Our local board recently published the annual agent DUEs bill and it has created a bit of a stir. Basically the whole thing has risen about 25%, 436 last year to 540 this year. That includes various things. In response to the stir, the board put out a Q and A to agents. It was interesting to see that from 2006 to 2009, the gross agent roster was down about 25%. But what I am curious about is that they state that the average MLS fee, that's MLS only, across the country is $420, a ton more that ours (3.5x). Is this true?

About 400 a year for NAr dues. MLS affiliation is $87.00 per quarter for the entire state of Massachusetts.

I just paid mine today. It is 315 for six months; therfore 630 for the year. That is just MLS fees.

Our MLS for all of Vermont (finally) New Hampshire, and bits of Mass and Maine . . . . is now $27.00 for the 4th Quarter of 2010. I think that's just temporary, as it was $54.00 for the 3rd Quarter.

That's how we distribute profits . . . . by reducing Fees. So just figure we're between $108 and $216 per YEAR per Licensee.

Oh yes . . . . Fines for violating rules and not putting pictures in, missing mandatory information, and stuff like that also help to reduce Fees . . . . rather them than me !

When we had a "paper system", MLS cost us about $58.00 per month . . . . and only covered One (1) County.

2010...$480.00
2009...$435.00
2008...$415.00
2007...$415.00
2006...$415.00
2005...$405.00

Our MLS dues are $145 per quarter.

Our local dues are about $400/yr not counting the annual renewal fees (including NAR and CAR) of another $200+. The other regional MLS I belong to that covers most of CA is another $400/yr.

CAR fees are going up next year by $50 due to a mandatory Political Action Campaign contribution. So, I guess when it's all said and done we look at around $650/yr for the local MLS dues+membership fees. Those of us that want the statewide exposure shell out around $1000/yr.

Those of us with a spouse in the business enjoy double the fun!

I'm a broker and pay $125 a month plus $12.50 a month per agent.

I am sitting here jaw-dropped. We pay $195/quarter, not counting the NAR fee or the annual supra fee. This is the same feeling I had when I found out I paid more at a hotel when I used Orbitz.com, rather than booking through the hotel. I'm so hurt.

I am a broker owner as well.

We have 2 mls's in the core Atlanta area ( 20 plus counties )

GAMLS and FMLS for residential properties mainly.

As a broker I have to pay fees monthly to GAMLS. FMLS charges .0012 percent of the sales price as a fee when you have a closing.

As a broker you have to hit 1,500 in fees a year to them or pay the difference.So you want to do enough volume to cover the cost so you don't come out of pocket.

In my state we have freedom in that the mls's are not controlled by NAR unlike other states.

So fees I pay for mls access have nothing to do with being a REALTOR or county,state and national dues. I don't pay any of that stuff.

I believe it is restraint of trade for the MLS to make it mandatory you join NAR. Which is why some MLSs give you access without NAR because they have been sued on that premise, and lost.

Northern Utah

Annual Board Dues: $735 (or $835 if you choose to pay the highly suggested annual minimum "donation" to RPAC, which I haven't paid ever because it's a shake down)

Annual MLS Fees: $396

My wife and I pay about $1,000.00/yr each for board and MLS.

Then to finish the math, if we back out the NAR, Florida, and Local REALTORŪ Dues, your MLS Fees are also less than $500 per year per Licensee ?

My MLS fees are $580 per year. My board dues are $366 per year (includes local, state & NAR).

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]