The goal of this site is to help home buyers gain perspective, be proactive, plan properly, and prevent poor performance or outcomes.

 

Asking questions is good but asking Insightful Questions is better.  Why? Because insight goes beneath the surface and beyond the basics.  Insight helps us to understand, appreciate and discern.  When buying a home what do we really know about the home, location, history and circumstances?  So let’s begin by first discussing the licensed professionals we typically rely on for help.        

 

First and foremost, the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) is not a single, national database. It is a network of regional databases, each serving a specific geographic area. There are over 600 local and regional MLS systems across the United States.While some MLS systems may share data or have agreements to collaborate, there is no single, unified national MLS. Agents typically belong to and pay dues for access to the specific MLS in the area where they are working.So, home buyers would not have direct access to a MLS.A licensed real estate agent will often grant a home buyer access to a listing service through their associated brokerage.

 

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) is the largest trade association in the United States for real estate professionals, according to the Department of Justice and the NAR. It is headquartered in Chicago and represents over 1.5 million members involved in all aspects of the real estate industry. Its membership encompasses a broad range of real estate professionals, including brokers, salespeople (or agents), property managers, appraisers, counselors, and others. While the NAR has a national scope, it also works through local and state associations.

 

There are over 100,000 real estate firms in the United States, according to the NAR.Additionally, there are over 3 million licensed real estate agents.  About 22% of real estate agents hold a broker’s license, while about 17% hold a broker associate license.The other 61% are real estate sales agents. Zillow and Realtor.com are the top two home search tools in the United States that are available and open to the general public.In 2024, Zillow averaged around 87 million monthly visitors. Redfin and Trulia (now part of Zillow) are two other home search tools.Apartments.com is for renters. LoopNet and Crexi cater to the commercial real estate market.

 

The American Real Estate Association (AREA) was launched in 2024 by prominent real estate figures Maurico Umansky and Jason Haber as a direct response to dissatisfaction with NAR. There are roughly 3,800 members, 800 of which are with the brokerage called R New York. While AREA is the most prominent alternative to NAR, other organizations like the Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM), the Society of Industrial and Office Realtors (SIOR), and the Women’s Council of Realtors (WCR) also serve specific niches within the real estate industry. These groups, however, are often affiliated with NAR or focus on different aspects of the real estate business, whereas AREA is positioned as a more direct competitor.