The DOJ (Department of Justice) had a lawsuit against NAR (National Association of Realtors) for years. CNN (is that Cable News Network?) Money says the DOJ lawsuit against NAR was filed in September 2005.

Settled Tuesday… breaking news…  I’d nearly forgot what it was about… It was about  IDX (internet data exchange?) and VOWs (virtual office websites?)

In the CNNMoney.com article Realtors settle case with U.S.

“Real estate agents were accused of illegally blocking posting of home listings and limiting competition from online brokers.”

I think by “Real estate agents” they are referring to NAR, a national trade organization.

It will be interesting to watch. It has to go to court. Then 60 days later, the world as we know it will change? Or it won’t.

CNN says

“The report found that more consumers use the Web when house hunting than rely on “For Sale” yard signs.”

Duh!

Search for Central Ohio homes…  somewhere here… there’s a link to the search for local homes.  I read the LA Times and other unlocal newspapers… then went to our own Columbus Dispatch to see what they have to say about it.

In today’s Columbus Dispatch News Briefs it says:

“The settlement, which requires court approval, opens the MLS databases to online and traditional agents.”

Also in today’s local news briefs… and certainly less dry and boring… news of Columbus Ohio based Victoria’s Secret… going after another company for using the word “sexy.”

“Victoria’s Secret appeals trademark ruling on ’sexy’ “

Central Ohio buyers must be well read.  The National Association of REALTORS® started a "Buy Now" campaign recently.

According to Realtor.org

"NAR's "Buy Now" advertisement, which appeared November 3-5 in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, USA Today, and Los Angeles Times, has received rave reviews from members and the media."

Another series of ads ran in the same markets this weekend....

I showed a house Saturday in a sleepy little 'burb... it might not be a 'burb even.... I'm not going to mention where it is... don't want to start a land rush. It's gone.. sold out from underneath my buyers.  The CMA did not say it would sell that quick... this graph does not say it would sell that quickly... but it's gone...

October graphic will be available in a day or two

Sheesh.... 11 days on the market.  OK it was nice.  But it was just an MI, it was a four bedroom, 2 1/2 bath, it was a very traditional floor plan...It's on the high end of the neighborhood, the lot was shallow....  It's gone....

I have another buyer who keeps missing houses.... he is looking in the city of Columbus and at a very specialized market, we are ready to write on a house and it shows up in MLS ... gone... 

Columbus is the 6th safest place to buy in America... PMI Institute says so..  that SAFEST is the greater Columbus area, our SMA (which includes some sleepy little 'burbs. ) 

Let's get busy now before all the best ones sell.. call me...

NAR says:

"Interest rates are low
A good inventory of homes is available (even if a good one got away)
Prices have stabilized and are starting to rise
The future of the housing market and the economy is positive
Housing is a great investment, with average home valuations increasing 88 percent in the last 10 years "

Other Central Ohio REALTOR'S® buyers.. stop reading the Chicago Tribune, Wall Street Journal, The New York Times....

c. 2006  Columbus Best Blog

Foxtrot

REALTORS® Magazine Editor's Note  "Life's  affirmations"  in the August 2006 REALTOR  Magazine has a great Foxtrot cartoon...  someone pronounces REALTOR® 'Real-i-tor."  It is a two syllable word... Real-tor. 

Wish I could share the cartoon.... here's the cartoonist's site.  Foxtrot  by Bill Amend.     

The editor wrote:

"A great cartoon puts a knowing smile on the reader’s face. With this Foxtrot cartoon, Bill Amend achieved greatness for me—and probably for a lot of you who share my obsession with the pronunciation of the word REALTOR®.

I knew the cartoon was hitting close to home when my oldest son visited my office and saw the strip posted on my computer. “Mom,” he said, “this could be you.” In the back of his 11-year-old mind, he must have been wondering whether I’d consulted with Amend on the wording—right down to the mom repeating “nu-clee-er” three times."

I can relate.