially damaging for the consumer.  Boycotting listings and the use of illegal statements designed to restrain trade and how this affects buyers, sellers, and new business models , should, if possible, be added to the topics of discussion. My company has tested and experimented with MLS only listings, fee-for-service, flat fee, for-sale-by-owner advertising, Internet applications, traditional full service, as well as buyer agency for the past four years. What did we discover? Each model has its place, one model does not work for everyone and people should not boycott, it is illegal. By adopting our own internal policy of offering choices without discrimination and not discrediting any real estate business model, our company has continued to grow and prosper while proving to be beneficial to the consumer. We have learned not to dictate, nor control the delivery of services to the consumer. But, to listen to their needs; educate them as to how each model works; fully disclose all their options without discriminating; put it in writing; and let them decide.The consumer likes it this way. Again, I am requesting to be selected as a panelist at the upcoming workshop. I am passionate about the real estate industry and have experience with the issues at hand. I would welcome the opportunity to participate. References below have agreed to designate me as a panelist.&nbsp;&nbsp;<A name=RDACT1></A> </body> </HTML>