Representing a Buyer without MLS membership

[Rakin]

Originally Posted by Brandon Hoffman

@2B and MJ - Interesting. I wasn't aware. In SC you need to be a member of that MLS to get paid as it serves as the contract between brokerages for compensation. What about some of the states other than SC, NC, or CO? Chime in agents.

This is true in our MLS (and I assume Texas MLS's) also to technically get paid. If you are not a member of the MLS, no guarantee you will get paid since it's a contract between agents.

OP will not be back. What he does not want to to do but does not know how to express is to join all the Realtor Associations and other voluntary groups. Without Joining TAR he'll have to hand write his contracts, no ZipForms free.

He'll need to join something around Houston to get access to the MLS but they will have their own rules. He may find a Broker who let's him do searches under their ID but that would be against the rules.

Like some low life agents he could tell his Buyer to go solicit Listing Agents to show the home, find the home and then come to him to write the offer. Let the Buyer do all the leg work and find the house.

But I doubt OP will be back and I would hate to be the listing agent that has to deal with this person.

[MikePRU]

Originally Posted by Silverfall

Here we don't have to pay non-MLS member agents, but my listing agreement says I will. My MLS membership says I don't, and most of the agents from outside my MLS system submit the agreement to pay with their offer indicating what they will get paid.

Same here in MA. I'm only required to pay a cooperating agent if the listing is posted to MLS. However, my listing contract specifies the amount I will be paying to co-brokes regardless of whether it's on MLS or not.