<HTML> <HEAD> <title>WebForm1</title> <meta name="GENERATOR" content="Microsoft Visual Studio .NET 7.1"> <meta name="CODE_LANGUAGE" content="Visual Basic .NET 7.1"> <meta name="vs_defaultClientScript" content="JavaScript"> <meta name="vs_targetSchema" content="http://schemas.microsoft.com/intellisense/ie5"> <META http-equiv=Content-Type content='text/html; charset=UTF-8'> </HEAD> <body > <TABLE id="Table1" cellSpacing="1" cellPadding="1" width="100%" border="0"> <TR> <TD><b>Comment Number:</b></TD> <TD>518795-00306</TD> </TR> <TR> <TD><b>Received Date:</b></TD> <TD>11/2/2005 6:01:24 PM</TD> </TR> <TR> <TD><b>Organization:</b></TD> <TD>Real Advisor Realty</TD> </TR> <TR> <TD><b>Commenter:</b></TD> <TD>Ram, Sri</TD> </TR> <TR> <TD><b>State:</b></TD> <TD>CA</TD> </TR> <TR> <TD><b>Agency:</b></TD> <TD>Federal Trade Commission</TD> </TR> <TR> <TD><b>Rule:</b></TD> <TD>Competition Policy and the Real Estate Industry</TD> </TR> <TR> <TD><b>Docket ID:</b></TD> <TD>To Be Added</TD> </TR> <TR> <td colspan='2'>No Attachments</td> </TR> </TABLE> <hr/> <b>Comments:</b><br/><br/> I am a real estate Broker and have been in the business for over 16 years, while I may not as experienced as some, I most probably have more experience and exposure workings in both traditional agencies and online/ technology centric real estate companies. The residential real estate industry seems to be disorganized and very fragmented when you look at the way every real estate board and MLS systems, having its own unique systems, formats and standards. Most processes and transactions in real estate remain inefficient, duplicative and paper-based, resulting in frustrated users, high costs, delays and legal ramifications. The MLS system should Not be hijacked by a few old brokers who think they are loosing market share to newer companies and agents who provide their clients technology options in their home buying and selling process. I have talked to several sellers and they all feel that it would be very unfair to them and to buyers if any listing agent decides at his or her own accord weather or not a listing should be online and have the discretion of deciding which web site or sites it should be marketed. If the brokers or agents limit the exposure of seller s home in any way, it is a disservice to the seller as well as to buyers. We must ensure that large brokers do not create syndications to limit exposure to their listings </body> </HTML>