ABSURDITY From Colorado Real Estate Matrix

[Scott Trench]

Question for other Colorado Real Estate Brokers. I got my license and am requesting access to the MLS. I chose NOT to join a board... because... well that's obvious.

This is what I'm greeted with:

Welcome to REcolorado, the largest broker-to-broker network in Colorado and the provider of REcolorado.com, the state’s leading consumer-facing real estate website. To take full advantage of all of the benefits included in your REcolorado membership, please take a moment to carefully read the information below.

Required REcolorado Orientation
As a non-association member, you are required to attend the REcolorado Orientation Class within the first 90 days of account setup.The orientation is held the second Thursday of every month from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. To register, please contact Customer Care at303.850.9576

Your account has been charged a $75 processing fee. To avoid suspension of Matrix access and applicable reinstatement fees, you must attend the orientation within the given timeframe.

This is absolutely outrageous - a FULL DAY to access the MLS, AFTER I went through the incredibly intensive process just to get my license? Is this for real, or am I being duped?

Would love help from new denver agents. 

[Jean Bolger]

Ummm....

OK, because I know you're a nice guy I'll go ahead and tell you my first reaction, which was "suck it up, buttercup" 

LOL

I have been an investor for quite a while and got licensed in CO last year. Of course I thought it was a hassle to have to go to that class, and I was afraid they would spend all the time trying to convince me to join the board (Didn't even come up, BTW) ) The class I went to was conducted by a guy from the Francona law firm and he told us some very thought provoking stories about legal issues and contracts that were certainly not in the course I took. This may very well have avoided trouble for me down the line, since he was discussing some things that might seem like innocuous "creative" deals to a newbie but in fact could land your *** in jail.

The vast majority of people getting their license are planning to represent clients as a fiduciary, and that is actually a serious matter. In your case, maybe you just want the MLS access for your own use, but even then you are dealing with others in matters that can have a serious impact on their financial future. It seems to me that the popular attitude among investors that get licensed is often "Oh, the classes don't really teach you anything, just the law....and that part is kind of inconvenient." 

And also, while I'm at it: Incredibly intensive process? Real estate has the absolute lowest barrier to entry of any potentially high paying field. 

Yes you can learn a lot about investment real estate from BP, but you don't necessarily learn much about being an agent, and they aren't identical skill sets by any means. You are going in to a new field, whether you realize that or not. 

Admittedly, I have not yet had my coffee, so I may be sounding blunter that I would later today. But  I'd say dial back on what you think you know and go with an open mind.

@Matt M. I choose not to be a member of the board either, because to me it seems to mostly be a way of funneling money to NARPAC, the national board's political action committee.