If you attended NAR’s Midyear meetings in Washington, D.C. last week, you probably heard about RPR’s progress on a number of fronts: we now have more than a thousand Realtors beta testing in twelve MLS markets, including a mobile application in Charlottesville, Virginia, and we have signed licenses with almost four dozen MLSs, comprising more than 210,000 Realtors, or more than 18% of NAR’s Realtor membership. We’ve come quite a way since the company was announced last November; of course, much remains to be done.
One of the outcomes of all of the MLS content licensing activity has been a number of changes to our agreement that were negotiated by different MLSs. Some of these changes were posted to our blog back in February. Today, we are releasing even more.
Our reasons for doing this are simple: we believe that each of our MLS licensors should have the benefit of improvements made through discussions with any of the others. The revised document is posted below. Separately, we will also provide an amendment to “catch-up” our current licensors on all of these changes as well; if you represent one of these MLSs, our Industry Relations representatives will be reaching out to you with the amendment.
Here is an overview of the key changes:
- More specific definition of the RPR Website, RPR Offerings, the Realtors Valuation Model (RVM), and the Match & Append service
- Expanded definition of MLS Services
- Revised the definition of authorized RPR Website users to REALTOR® and REALTOR-ASSOCIATE® members only
- Added Most Favored Status provisions related to product functionality, and any future potential payment of fees or revenue sharing
- Offered to provide licensor MLSs with a quarterly report on RPR Customer activities
To arrange a presentation or discussion of RPR with your MLS, please contact info@narrpr.com.
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The addition of REALTOR and REALTOR-Associate as the only authorized recipients of RPR product causes me some confusion as our region has many salespeople that access the local MLS as provided in NAR policy for individuals affiliated, employed by or associated with a REALTOR participant (10%). Is RPR available to these paying subscribers that contribute to the Licensed Content, or do we have to somehow filter the information to eliminate content that the RPR can access from the local MLS?
Hello, Mr. Wissel, your non-REALTOR participants will not be able to access RPR. Of course they have the right to opt their information out of the Licensed Content, which RPR will be happy to manage for you if you do not wish to filter it on your end.
Reggie, I am making a distinction between the participant as defined by NAR and those salespeople that work at a participating REALTOR member firm that do not become REALTORS or REALTOR-Associates. About 10% of the agents in our area fall into that non-member pool.
The addition to REALTOR and REALTOR-Associate in the contract…Does that include REALTOR Appraisers to have access to the RPR system?
Hi Yvette – Yes, REALTOR Appraisers will also have access to RPR.
How do we go about getting our local MLS on board with RPR. This is going to be a great tool for agents.
Hi Mark – Great question! What MLS are you with? I’ll check with our Industry Relations team and see if we’re currently talking with them. Meanwhile, I’ll email you our media kit, which includes background to RPR in a printable format.
Reggie – I’m in St.Petersburg, FL, we have Pinellas Realtor Organization (PRO) which is Suncoast MLS,… are you talking to them? man, we need some technology down here!
Hi, Ilya. PRO has reviewed the RPR and I’m delighted to report that their Directors voted to proceed. We’re working now with the staff and attorney to finalize the contract!
Reggie,
Likewise, can you check to see if Northwest Montana Board is in your radar for RPR? Thanks!
Hi Ben,
I am Kristen Hernandez and I am the Industry Relations Manager who is working with your Board. I have been in discussions with your Board regarding participating in RPR and we hope to move forward in the near future.
However, if you are eager to have RPR in Northwest Montana, please communicate your interest and excitement to your Board. The more people that communicate their interest, the better.
No comment at this time. I have not found the place to join?
Hi John – We’re still in the final stages of beta, and not open to the general REALTOR membership yet. What MLS are you a part of? I would be happy to check on status.