MLS fees are about 370 bucks per year here. The NAR, CAR, local dues are another 300-400 per year.

MY area is served by 4 MLS systems. I pay to have access to 3 of them. 2 are $600/year each. The best among them is the least costly at $95/quarter which is $380/year I believe.

I have been hoping for consolidation as you might imagine.

Dues for 2010 -

Board dues $392
MLS dues $268
SuperKey (electronic lockbox key pad) $120

I'm in the same boat as Super Realtor as far as MLS fees go. But I'd like to add that it is not mandatory to join both MLSs. So, brokers can choose the MLS that best fits the needs of his/her company. (Some choose one or the other, many choose both. My two cents is just make one good one and be done with it!)

I just renewed my REALTOR membership that was another $365 or so.

I didn't know this but regardless ~ HOW IS THIS EVEN LEGAL! How can they force someone to contribute to a campaign they may not want to contribute to? I wonder if there will be an uproar? I'm not pleased about it by any means.

Probably not legal, but it might take a lawsuit to stop it. Who wants to be the first real estate agent to sue their state association?

The info is here:

http://www.car.org/newsstand/news/raa/

and here:

http://www.car.org/governmentaffairs/RAA/RAAFAQ/

It's illegal to require employees or union members to make such contributions. Violation of 1st amendment right to free speech (which includes NOT being forced to support/fund political speech or candidates you don't agree with.)

However, the CAR is not an employer nor technically is it a union. And they're giving everyone an "opt-out." If you don't want your $49 to go to a PAC you can request that it goes into the "CAR general fund for political purposes." In other words, your money won't go directly into a specific politician's campaign fund, but will be used for the CAR's political activities.

Sounds fishy, if you ask me. But I don't know if I'll be the one to file the lawsuit.

Here are the Columbus Board Fees- Mind you $175 is for the first time application. We believe we have 8 or 9 MLS's in the state. Just a short time ago we had a number of them merge to form 1 that covers the "Normal" operating area in NE Ohio.

OAR NAR CBR MLS Sub Tot Key
$110.00 $115.00 $167.00 $268.00 $860.00 $120.00 Total $780.00/yr

I guess I will stop complaining, seems like alot of people are paying more.

[url=http://columbusrealtors.com/Membership/Benefits/duesfees.aspx]Columbus Board Fees[/url]