The Competition Bureau and the Toronto MLS

The ratification of an agreement between Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) and the Federal Competition Bureau on Oct. 24, 2010, has the public, media, and members of real estate speculating on the impact this agreement will have on the real estate industry.

For an agreed fee and with the aid of a realtor, a homeowner now has the opportunity to post his or her property on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), a member-based database that manages 90 per cent of Canada’s residential housing market. At a glance, this appears to be empowering for a homeowner. “When one carefully investigates the process, it is clear that homeowners need to approach this with caution,” says Vivian Risi, Broker of Record and Founder of Royal LePage – Your Community Realty.

Risi sheds an interesting perspective on this issue Read more