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. 

[Cindy Szponder]

Hi Scott,

I'm with you. This seems a little crazy. Up north we have the IRES MLS and I'm able to be a member of the MLS whether I joined a board or not. There is a discount if you belong to a board. We receive a consumer-facing website included in our MLS fee. Depending on what they cover, training on how to access and best use the local MLS can be worth it. Here, I'm able to choose which trainings I want to attend so that I can learn about topics of interest. Will be interested to see what response you get from Denver-based agents about the MLS down there.

Cindy

[Kevin Grinstead]

Nope it is for real. The board requires a full day ethics and they do the same for agents. They waive fees and make it cheaper if you are a realtor.  

[Daniel Eisman]

Hey @Scott Trench,

I just attended orientation last Thursday, it is indeed for real. I did take away a few helpful tips and tricks from the speakers, but it seemed like we covered a lot of information that we should already know as agents. 

[Micki M.]

I know it seems rough, but be glad you live in one of the few areas where Realtor status isn't required for MLS access. I had to join in New Mexico simply to be allowed to access the MLS. One day of your life and $75 is way better than $600+ year to maintain board membership.

[Matt M.]

Originally posted by @Scott Trench:

 I chose NOT to join a board... because... well that's obvious. 

Absolutely just curious. Why didn't you want to join? 

[Jay Hinrichs]

@Scott Trench  as Mikki states most areas don't allow it.. in PDX you cannot .

I fought it in the early 80s in San jose and won... 

although I am a member of 3 MLS's I have never gone to orientation. I just say I will and never did they did not restrict me. not sure if this helps

[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.

[Russell Brazil]

I'm not in Colorado, but I'm not suprised. Most Realtor boards require you to take a full day class upon joining....so I bet this class they are asking you to take covers some similar material. So essentially everyone has to take the class whether you are a Realtor or not.

[Ned Carey]

@Scott Trench welcome to the world of real estate agent bureaucracy. I couldn't take it and gave up my license. 

@Jean Bolger

You remind me of the old Jr Walker song. Can you play Soul on the violin?

[Dawn Brenengen]

@Scott Trench You are lucky. In my area, we can not join unless we are REALTORS. So, I pay $491/year to be a REALTOR and 600/year for MLS access. I had to complete a four hour class before they would give me access. I don't make the rules, so I just did what I was told and "sucked it up" :)

[Matt M.]

 And that's a bad thing? Having them lobby on our behalf and on homeowner's behalf is a good thing in my view. They've done a lot of good things for all of us.

[Jean Bolger]

@Matt M. I'm not a fan of PACs in general, and NARPAC in particular contributes a lot of money to candidates that I don't personally support. It's certainly true that the laws (tax laws especially) of the US are highly favorable to the real estate industry, and I'm sure NARPAC is one of the reasons for that. However I think the notion that "what's good for my particular industry is necessarily good for the country as a whole" is somewhat misguided. 

[Scott Trench]

Ok everyone - I'm going to grow up a little bit, stop whining, take the "suck it up, buttercup" and enjoy my good problem. 

I'm not interested in a political debate about the positives or negatives about NAR. I have personal opinions about it, and do not want to get into that debate here. I'll just retract my "that should be obvious [why I don't want to join the board]" comment and move on with my day.

Thanks for the scolding! Obviously much needed.

[Matt M.]

I wasn't trying to start a debate, I was genuinely curious.