The MLS pains are a symptom of the broader question, "do we still need human realtors?"
Sadly, Foxtons US is dead (http://www.reuters.com/article/bondsNews/idUSN27422652200709...) and ZipRealty has been around for 7+ years without revolutionizing the industry. There must be a deeper explanation than "Realtors make 6% a sale for accessing a database."
My hypothesis is "rational, well-informed market decisions" would ensure few purchases and sales ever close. With so much on the line (life savings, huge debt, negotiation anxieties, moving uncertainties), normal people simply can't handle the stress without some hand-holding.
As a licensed agent, I've personally had plenty of cases where I knew I found the clients a steal, but I had to spend enormous amounts of energy and time convincing them take action (and before someone else beats them to it).
Sadly, Foxtons US is dead (http://www.reuters.com/article/bondsNews/idUSN27422652200709...) and ZipRealty has been around for 7+ years without revolutionizing the industry. There must be a deeper explanation than "Realtors make 6% a sale for accessing a database."
My hypothesis is "rational, well-informed market decisions" would ensure few purchases and sales ever close. With so much on the line (life savings, huge debt, negotiation anxieties, moving uncertainties), normal people simply can't handle the stress without some hand-holding.
As a licensed agent, I've personally had plenty of cases where I knew I found the clients a steal, but I had to spend enormous amounts of energy and time convincing them take action (and before someone else beats them to it).