ForSaleByOwner.com Statement Misleading

REALTOR.com Listings Still Provided by Agent-Only Access – ForSaleByOwner.com Statement Misleading

A press release issued Nov. 11 by ForSaleByOwner.com contained inaccuracies and misleading statements about its ability to place unlisted for-sale-by-owner information on REALTOR.com, the official Web site of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® claiming it “has become the nation’s first “by owner” real estate website to enable home sellers to advertise their home on Realtor.com without appearing on a local Multiple Listing Service (MLS).”

NAR immediately contacted ForSalebyOwner.com and confirmed that they did not consult with anyone associated with Move, Inc. or REALTOR.com about this announcement. The ForSalebyOwner.com press release was distributed without the knowledge or approval of the National Association of REALTORS® and they have been asked to issue an immediate correction statement.

There are no unlisted properties on Realtor.com. A basis for the claims being made by ForSaleByOwner.com in the press release has not been determined. No relationship exists between that entity and Realtor.com. Listings displayed on Realtor.com continue to be provided by the MLSs, and contrary to the headline, there is NO "agent-free access to Realtor.com".
REALTOR.com is operated by Move Inc.NAR and REALTOR.com are setting the record straight with the following clarifications:

The settlement agreement between NAR and the Department of Justice made no provision to allow unlisted properties, such as “for-sale-by-owner,” to be posted on REALTOR.com.
ForSaleByOwner.com does not in any way enable home sellers to advertise their home on REALTOR.com without broker representation. Every property on REALTOR.com must be listed by a licensed real estate broker.
REALTOR.com has not authorized ForSaleByOwner.com to resell REALTOR.com’s Showcase Listings Enhancement package.
There is no relationship between ForSaleByOwner.com and REALTOR.com.
There are no unrepresented homes on REALTOR.com—every property on REALTOR.com must be listed by a licensed real estate broker, and unrepresented properties would not qualify to be submitted to a REALTOR®-owned and operated MLS.

REALTOR.com has asked ForSaleByOwner.com to issue a retraction. ForSaleByOwner.com did not discuss in advance the statements in their press release with REALTOR.com nor did they request or receive permission to use the REALTOR.com name in their press release.