Joe,
Knowledge is power, and why should I have to call my traditional broker to find out something (for free) that should be available anyway (for free)?

And your "no company should have an unfair advantage" doesn't wash. Define "unfair". Letting people talk online about a listing is unfair? Culling together a dollars per square foot analysis to share with whoever is interested is unfair? Since when did competing on price and service become "unfair"? I thought we lived in America.

Rules are made by those in power. When the people speak out, and the power shifts, the rules change. And until they do, they get broken. Anyone in the power position fights like hell to resist the change (are you a white middle aged male by chance, mmm, I thought so) because it makes them lose power, influence, or in our society, money. But democracy wins out in the end. Fight if you want, cling to your old mind set if you will, but hopefully you and your ilk will lose out in the end. I for one, am happy about it. And, for the record, I'm happy it's a seller's market for a change too. It's about time.

Also not addressed is how Redfin breaking the rules is giving any more information (or "power") to anyone? This information is readily available to anyone on hundreds of local websites.

I don't think the information originally posted could really be taken seriously by a "wise" buyer. Most anyone can tell that there is some type of problem with a property that is on the market as long as 98 or 194 days ... Again - perhaps they are priced too high?

That's all fine and mighty, but I did not make the rules and don't necessarily think they are right. But my company does obey them as I want to be able to continue to offer my clients the information they need.

If you want to know the truth, any information that a client asks for is gladly given for free - and our rates are a lot more reasonable (with full service) than this other company you are defending.

I like a lot of the changes that are happening in the real estate industry and am doing what I can to help facilitate them. That said NO company should have an unfair advantage. In the end, I hope the rules will change, but until they do, I expect that those that don't obey the rules will be paying the price.

As we all know, price and value are important factors, but far, far from the only ones. Information is power, and who can deny more power to the people?

Thanks, K, for defending the wise buyer!

Nice thoughts Joe, but believe it or not, we home buyers are savvy people who are smart enough to realize that this is one piece of information (and a very important one at that) in the total picture. We're smart enough to gather our own information and make our own decisions as well.

And another thing, bitter real estate broker man, time to usher in a new millenium and realize you don't have monopoly power over information anymore. Just talk to your stock broker pals for a history lesson in how the internet can revolutionize an industry. You can kick and scream but you cannot stop the steam roller that is the new information age. Who made those rules? Time to change them.

Nice idea Katrina, but if these homes are the best values in their respective cities, why would most of them be sitting on the market so long? (Perhaps they are still overpriced).

BTW - how does Redfin continue to get away with breaking the NWMLS rules regarding advertising (or blogging about) other brokers' listings? It kind of sucks when one company decides they don't like the rules so they just continue to break them.