By Brian Johnson
2021 President
Santa Barbara Association of Realtors
Last year, the National Association of Realtors implemented a new policy across the country called Clear Cooperation. The policy states that within one business day of marketing a residential listing to the public, brokers must submit the listing to the MLS for cooperation with other members. Most people when they learned of this policy would ask, “Weren’t they already doing this?” and “What’s the big deal?”
To understand why it is a big deal we really start with understanding the first question of was this done previously. As it turns out “pocket listings” or listings that are selectively marketed were becoming very popular across the country. The use of these pocket listings had the effect of excluding consumers and undermined the commitment that Realtors make to providing equal opportunity access to housing. Numerous studies out there show that different demographic groups have different experiences in the housing market and the National Association of Realtors is committed to working to reduce inequalities in housing thus this new policy. It is important to understand why Clear Cooperation is a benefit to both consumers and to our profession.