<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>518795-00162</TD> </TR> <TR> <TD><b>Received Date:</b></TD> <TD>10/22/2005 5:29:44 AM</TD> </TR> <TR> <TD><b>Organization:</b></TD> <TD>REMAX Greater Atlanta - Grayson office</TD> </TR> <TR> <TD><b>Commenter:</b></TD> <TD>McCarty, Stephanie</TD> </TR> <TR> <TD><b>State:</b></TD> <TD>GA</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/> This is regarding competition in the real estate industry. My mother was an agent for nearly 10 years before she retired. I entered the business about the time that my mother retired, after being licensed in August 2000. Prior to the advent of the internet this business was very different. The public relied on our expertise and trusted our experience. Now that the internet is available, more and more, the general public is under the misguided impression that money is being wasted when the services of a real estate professional are employed. In some cases, this may be true - there are those more business saavy buyers who may do as well as the agent whom they might otherwise select to represent them. Alot of it depends on the experience, education and training of the agent that might be employed by a given buyer or seller. Formerly I was a paralegal at a law firm or a legal secretary for nearly 17 years. Now, much to my surprise, after being in this business for going on six years, I can tell you quite honestly, that the majority of the general public is ill prepared to properly represent themselves in a real estate transaction, be it selling or buying. Real estate laws are complex. Local customs, procedures and practices vary widely. Step outside the local customs, procedures and practices and there's a good chance you will fail at what you are trying to accomplish simply because the other party is intimidated, skeptical of your motives or simply doesn't trust you enough to proceed with the transaction. Opening the MLS or listing services to the general public is a big mistake. The MLS is a cooperative venture allowing professionals to share information for the benefit of our individual clients. Sensitive information is contained on the listing services that would be inappropriate for the general public's access. There great concern in our country, and especially in our real estate industry, as well as laws that have been in place for many years, to prevent discrimination and unfair housing practices. I can tell you that it is a daily struggle to preserve the rights of individuals in this business. We live in a society of "it's all about me". The level of rudeness, lack of manners and general nature of most people today is "I don't care what is fair, this is what I want and I want it now." Even after parties are bound by legal and binding contract, it is a struggle nearly every time to get the transaction closed without minor issues becoming major ones for the parties involved. I would never presume to tell a doctor where to make the first cut in performing a surgery. I would rely on his training and expertise to achieve an end result that I am seeking. A level of trust is implicit in many phases of our lives. I could probably sterilize a knife and remove a suspicious mole from my own body, but is that really the best thing for me to do? I highly doubt it. Just like the potential for uncontrollable bleeding and infection that could result in such an action, the general public faces similar dangers in attempting to exclude a real estate professional from the single largest investment that most of them will make in their lives. It is just not prudent. Competition is stronger than ever in this business. I struggle daily just to remain in the business. I feel I have a tremendous amount of time and money invested which keeps me in the business at this point for as long as I can survive in it. But trust me, it becomes harder and harder -- the discount brokers who provide services a la carte are doing a great disservice to most consumers. I have heard nightmare stories. I hope you will leave the industry as it is. Those of us struggling to do the right thing are having a difficult time as it is just surviving and trying to do the right thing by our clients. </body> </HTML>