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Idaho For Sale by Owner tips, news and updates

Minimum Service Law Comes to Idaho; Costing Consumers Choice

Posted by Matt Newbill in Fizbomap, For Sale by Owner, News, Tips on December 18th, 2006

“Unofficially” Idaho is introducing a minimum service law. It will be introduced by Idaho Association of Realtors (IAR) and is due out for public view some time in January 2007. I would like to add IAR is in the finishing touches of their new office found in the BoDo Development, (ground floor, retail corner of Capital Blvd/Myrle St in downtown Boise). Good use of Realtor dollars!

What is a Minimum Service Law?
A minimum service law is proposed by real estate agents that want to restrict access to M.L.S. information or to limit its use on the database. Some have asked state legislatures to pass laws forcing brokers to offer certain levels of service, a move that is intended to squeeze out discount brokers and innovation like Fizbomap.com.

I don’t expect many will pay attention to this proposed anti-consumer law despite strong letters from the Department of Justice and the Fair Trade Commission advising Legislators to vote against such bills. These bills have passed in other states, and I expect the same for Idaho.

To learn more about this matter visit four links:

wikipedia.org

Consumer Federation of America

gao.gov

antitrustinstitute.org