<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>518795-00273</TD> </TR> <TR> <TD><b>Received Date:</b></TD> <TD>10/26/2005 1:02:19 PM</TD> </TR> <TR> <TD><b>Organization:</b></TD> <TD>Windermere NW, Inc</TD> </TR> <TR> <TD><b>Commenter:</b></TD> <TD>Wayne, Steven</TD> </TR> <TR> <TD><b>State:</b></TD> <TD>WA</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/> I have worked in housing my entire life- as a VISTA volunteer housing counselor helpinng low income seniors; working at Homesharing for Seniors assisting elders to remain independent in their own homes. I had NO competition as I did these good deeds as a housing counselor. Since 1985, I've supported my family by brokering real estate for a living. Like a stock broker, I am constantly in competition for business. I compete against the other agents in my own office, against boutique brokerage firms, and large national franchise companies. I compete against internet cyber companies, deep discount brokers, and 3rd parties like Homegain, for every single buyer and every single seller. I "lose" that competition more times than I "win", but I'm still able to make a living. This story is the same story as the almost 2 million Americans who manage property, broker property, deal in timeshares, and international transactions. </body> </HTML>