Cheapest Way to Maintain MLS Access in PA?

[Justin Stryker]

I am a licensed PA real estate agent and linked to a broker. I got my license so that I had MLS access and could have flexibility setting up my own showings for my own investments. I work with only a couple clients per year (friends/family) since I have a full time job outside of real estate.

I was reviewing all of my fees involved with being an agent and currently a REALTOR which are:

1. State license fee - obviously mandatory

2. Bright MLS fee - obviously mandatory if I want MLS access

3. Supra fee - mandatory if I want to control my own showings and fairly nominal

4. GHAR (Greater Harrisburg Association of Realtors) Membership fee

I contacted my current broker to see if I could cut out the Realtor association fee but the response I got was that if a broker is "REALTOR associated" (most franchised brokers are), then you are required to be a member of a Realtor association.  

I don't believe PA requires Realtor membership for MLS access so how does a non-Realtor yet licensed agent get MLS access in PA?

[Russell Brazil]

You need to join a brokerage that is not a member of the board. In reality, you will be very very hard pressed to find one. You would realsitically to do that need to become a solo broker to do so....however, then you need to sign up for your own e&o insurance policy and your Bright MLS dues would rise (you get a discount for being a Realtor), so in reality you would not actually save any money.