| Island homeowners many times are not aware | | | | Molokai, Lanai and Niihau. However, the state is |
| that discount listing options are available when | | | | divided up into three different MLS systems. The |
| they are ready to sell their home. A novel | | | | major islands of Oahu, Maui, Hawaii and Kauai are |
| concept that was already taking hold on the | | | | divided as follows: Oahu's MLS is the Honolulu |
| mainland in places like California and Nevada is now | | | | Board of Realtors MLS, Maui's MLS is the Realtor |
| available in Hawaii: flat fee MLS listings. They way | | | | Association of Maui MLS, and Hawaii and Kauai are |
| that it works is simple: a homeowner lists his or | | | | both a part of the Hawaii Information Service. |
| her property on the MLS for a pre-paid flat fee. | | | | It is important to be listed in the correct MLS |
| All Realtors can now see the property is for sale | | | | system and some sellers actually list in more than |
| and is aware of any co-op commission being | | | | one system to increase their exposure. One of |
| offered. Not only does the listing show up when a | | | | the added benefits of an MLS listing is that a |
| Realtor is pulling data on a particular subdivision | | | | number of Internet sites such as broker websites |
| and price point, for instance, Ewa Beach, $700,000 | | | | and agent sites pull in a portion of the listing data. |
| to $800,000, the listing can be confidently shown | | | | This allows one's listings to be seen by the general |
| by that Realtor to his or her clients because the | | | | public, albeit without the full detailed information, at |
| Realtor knows in advance that a particular | | | | numerous websites. Fees for MLS listings range |
| compensation is being offered in the event that | | | | from a few hundred dollars to one thousand |
| their buyer purchases the property, for instance | | | | dollars or more. |
| two percent. | | | | Often times the MLS listing provider offers |
| Because only a buyer's agent would need to be | | | | optional upgrades and other services for an |
| paid at closing (the listing broker was already | | | | additional fee. This might include virtual tours or |
| pre-paid a small flat fee), the commission savings | | | | other tools to help market or sell the home. While |
| is typically about one-half of what some full | | | | real estate lock boxes are often available, they |
| service agents charge. In the event that the | | | | are not as commonly used in Hawaii as in other |
| marketing power of the MLS and its related | | | | states. As with any real estate offering, |
| websites was able to sell the property directly to | | | | homeowners will want to closely examine what is |
| an unrepresented buyer with no Realtor, the | | | | being offered for the money and the track |
| homeowner would end up paying nothing at | | | | record of the flat fee listing company that they |
| closing; this represents an enormous savings over | | | | go with. Done correctly, a flat fee listing on the |
| virtually every other listing out there. | | | | MLS can save a homeowner thousands of dollars |
| Flat fee listings on the MLS are available virtually | | | | and allow a sale to take place in quick fashion. |
| anywhere in the state: Oahu, Hawaii, Maui, Kauai, | | | | |