<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>518795-00215</TD> </TR> <TR> <TD><b>Received Date:</b></TD> <TD>10/24/2005 11:14:02 AM</TD> </TR> <TR> <TD><b>Organization:</b></TD> <TD>Century 21 Showcase REALTORS</TD> </TR> <TR> <TD><b>Commenter:</b></TD> <TD>Dwyer, Mary Catherine</TD> </TR> <TR> <TD><b>State:</b></TD> <TD>CA</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 between real estate agents is fierce - in Santa Cruz County there are not enough homes for sale compared to the number of licensed agents, so most agents have to bid against several other agents for the business. We are a full service firm, but since we go up against limited service firms all the time, we are having to reduce our commission rate to keep the client. We use the MLS as a cooperative, broker-to-broker offer of cooperation and compensation that helps both brokers and customers buy and sell homes. The beauty of the MLS is that it allows all real estate brokerages to compete on a level playing field, regardless of size, service level or experience. It gives all of us access to the same inventory of property listings that we are able to show and sell to our clients. The MLS doesn't discriminate. All MLS members are treated equally, regardless of their size or their business model, and yet the rights of property owners and their listing brokers are respected. The rules of the MLS achieve a delicate balance between respecting the rights of listing brokers so they will continue to be willing to contribute their inventory of listings and permitting cooperating brokers the ability to show those listings and be assured of receiving compensation if they bring about a successful sale. </body> </HTML>