NWMLS does not like home reviews
The other day the Wall Street Journal had an article on Sweet Digs interrupted. Unfortunately it was behind their registration firewall. However someone else re-posted it, Brokerage Firm Stops Posting Home Reviews:
Redfin stopped posting new reviews on its site late last week to avoid losing its access to information on homes available for sale from Northwest Multiple Listing Service. Northwest MLS, based in Kirkland, Wash., and owned by participating brokers, operates a database of information on homes listed for sale in western Washington state.
Northwest MLS about a year ago sent a letter telling Redfin to stop posting comments about listed homes. The MLS cited one of its rules barring brokers from advertising details of homes listed by rivals.
Redfin argued that the comments, later expanded into more detailed reviews, weren’t advertising but rather supplemental information of interest to potential buyers. Northwest MLS rejected Redfin’s interpretation. Jeff Coop, legal-affairs manager of Northwest MLS, said other brokers reported that sellers complained that the reviews made it harder to sell their homes.
In April, Northwest MLS fined Redfin $50,000.
It will be interesting to see how this affects all the other Seattle real estate agent bloggers who review MLS listings.