Feb. 11, 2010 - Does Mercado make California's Statewide MLS Effort Pointless?

eNeighborhoods announced they have linked major MLSs in northern and southern California via its new Mercado platform.  This link is a significant step towards the creation of a virtual statewide system in California that leverages existing MLS operations and expertise, without users having to convert systems.  This type of technology solution also eliminates the politics, pain, and expense of creating a statewide MLS, as CAR has attempted to do via its calREDD initiative.  

Mercado provides the primary benefit offered by any  statewide MLS:  access to listing data statewide via a common user interface.  In addition to listing data, Mercado is providing integrated local content such as neighborhood, community and school information.  eNeighborhoods announcement today states:

“Mercado is a Web-based marketing system that leverages the cross-MLS property search of MLSAlliance, joining together multiple California MLS databases, with local information on neighborhoods, school districts, and community demographics. Mercado provides real estate professionals with a single gateway to a vast amount of real estate information throughout the state for producing personalized CMAs, buyer tours, and single-property profiles, along with market-to-market comparisons and referral opportunities.”

eNeighborhoods has years of experience handling massive, national databases, so Mercado utilizes proven, scalable technology to provide agents and brokers the information they want to better serve consumers.   If scalable and practical alternatives like Mercado are available today, isn’t it time to end the disruptive and expensive “civil war” going on between local associations, regional MLSs and the state association in California?   The REALTOR® volunteer and staff time spent fighting over the MLS is incalculable, and the millions of dollars invested in a system that is only supporting about 2000 out of nearly 200,000 members is insane.  Surely there are better ways to spend the members’ money.  It’s time to stop wasting “Realtor dollars fighting Realtor dollars” as David Charron, CEO of MRIS, aptly described the situation in California.  I predicted that calREDD would be an expensive and bloody quagmire in a paper addressed to CAR leadership several years ago that was not well received.   In hindsight, I regret to say I was right, but it’s not too late.

CAR Leadership and calREDD should take this opportunity to rightfully claim victory for spurring the creation of both CARETS and Mercado, the largest data sharing initiatives in the nation.  It’s time for calREDD to gracefully fold itself into these successful initiatives and for CAR to refocus its political power and members’ money on getting every MLS in the state to cooperate.  This would put an end to the civil war, encourage natural MLS consolidation, and save everyone money, brain damage, and the political scars that will last a lifetime. 

Please see http://www.eneighborhoods.com/press_022010.html for more details on Mercado
 

Feb. 11, 2010 - RE: Does Mercado make California’s Statewide MLS Effort Pointless?

Thanks for the kind words Gregg. We pride ourselves on staying above the political fray and focus on delivering value to the membership.

David Harris

Feb. 26, 2010 - RE: Does Mercado make California's Statewide MLS Effort Pointless?

It makes a lot of sense.  Our own mls is part of  mfr.mlxchange.com in Fl. It is great and the service is excellent. However they are starting some products that cost money that should probably be included in the agents annual dues. I hadn't thought much about it before, but isn't it kind of like putting yourself out of business by suggesting what you are doing. I'm quite sure it would be better and cheaper in the long run, but these people would be out of a job, wouldn't they. It must be done at some point because the savings would be humongous.Please remember to take care of the people that are displaced by any moves like this. We have such great help on our local board and the mid florida one. If they had to lay people off because of duplication, it would be a problem.