NAR disputes FSBO Web site claim about Realtor.com listings

WASHINGTON – Nov. 17, 2008 – If a home seller pays a broker to list his home in the MLS but for no other broker services, is that home sale still technically a FSBO? That question lies at the core of a confrontation between the National Association of Realtors® (NAR) and a FSBO Web site. ForSaleByOwner.com claims that Realtor.com accepts FSBO listings, a charge NAR disputes.

According to NAR, a press release issued Wednesday by ForSaleByOwner.com contained inaccuracies and misleading statements about its ability to place unlisted for-sale-by-owner information on Realtor.com, the official Web site of NAR operated by Move Inc. In a release, NAR made the following statements as a counterpoint to ForSaleByOwner.com’s earlier release:

• The settlement agreement between NAR and the Department of Justice made no provision to allow unlisted properties, such as “for-sale-by-owner,” to be posted on Realtor.com.

• ForSaleByOwner.com does not in any way enable home sellers to advertise their home on Realtor.com without broker representation. A licensed real estate broker must list every property on Realtor.com.

• Realtor.com has not authorized ForSaleByOwner.com to resell Realtor.com’s Showcase Listings Enhancement package.

• There is no relationship between ForSaleByOwner.com and Realtor.com.

• There are no unrepresented homes on Realtor.com – a licensed real estate broker must list every property, and unrepresented properties cannot be submitted to a Realtor owned and operated MLS.

According to NAR, Realtor.com has asked ForSaleByOwner.com to issue a retraction.

© 2008 FLORIDA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

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