MLS Rules

MLS Rules

  

Update: As of August 2024, this information has been updated. Click Here for more info.

As of January 24, 2024, CPAR MLS rules have been clarified to confirm that participants continue to have the ability to engage in transparent negotiations with customers and prospective buyers by entering ANY amount in a listing’s cooperative compensations fields, from $0 and up.

  • The Central Panhandle Association of REALTORS® continues to support the most efficient, pro-consumer, pro-competitive marketplace by making property information widely and transparently available. In part, this includes facilitating blanket offers of cooperative compensation available to all buyer brokers on an impartial basis and in accordance with the law.
  • On January 24, 2024, CPAR updated its MLS rules to clarify that Participants/Subscribers are able to enter any amount in a listing’s cooperative compensation fields – to include $0. CPAR has always offered flexibility and has never specified a cooperative compensation amount. With this clarification, a listing agent continues to be able to enter the cooperative compensation amount agreed upon with their seller client, from zero and up, and continues to negotiate compensation at their client’s direction.
  • CPAR made this clarification to the MLS Rules, which is in line with NAR’s interpretation of the Participation Rule and CPAR’s Antitrust Policy, to reinforce the complete autonomy of CPAR MLS Participants to engage in transparent negotiations with their customers and to underscore that commissions are always negotiable.

 

What does this update mean for you?

Listing brokers still have the ability to make impartial, blanket offers of cooperative compensation through the MLS. CPAR MLS has never specified a cooperative compensation amount. This rule clarification is not a requirement that you must enter zero or any other amount in the MLS. Remember, all business decisions must always be made unilaterally and independently.

What is the Benefit of this clarification?

This clarification confirms the flexibility in compensation negotiations between agents, brokers, and their clients. It further confirms that there is a transparent method of sharing cooperative compensation offers in the MLS.

What stays the same?

This change does not impact the efficient, impartial system of offers of cooperative compensation that CPAR MLS supports for its Participants including:

  • Offers of cooperative compensation remain negotiable.
  • Participants/Subscribers continue to be able to make impartial, blanket offers of cooperative compensation to every buyer’s broker through this MLS.
  • The Florida Realtors® contracts and forms in FormSimplicity are the same – for now. Note that Florida Realtors® is working on updated forms.
  • All business decisions – including compensation and commissions – must be made unilaterally and independently.

Can Listing Agents Offer $0 for Cooperative Compensation?

Yes. CPAR does not mandate the amount of compensation that a Participant/Subscriber offers, nor does CPAR set or suggest compensation values or the cooperative division of compensation.

 

Additional Links:

 NAR - How Real Estate Compensation Works

 NAR - Commissions are Negotiable

 NAR - How to Explain Real Estate Compensations to Clients

 NAR - FAQs and General Info - Competition REALTOR

 179 Ways agents are worth every penny of their compensation

 105 more ways REALTORS are worth every penny of their compensation

 CPAR MLS Rules